Category: Chilcotts Farm

Latest on what’s been happening on our smallholding at Chilcotts Farm.

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Wildflower meadow in Barnstaple

This is what I want, I really really want ….

I have a two acre field, I really want to turn into (revert to?) wildflower meadow. How do you do it? Can anyone help?

It seems really complicated and expensive.

Done the research over a few years and got the facts, just spent £40 on seed! (mixture of perennial and annual from Pictorial Meadows #PictorialMeadows) only does 10 square metres. 2 acres is equivalent to 8,000 square metres …… so at a price of £32,000 …. not really achievable????

A lot of money, but it needs to be done right, so hopefully this autumn we will get started. I then just need to work out how to do it affordably over the next 5 years ….. yes a 5 year project ….

#RHSGardensRosemoor have stared a wild flower meadow, and it is looking good. They are just down the road, if they are reading, perhaps someone could help out, after all we are members. I could pay in honey, vegetables or fruit ….. but I suppose that is coals to Newcastle???

Anyone any thoughts on how we can do this in an environmental way, for little cost, to achieve a native meadow.

Cornflower growing in North Devon
Cornflower growing in North Devon
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Decorated goose eggs

Decorating Goose Eggs

Evgger wanted to decorate an egg for Easter?

We use goose eggs, as they are large, however chicken and duck eggs can also be used following the method below:

Preserving The Egg

Eggs can be hard boiled and then decorated, however, these should then be eaten.

Goose egg shell is quite robust, so can be used to make a decorated egg that will last and keep indefinitely.  To make a decorated egg, the white and yolk need to be removed, and the inside given a little wash.  This can be done by 'blowing' the egg.

Blowing an Egg

Blowing an egg is quite straight forward, the method being applicable to most eggs.  Here's what to do:

  1. Holding the egg over a bowl, pierce a hole in both ends with a clean wood nail.
  2. This will make a pin prick hole in either end of the egg.
  3. Make sure that you push the nail deeply into the egg to make a hole in the egg membrane.
  4. At this stage,still over the bowl, pierce your lips over one hole in the egg, while keeping the other end unblocked.
  5. Give a gentle blow.
  6. The egg should start to come out the other end.
  7. If you are having difficulty, cover both the holes, give the egg a vigorous shake to try and break up the yolk and white inside.
  8. Try blowing again.
  9. Once the white and yolk has been completely removed from the egg, don't throw it away!  The egg yolk and white, can be used for cooking.
  10. Now hold one hole of the egg under a cold tap and let water fill the egg.
  11. Give the egg a shake, then let the water drain out.
  12. Leave the egg to dry.

Two goose eggs laid at the beginning of March

Geese Eggs, boiling on the stove.

Goose Eggs Blown and died ready for decorating

Basic dyeing

  • Once dried the egg can be decorated.
  • Decoration can be left to your imagination using a variety of techniques, from pens, to stickers, to paints.  We use an edible egg dye, but food colouring can be used too.
  • The advantage of the egg dye is that it is edible and can be also used on hard boiled eggs.
  • Follow the instructions on the egg dye packet, but typically this involves dissolving the dye in water and then dipping the egg.  An egg could be dipped multiple times, to get a rainbow or blend of colours.
  • In our picture, we have dyed the egg all one colour, there are a couple of eggs, that have been dipped in a marbling dye, which gives a marbled affect.

Further Decoration

If you are colouring your egg first, as described above, wait until the dye is dried, then embellish your design with transfers, and felt tip pen.

As a final layer of protection an clear lacquer or varnish can be applied.

To finish it off, why not thread a bit of ribbon through the egg, so that it can be hung up?

Decorated goose eggs swinging from a tree in spring - Easter
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Soft boiled goose egg

Soft Boiled Goose Egg with Soldiers

This is a meal in-itself.  Soft boiled goose egg.  Boiled to perfection, soft white, and creamy yolk.

