THE Farmer’s daybook

A farmer’s daybook is where they note everything going on with their herd; milk yields, health, behaviours, emotional states. Our online daybook is where you can keep up to date with the latest goings-on on the farm.

Or, better yet, sign up to the newsletter to get the best bits straight to your inbox

Posts in Staff

Who remembers Maggie?

Long standing customers of Plaw Hatch Farm may remember a horse called Maggie, who used to hang out in the shop.

Farm, Shop, Staff, MayKitty M25 May 2023Plaw Hatch Farm Comment

A home for strays

Back in 2018 we decided to try re-homing a couple of feral cats on the farm.

Environment, Farm, Staff, MayKitty M17 May 2023Plaw Hatch FarmComment

New tills for the shop

So, the new till system is finally installed. It’s up and running and I think it’s fair to say we’re pretty damned happy with it.

March, Shop, Staff, TrainingKitty M16 March 2023Plaw Hatch Farm Comment

All my thoughts

There are times when there is so much in my head. Mostly questions. A few ideas. The answers can take a while to formulate. Sometimes there isn’t an answer and it’s an ongoing dilemma. Here’s a taste of some of my current thoughts

Farm, Packaging, Shop, Staff, Sustainability, Volunteers, FebruaryKitty M26 February 2023Plaw Hatch Farm Comment

Raising dairy heifers

At Plaw Hatch we run a closed herd of cattle. This means that we don’t buy in cattle and the herd regenerates itself.

Volunteers, February, Apprentices, Staff, GardenKitty M22 February 2023Plaw Hatch FarmComment

Hello from Jake: the garden apprentice

Joining Plaw Hatch Farm around 6 months ago, it was my intention to learn more about how high quality, nourishing food is grown through the practice of biodynamic agriculture.

Volunteers, February, Apprentices, Staff, GardenKitty M17 February 2023Plaw Hatch FarmComment

Hello from Rhys: the farm apprentice

Hi, I’m Rhys the Apprentice Farmer at Plaw Hatch Farm.

Farm, Volunteers, February, Apprentices, StaffKitty M14 February 2023Plaw Hatch FarmComment

Welcome Raif

We recently welcomed a very exciting new addition to the farm team!

Staff, NovemberKitty M24 November 2022Plaw Hatch FarmComment

The Goodbyes

The bittersweet end to summer. The big harvests are done, the hay is made, the nights grow longer and the days cool. Familiar faces who for a time have become so engrained in the life and rhythms of the farm leave on the next step of their journeys. At the end of September we say goodbye to our Garden Apprentice Mandie, and our two work placement students from Warmonderhof, Ditte and Marigold. We wish all the best on your new and exciting adventures!

Summer, Staff, Training, VolunteersKitty M29 September 2022Plaw Hatch FarmComment

End of an era: Goodbye Andy

Andy first came to the farm twenty one years ago to run the milk round. We wish him the best of luck on his future adventures.

July, Staff, ShopKitty M13 July 2022Plaw Hatch FarmComment

Dangerous roads

This year sees Toll Field over the road from the main farm back in rotation for garden cultivation. A productive and beautiful piece of land, the garden team unfortunately aren’t looking forward to work on it due to the dangerous road they have to cross.

April, Farm, StaffKitty M21 April 2022Plaw Hatch FarmComment

Training a Future Butcher

Last September Josie Rollings began her career as a butcher at Plaw Hatch.

Butchery, Farm, Meat, January, Training, StaffKitty M4 February 2022Plaw Hatch FarmComment

Farewell Tali!

After 11 years in the role of Dairy Manager, Tali has moved on to new challenges.

Cheese, Staff, Dairy, MilkKitty M8 December 2021Plaw Hatch FarmComment

Farewell!

So long, and thanks for all the milk!

Cheese, Staff, Dairy, MilkKitty M3 December 2021Plaw Hatch FarmComment

9 Jan 2024

Why cows have horns

It has long been a policy of Biodynamic husbandry to keep cattle with horns. As well as the aesthetic value, the horns have an important function in the life of the cow.

23 Nov 2023

A year as a farm Apprentice

Approaching the halfway mark in my 2-year placement here at Old Plaw Hatch Farm, the coming of the shorter days has allowed me to reflect on what has been one hell of a ride this past year.

27 Oct 2023

The realities of a garden

Growing vegetables in a political climate that has very little understanding of how food actually gets from the producer to anyone’s kitchen table (let alone the unpredictability of that same climate) means we are very grateful to the crops that have been successes, and we move on quickly from those that were or are, to put it bluntly, failures. Let me briefly talk you through our growing year so far…

24 Oct 2023

Supply and demand

Recently we’ve seen a real surge in new customers and have also noticed that existing customers are coming much more frequently and seem to be doing the majority of their food shopping with us. These changes are rarely down to one thing, and I believe at the moment there are several reasons.

24 Aug 2023

Why should I go to the AGM?

Firstly, because we would really love you to. Of course, at an AGM there is the dry procedural stuff, it’s a legal requirement, but there is so much more. It’s an opportunity to hear directly from the people who grow your food.

15 Aug 2023

The garden this summer

The summer is flying by and we have already started to get the first harvests off the fields like onions, potatoes and squash. The Spring was very late this year, however, Summer is not over yet.

THE Farmer’s daybook

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PLAW HATCH FARM, Plawhatch Lane, Sharpthorne, East Grinstead, West Sussex, RH19 4JL

SHOP:01342810201 OFFICE:01342810652 EMAIL:info@plawhatchfarm.co.uk

Company Number: 01497038

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