April , May , and June Diary,

                                             I apologise for the large gap between my diary entries but we had a technical problem with our domain registrar. Or was it just a brake down in communication. Either way , the problem begins and ends with the large holes that exist in my computer knowledge.

   Spring and early summer has been good for us. Cold to start with and then suddenly warm and wet in mid May gave us a smaller than usual , but good quality, first cut of grass silage. The grass has been growing well and our policy of not using bought in fertiliser is paying off. The clover is thriving , and now in late June is flowering, much to the obvious delight of the Honey Bees, Bumble Bees and other Wild Bees. The children found a pair of Pied Wagtails nesting in a traffic cone, in the pony paddock. We were a little concerned that the fledglings might not find their way out of the hole in the top, but on recent inspection they have flown. The Brown Hares have been up to their usual games again. Jo and I watched 6, playing their crazy games, for some time recently. I'm sure they know we are their but they are just to busy to care. We have several single English Partridge about the farm which is a good sign at this time of year because it usually means the other one is sitting on eggs. Their is a pair nesting near to the house which make their squeaking noise in the evenings.

  Cheese making is going well and the cows are very contented. I think, like me, the cows enjoy May and June. It can get too hot for us all later on in the year.

  We are looking for an assistant cheese maker who can help with cow jobs so if anyone fancies a go please contact us.

   Below is a photograph of the cows relaxing whilst in the back ground the chopper is harvesting the grass silage.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          

                                                                                                 

 The team with the James Aldridge Trophy for the Best British Raw Milk Cheese 2007.

Billy  - tractor driver/ stockman. David  - Fixer/ grounds man. Roger  - Cow milker/calf rearer. Jo and Me. Jenny  -Lards cheese/packaging/cleaning. David  - assistant cheese maker/Cheese turning. Sue  - Larding/ packaging/sales.

The cow is Chandra and the calf held by Annie is Greeta.

      Our cheese is sold at the Deli counter and in the pre-packed section of Waitrose under the label Clarke's Sparkenhoe Red Leicester .  

    It is also available at Neal's Yard, Booths and many other specialist Cheese shops, Delis and Farm shops some of which we don't know about because they are supplied by wholesalers. So for a list of some of the Sparkenhoe  Leicester Cheese stockists please look on the Stockist List.    

    We are always present at :-Ashby- de- la -Zouche   Farmers market :- 3rd  Saturday in the month.

                                             Market Bosworth Farmers Market :- 4th Sunday in the month.

                                             Burbage  Farmers Market :- 3rd Saturday in the month.

   This year:- Ashby Show is on the 13th of July

                    Bosworth show is on the 6th July

   If anyone would like to comment on any of the issues in this diary please contact us at 

info@leicestershirecheese.co.uk

 

David and Jo