Wark Farm

April 2022

Where did you go o' spring. It's always a poignant sight to see the early blooms of spring weighed down, heads bowed, by April snow. But it does happen most years, in May too, and disruptive as it is there is heat in the sun when it finds a break in the cloud. As a grass based farm we're watching every tiny bit of growth at this time of year. As i saw it described recently, our farming job is to maximise the capture of solar energy using plants. Everything else flows from there. But it's not just so easy when the plants are buried in snow, no matter how warm the sun!

So we're in the crossover season; some days the grass stands up and looks green, the next it appears to be in retreat from advancing snow and mud. The wild geese are reducing in numbers while we wait for the first swallows and martins. Skylarks sing so busily at first light some days it's like a wall of sound as they proclaim their territories; but I'm still seeing loosely formed large groups roosting together in the stubble field as the light goes. Lambing is in sight now and the ewes are starting to look a tubby, so with a rising sense of anticipation we've put in our annual request for a nice warm, settled month of May for the start of a new cycle of life. The cows will be pregnancy scanned in the next week or so too, and so we will know what more the summer has in store for us.

In human terms we start a new season too with the departure to, literal, pastures new of our farm worker of the last few years. My various roles at the farm and butchery here have ebbed and flowed down the years, with the last few dominated with the rebuild after the butchery fire and the growth of the pie business. Time now to go properly back on the farm. So for now we aren't replacing the farm worker role and my time will be much more hands on outside. As a career progression goes, some may question it, but my heart sings like the skylarks at dawn. There's a bit of straightening out and catching up to do as my focus comes properly back to the land and there's always the daily and seasonal rounds; but there are some fascinating goals to aim for and heaps of interesting stuff for my mind to work through as we take another turn around the sun.

The April order form is now open.

NEW: You can now also choose to pick up your order at the farmers market at Bridge of Don in Aberdeen on Saturday 16th April, between 9am to 1pm. Alternatively, you can still pick up at Banchory Farmers market on the same day, or collect at the farm on Sunday 17th April, or have it delivered on Friday 15th April.

On our product range for this month:

* There's our usual list of aged Belted Galloway Beef and Hebridean Hogget/Lamb, and our range of home cured bacons.

* Our famed Wark Farm pies, made with our own hot water pastry recipe and filled to the brim with high quality meat (frozen)

* All our Woodpigeon pies are now sold out but we still have some Pheasant & Apricot pies left, and we also have our new seasonal, the Lamb & Wild Garlic pie. PERFECT FOR YOUR EASTER BRUNCH/LUNCH/TEA/PARTY

* PORK SAUSAGES ON THE MENU !!! On popular demand, we're selling our pork sausages again this month, so it's the time to stock up on them and keep a stock of them in your freezer!

All our beef and lamb meat is cut fresh, which means that it can be frozen at home. It also means that, while we try to accommodate everyone's requests, we cannot guarantee not to run out of certain cuts. We treat orders in order of receipt, meaning that the sooner you get your order in, the more likely it will be that you will get everything you requested for.

* We have some lovely Iron Age pork on the menu as well this month. If you've never tried it, it's definitely recommended. Darker and extra flavourful. Limited stock only!

All our beef and lamb meat is cut fresh, which means that it can be frozen at home. It also means that, while we try to accommodate everyone's requests, we cannot guarantee not to run out of certain cuts. We treat orders in order of receipt, meaning that the sooner you get your order in, the more likely it will be that you will get everything you requested for.

ORDER INFO:

Ordering deadline: Tuesday 12th April, 5pm.

Order confirmations are not sent out automatically, but will be emailed to you by latest Wednesday 13th April 6pm.

COLLECTION/DELIVERY INFO:

Customers can choose for either

* collection at Banchory Farmers market, Saturday 16th April, 9am to 1pm

* collection at Bridge of Don, Aberdeen, Saturday 16th April, 9am to 1pm

* collection at the farm, Sunday 17th April, from 11am to 2pm

* or delivery, Friday 15th April. Delivery is only possible to certain areas in central Aberdeen and Aberdeen City, Deeside and Donside and is free of charge for orders above £40, otherwise it is £5 delivery charge. If you'd like a delivery of pies only and no meat, we ask you to order a minimum of 8 retail packs to justify having our driver drive out. These are frozen pies, ready to be baked, so they can be kept for a long time in your freezer. Alternatively, you can combine it with ordering some of our delicious meats or bacons or come and collect a smaller order at the farm.

PAYMENT INFO: Invoices will be sent out by email at latest Wednesday 20th April with information on how to pay by bank transfer.

The updated order form link is below.

As ever please get in touch if you have any queries.

Best wishes

Laurel & SaM

April Order Form