Shillingford Organics
'in tune with the seasons'

Vegetable Box Bulletin
June 2010

CONTENTS

1. JUNE EXTRAS
2. UNDERSTANDING YOUR ACCOUNT BALANCE
3. ABOUT FOOD CO-OPS
4. THE REAL FOOD STORE
5. OPEN FARM SUNDAY @ WEST TOWN FARM, IDE
6. CROP & OTHER NEWS

1.  June Extras          
Shillingford Organic Eggs:        £1.60 per half dozen
Laydilay Organic Mayonnaise:  £2.20 per 175ml jar
Remarka Potatoes :                 £3.00 for 5kg bag
Remarka Potatoes:                  £7.00 per 12.5kg bag

2. Understanding Your Account Balance
Please do not be alarmed if your account balance shows a minus sign before your account balance, this means your account is in credit and the words Account Credit is also displayed to the left of the total. If your account is in arrears there will not be a minus sign and Account Arrears will be displayed to the left of the total. 

3. About Food Co-ops
The main principle behind all community run food co-ops is that by pooling their buying power and ordering food in bulk direct from suppliers, a group of people can buy good food at a more affordable price.

Small food co-ops or buying groups work by collecting together everyone's orders in advance, whereas other models operate more like other food businesses in that they order the produce from suppliers and then sell it to their customers via stalls, bag or box schemes, mobile stores, shops or other types of outlet.
For more information visit www.foodcoops.org

4. The Real Food Store
The Real Food store is opening in the centre of Exeter in October 2010 selling locally produced food and drink with an in-house bakery and café. Real Food will be a community owned enterprise raising its starting capital from a share issue. You can be part of this exciting new venture by visiting:  www.realfoodexeter.co.uk and registering your interest.

Shares go on offer on the 10th June 2010 - register to be there for the launch.

5. Open Farm Sunday @ West Town Farm, Ide
Sunday, 13th June from 11am - 4pm 
Farm walks, tractor-trailer rides, cookery workshops, make your own burger, farming demonstrations, local food groups, bread making, local farmers, quizzes, straw bale den and outdoor games. Farms produce BBQ, Vegetarian Cafe and Crepes. 
ENTRY is FREE
01392 811257  www.westtownfarm.co.uk

by Bridget Rendall

6. Crop & Other News
In previous years we have stopped the boxes in May as I have always thought we could not keep supplying the suitable quantity of vegetables through the 'hungry gap'.  However, we have managed to do it this year. We have invested in some new Polytunnel space, but the real key has been the abundance of production from the 'No dig' area.

We sow most of our crops successionally to give continuity of supply throughout the summer. However, by using the tunnels for all the earliest sowings and then having the 'No dig' area to follow up the next successional sowings, has allowed us to crop through May and early June. The 'No dig' area is a sheltered, south facing area which is covered with compost.  After planting or sowing, the area is 'fleeced' to keep that extra 1 or 2 degrees warmer.

The other crops that have been great for early production are Chinese cabbage and Kohlrabi, the former being possibly the fastest growing vegetable I have ever encountered!

We did try sowing some early seeds direct into the field in early may, thinking that the soil was warming up, but the reverse happened so we did loose one sowing of French and runner beans.  Fortunately most of our early crops are raised in modules in a warm plant house. Also direct sowings from mid May in the field are catching up rapidly.

The new season carrots are nearly ready to harvest.  We have just gone through the earliest banking them to cover the shank which prevents hungry mice nibbling them.  We always sow the main crop carrots on or around June 1st.  The rain last Tuesday was ideal, although delayed the sowing by two days.

Early potatoes are about 2 weeks away, but please remember we are coming on the back of an exceptionally cold winter and spring.   

by Martyn Bragg

 


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