 We are excited this month to finally get our grain growing project off (and very soon into) the ground. By growing on a small-scale, working with the help of local people to provide them with food that is healthy, digestible, sustainable, and delicious, we’re aiming once again celebrate the Wheat We Eat. This Sunday 10th February is the TGC monthly volunteer workday, and a great opportunity to pop into the farm (from 10am onwards) and find out more about the project and share your ideas over some tasty soup - and bread, naturally. In March, we will be sowing just over 1 hectare of wheat - and we’re aiming to fit as many experiments into that relatively small area as we can! We hope this will help us to learn a lot, but if nothing else it will build a diverse environment very different from that of vast monocrop modern wheatfields. The major experiment, and a lasting one, is to plant four rows of native trees between which our wheat will be sown. The benefits, both environmental and economic, of this method known as ‘agroforestry’ are various enough to warrant a blog post of their own (watch this space…)! Also look out for another post explaining exactly what we are planting, how and why. We have chosen to plant only ‘heritage’ wheat varieties, delicious, nutrient-rich, soil-enhancing varieties once prevalent but long since outdone by modern wheats bred in the interests of the commodity market rather than health or flavour.  Our methods are also to be experimental, a mix of mechanical and manual, and that’s where you come in! We will host a number of workdays throughout the year, to lighten the work with as many hands as possible. First of all, we are planting trees, one of life’s most joyous activities. Come along on Sunday 10th March to help out!
We are also looking for a small group of enthusiastic local folk to form a citizen science research group around the project. We feel there is much to learn, or relearn, and want to provide a space for that learning to be shared. If you are interested in taking part, email Charlie on [email protected] for more details. Meanwhile, we’re getting out and about to encourage people to get involved, starting with our local primary schools. If you’ve any ideas of groups that might be interested, get in touch!
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Taybank Growers Cooperative (Roz Corbett and Johnny Agnew) are looking for a third person to join their market gardening cooperative. Based at Blackhaugh Community Farm, Spittalfield PH1 4JZ, we are about to enter our third year of running a market garden. We run a veg box scheme, sell from the farm gate and to local businesses, all within 10 miles of the farm. We have established significant infrastructure over the first two years including two polytunnels, a deer fence and multi-purpose shed and have gained support from the local community. We are looking for someone with growing experience and business skills to help make our ecological, community supported farming project a success. The deadline for the Grower Director Post is 7th January, 5pm. Job Desription and further details available to download here: 
We've got two exciting jobs coming up at TGC: - Grower/Director, 3 days a week, starting in the spring next year - Project Coordinator for The Wheat we Eat, 1 day a week starting in January. Please have a read of the Job Descriptions below and get in touch if you have any questions. Thanks
 Hello everyone, we're having a farm open day on Saturday 13th October. Would be lovely if you came along to help us celebrate the nearing end of our growing season, our incredible pumkin harvest, play some silly games and eat all things pumpkin based. And Planning Permission finally being granted for our new packing shed!!
Our wee farm shop (shed) is now open! Drop in anytime to Blackhaugh Farm, it's open for business 24/7. Simply take some produce and put money in the tin.
  Our wee Farm Shop will be reopening next week. If you are passing or live locally, drop in to Blackhaugh Farm from Wednesday 10th July to pick up fresh fruit, veg and salad from our honesty farm shop.
Available from next week we have salad, beans and peas, courgettes, kale, chard, strawberries, broccoli and even more!  We have been delivering to the Blairgowerie Farm Shop and Meikleour Arms for a few weeks and are now in full flow! We are delivering mixed salad, beans and peas, kale, rainbow chard, strawberries, broad beans and courgettes.
Head on down to the Meikleour Arms to sample some of our fresh, quality veg or contact Blairgowrie Farm Shop who include us in their veg box. We also hope to be in the Dunkeld Deli and Birnam Institute cafe within the next few weeks. We are reviewing our veg boxes at the moment, more information to follow soon! Just to say that it has been a tough season and we are having to scale back a wee bit. Our sales shed will also be open in a couple of weeks for you to drop into the farm for our lovely veg. We're looking for someone to join us to help us deliver a new project called The Wheat We Eat! This is an experimental project to sow, grow and eat one hectare of wheat on the farm with the help of the local community. We're looking for someone to work 1 day a week (£15-£20ph) on a self employed basis to help bring in groups to get involved in the project, help to plan the wheat growing and bring in necessary tools and knowledge to complete the project. The project will run from July this year until December 2019 when we finally harvest, mill and bake with the wheat. If you're interested in applying please read the job description attached. Deadline for applications 20th June.
 We have some extra plants which we are selling at knock-down prices! Come along anytime to the small polytunnel at Blackhaugh Farm to buy: - Tomatoes - 2 for £1 or 5 for £2 - French green beans - 2 for £1 or whole tray for £5 - Red Russian kale - 5 for £1 You can also volunteer in exchange for some plants! Call 07737 030 560 if you're having trouble finding them! Thanks, TGC  Remember this? It seems like a long time ago, but this winter past was really long and spring was slow to come. As you will have heard from other farmers complaints, everything is a bit behind, and we are (unfortunately) not an exception! Because the soil took ages to warm up and plants getting into the ground a bit late, we won't be starting sales until mid June. Just one of the ups and downs of farming. So please be patient; your fresh, healthy, local veg will be coming very soon to your veg box or restaurant.
Thanks! TGC x |
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