This is how we did it:

  • Add water to a large pan (sufficient size pan, so that when the water is added it just covers the goose egg)
  • Before adding the goose egg, get the water to a rolling boil;
  • In the meantime put some slices of bread in the toaster;
  • Once the water is boiling, gently add the egg to the water and set the timer for 6 minutes;
  • At the end of 6 minutes remove the goose egg from the boiling water and place in a tea cup or small coffee cup;
  • With a knife slice the top of the egg off;
  • Hopefully a runny yolk and perfectly cooked white ready for eating!
  • Serve with the toast buttered (when warm) and cut into strips ready for dunking into the egg.

 

 

Geese Eggs, boiling on the stove.
Geese Eggs, boiling on the stove.

Soft boiled goose egg with soldiers
Soft boiled goose egg with soldiers

Chicken Duck Goose Egg Size Comparison
Chicken Duck Goose Egg Size Comparison

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Chicken Duck Goose Egg Size Comparison

Goose Eggs for Sale!

We have goose eggs for sale.  About 3 times the size of chickens eggs, they are a meal in themselves.

Local collection only.

Two goose eggs laid at the beginning of March
Chicken Duck Goose Egg Size Comparison
Fresh Goose Eggs, laid by Geese at Chilcotts Farm, Bickington
Decorated goose eggs

Fresh Goose Eggs Laid by Our Geese

£3.00

Goose eggs are truly distinctive being almost three times the size of a hen’s egg!  We have three girls that typically lay from the beginning April through to the end of May.

Price is per egg, minimum order of 2 eggs.

CLICK & COLLECT only. Buy online and schedule a time to pick-up.

Card payments only online.  chilcotts farm takes mastercard visa maestro  Find us here …….

 

Out of stock

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Description

Having a more pronounced flavour than a hens egg, but slightly milder than a duck egg.  A Goose egg is simply a meal in itself eaten boiled, scrambled, or fried and shared.  As with all eggs they can be used as an ingredient in baked dishes such as gratins and quiches or as the base for the finest Yorkshire pudding.

Our Geese lay their eggs between Spring and early Summer by free roaming in our fields. With access to grass all year round and free to roam, they produce the most delightful eggs with deep orange yolks!

Uses for Goose Eggs

Goose eggs can be used in exactly the same way as chicken eggs.  The only difference is their size.  About 3 to 4 times the weight of a chicken egg, they can be used in cooking in the same way.  If a recipe is asking for 3 eggs, one goose egg may do.

Examples of use for goose eggs:

  • Soft boiled:  To get a nice runny soft boiled goose egg, boil for 6 minutes. Read more here ….
  • Hard boiled:  Boil for about 8 to 10 minutes to get a hard boiled egg, and use in the normal way.
  • Blowing:  Its great fun for kids to blow goose eggs and then paint and decorate them, especially around easter time.  Use the egg blown out of the shell to make scrambled egg or omelette.

About Our Geese

Our Geese are kept naturally, predominantly eating fresh grass.  In February, in preparation for egg laying, we may supplement their feed with a premium quality specialist goose breeders feed.

At this time of year, the grass can be low in nutrition, and supplementing their feed provides necessary minerals and vitamins in preparation for the laying season and the number of goose eggs they can produce.

Unlike many keepers of geese,  we feed all of our birds on quality premium food, containing natural ingredients that contain no Genetically Modified crops or chemical additives.

Geese fed naturally on grass - Do not feed the geese
Geese fed naturally on grass – Do not feed the geese

Additional information

Availability

Normally available February to June, Seasonal
Life Style

Access to Grass All Year Round, Given Free Range to Roam
Origin

Produced in Devon, United Kingdom
Weight

Average weight approximately 160 grams each
Allergy Advice

Eggs

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Two goose eggs laid at the beginning of March
Two goose eggs laid at the beginning of March

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Due to ongoing thefts, Chilcotts Farm Honesty Stall is now closed

Due To On-Going Theft, Our Honesty Stall Is Now Closed

SIX YEARS OF HONESTY .... Well nearly

After six years, we have decided to close our honesty stall.  Unfortunately, due to continued petty theft, it is becoming onerous.

