Posts in Volunteers

Woodland update

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.

Environment, August, Farm, Volunteers, WoodlandKitty M4 August 2023Plaw Hatch FarmComment

Our kind of hedge fund

We have seen a noticeable increase in insect and bird life since the hedgerow down the main track behind the shop was planted. It runs along Home Field and then Holly Field. It has been a joy to watch it grow as it has become home, food and safety to many small birds, bees, butterflies, moths, and other insects.

Environment, July, Sustainability, Farm, Summer, VolunteersKitty M16 July 2023Plaw Hatch FarmComment

Woodland Regen Project update

This year, there has been good progress with the regeneration of the site of the woodland project at Plaw Hatch.

April, Spring, Farm, Environment, Volunteers, WoodlandKitty M20 April 2023Plaw Hatch FarmComment

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

Accommodation for students

One of the key aims of Biodynamic farming is education. Every year we get a number of students (age 15+) from German Waldorf schools on work experience. We have limited accommodation onsite, so if you or someone you know has a spare room locally and you are enthusiastic about encouraging the next generation of farmers, please get in touch, we’d really appreciation your support.

Garden, Farm, VolunteersKitty M27 January 2023Plaw Hatch FarmComment

Our longest serving volunteer

Michael Moon has been working as a volunteer at Plaw Hatch Farm since 2009.

January, Farm, Cows, Milk, VolunteersKitty M10 January 2023Plaw 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

Wildflowers in the Woodland

As summer arrives, summer blooms are springing up from cleared areas in the woodland regeneration site.

Sustainability, Woodland, Volunteers, Summer, JuneKitty M19 June 2022Plaw Hatch FarmComment

Woodland Project - spring update

The woodland project is coming along, and the volunteer team are starting to see the fruits of their hard work in the form of wild flowers growing on previously bare land.

May, Sustainability, Woodland, VolunteersKitty M11 May 2022Plaw Hatch FarmComment

Sheep scanning 2022

Scanning is an important point in the shepherding year, allowing our farmers to prepare for the coming lambing that is now just over a month away.

Farm, Lambing, Sheep, Spring, Volunteers, TrainingKitty M15 February 2022Plaw Hatch FarmComment

Woodland project

Following the request for volunteers for the woodland regeneration project, there was an excellent response.

Farm, Sustainability, Volunteers, WoodlandKitty M18 December 2021Plaw Hatch FarmComment

Native woodland regeneration at Plaw Hatch Farm

One of the main projects we’re hoping to realise on the farm is the regeneration of a patch of Ancient Semi-Natural Woodland. We’ll need your help to do it!

Sustainability, Volunteers, WoodlandKitty M19 September 2021Plaw Hatch Farm Comments

A year as a Garden Apprentice

Our garden apprentice, Mandie, gives an insight into what life is like living, working, and learning on the farm.

Garden, Sustainability, Volunteers, Training, PigsKitty M18 September 2021Plaw Hatch FarmComment

Volunteering in the garden

Fancy getting involved in the garden? As the season picks up, many hands make speedy work of soft fruit processing and weeding. Nir Halfon, Garden Manager, also tells of how Covid-19 has changed the demographic of volunteers on the farm.

Garden, VolunteersKitty M9 June 2020Plaw Hatch FarmGardening, Garden, volunteers, sustainable, vegetables, biodynamics, biodiversityComment

We've become key workers

Shop Manager, Jenny Thornhill, explains how the staff at Plaw Hatch have risen to the challenge of the coronavirus outbreak.

Volunteers, Sustainability, SpringKitty M20 May 2020Plaw Hatch Farmshop, garden, Plaw Hatch Farm Comments

A busy garden

Help from the volunteers is making all the difference in the garden this year.

Garden, VolunteersKitty M17 April 2020Gardening, Garden, spring, polytunnels, volunteers, sustainable, biodynamics, crops, vegetablesComment

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.