While it has been enjoyable meeting and speaking to people, as always, it is the mindless minority that spoil things.  What can we do?

Homemade jams and pickles available to buy online

A Theft Thwarted!

As many people will know we thwarted one theft. (click here to read about it) I apprehended and caught one of the thieves, who hopefully learnt his lesson after being in a police cell for some of the night.  Unfortunately, the police decided not to press charges (due to lack of funds ...... not evidence!).  However, the two thieves had stolen from us, and we never reclaimed some of the items stolen.

SO WHAT DO YOU DO?

At least we can say that we have sold our surplus, and met some lovely, honest people who appreciate what we have sold to them.

We didn't make a profit, but covered some of our costs.

Now we just have to be more creative in how we use our surplus produce.

Unfortunately, we know that some of our surplus crops will end up on the compost heap as opposed to being sold to honest people or taken by those not so honest, but maybe needy (if so it would have been better if they had asked).

Basket of produce from Chilcotts Farm

You can still buy some items on our website online for collection at:

www.ChilcottsFarm.co.uk

WE SHARED OUR LOVE OF FRESH FOOD

How do you share the love of GREAT food and something that is not available to everyone?

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Honey Bee flying toward cherry blossom in April, North Devon - Chilcotts Farm

Local Honey Enquiries for Barnstaple Honey

We are getting a lot of local honey enquiries!

Obviously, this is the start of the season for the bees.  Currently the bees are doing well and are busy out foraging for pollen and nectar.

The warm weather is encouraging the blossom to emerge and the bees are going about their business.

Honey Bee Collecting Cherry Blossom pollen in April North Devon UK - Chilcotts FarmCurrently cherry, plum and blackthorn flowers are out.  As you can see from the pictures, the bees are taking full advantage of this!

If you want to know when we have our next batch of honey, please sign up to our ‘honey’ newsletter.  We only send an email to you when we have honey available.

Want to know when we have honey?

Subscribe to our email list and we will let you know when we have honey available.

Honey maybe available late spring or September depending on the season. We will let you know.

 

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Due to ongoing thefts, Chilcotts Farm Honesty Stall is now closed

THEFT from our honesty stall – local suspect apprehended!

Stolen from Combrew Lane, Bickington, Barnstaple …….

 The local crime occurred around 10:25 pm Sunday 30th October 2016, with the theft of Jars of jam, pickles, handcrafted egg cosy and boxed Christmas lights being taken from the honesty stall outside the front of Chilcotts Farm.

On their third return visit, the first helmet clad moped rider was challenged and grappled with by the owner of the stall.  Clothed only in a dressing gown, the owner was dragged a few metres up the lane by the accelerating moped before mounting it as a pillion passenger.  The passenger subsequently managed to destabilise the bike crashing into the tarmac.  Meanwhile, the other moped rider was observed making a hasty retreat, speeding off into the darkness in the direction they had both originally come.

The apprehended local young man, had a stocky build, dark eyes, dark hair, and was about 5'11".  While waiting for the police to arrive he was quick to say, 'My mates got your stuff........', 'If you let me go, I will get your stuff back.......', 'I won't do it again let me go.....'.  

The police were quick to arrive, taking the young man into custody.

Were the repeated visits made in close duration as there is only so much someone on a moped can carry at any one time?  Was the observed car unusually present at one end of Combrew Lane at the time of this incident used to deposit the stolen goods before return visits were made, or did the driver see the moped riders?

If you know anything about this breach of trust in our normally quiet local community, or are offered / find discarded jam, beetroot pickle, small boxes of christmas lights, LED light trees, or doggy egg cosy, ask where they came from.

Our honesty stall is again open for business!

 

 

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