Tools down! Dad's on a mercy mission for a new fan belt. Harvest 2015 will recommence shortly...
An even more important announcement...
Farmers Humph and Hannah are delighted to announce the birth of their first grandchild. Farmer Humph is already instructing Elspeth in how to check the oil in her father's scraper tractor, and the new grandparents have promised to spend as much time as possible with their new grandchild leaving Jenny in charge of the farm...oh, sorry, apparently I misheard the last part! Congratulations Helen & Stuart, a bright future awaits your scraper tractor!
An important announcement...
As of today, our free range pork is back in the farm shop!
Supper sorted.
Fresh out of the oven: 28 day aged slow roasted top rump of beef. Served between hunks of fresh bread from the local bakery for a late supper. You can't beat it!
Staying grounded
We're lowland folk here at Lower Dairy Farm. We live towards the valley bottom and have no aspirations to climb tall buildings or scale mountain peaks. Perhaps this may explain the recent curse that hit the farm. It is safe to say that every piece of lifting machinery that could go wrong, went wrong in the past few months. To the point the curse became ridiculous when in attempting to manoeuvre the last remaining operational lifting device (an engine hoist) into place during repairs to the loader tractor...the wheel fell off the lifting mechanism and it smashed the barn doors...and was so heavy, it required a lifting machine to lift it.
You couldn't make it up. The one device that just about kept going was...you guessed it, the Nuffield and the buck rake. And here we are at work:
Oh no, wait...that's a picture from the 1970s. In positive news, we have used a heck of a lot less fuel and oil in not having an operational JCB. And aside from some truly dark days and muscles worthy of a Venice Beach bodybuilder, we have (touch wood) made it 
through the curse.
Professor Tractor has, as ever, stepped up to the mark and become the UK's fastest tractor-splitter, with the help of Team Concrete we have created the new Stansted runway ('Welcome to London Little Horkesley'), Mum has outdone herself with the range of tasty chutneys, jams and marmalades in the farm shop, the grass is growing and we have also welcomed a remarkable selection of ridiculously friendly calves. Onwards and upwards! Curse permitting, I'll be updating the blog again soon...
Who would fill your boots?
#FarmSafety Pledge
Recipe: Spiced Salt Beef
This recipe is amazing! It is very easy to prepare - you may need to plan ahead for fridge space, but it is well worth the wait. Recipe from the Country Living Magazine, Dec 2014:
SPICED SALT BEEF
Preparation: 20 minutes plus marinating. Cooking: ~ 3 hours 20 minutes, plus cooling
2 - 2.5 kg Lower Dairy Farm topside joint 100g light muscovado sugar 175g sea salt 2 tbsp black peppercorns 1 tbsp allspice berries 2 tbsp juniper berries
Choose a casserole dish or container in which the beef fits snugly. Mix together the sugar and sea salt. Rub this mixture over the beef and place the joint in your chosen dish. Cover and put in the fridge, or a very cool place such as a garage [clearly these people don't have a curious terrier called Humbug!] for 2 days.
After two days, roughly crush the peppercorns and berries in a pestle and mortar. Rub this spice mix all over the beef and return to the dish. Cover and chill.
Every day for the next ten days, rub the beef all over with the spices and return to the fridge as before. [We recommend you do this daily, but sometimes we forget & it's still awesome.]
Heat the oven to 140oC (120oC fan oven), gas mark 1. Remove the beef from the dish and discard the juices. Quickly rinse away any spices and put in a casserole dish again, just large enough to hold the beef snugly. Add 300ml water, bring to the boil and cover with a tight-fitting lid. Cook in the oven for 50 minutes per 500g. Remove from the oven and leave in the dish to cool for three hours.
Drain the beef and wrap it in clingfilm. Put in a lipped dish in the fridge and press down with weights overnight. To serve, slice thinly (even I can achieve deli counter slices!) and enjoy your very own deli-cured beef in sandwiches!
Farmyard emergency!
We just heard an almighty shout from Dad. Don't panic Mr Mainwaring! He hadn't driven into anything...he'd dropped his mince pie. A little quiet on the blog recently, but this little tale should reassure you all is well at the farm.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from all at Lower Dairy Farm!
We hope you enjoy your Christmas dinner as much as this...
Manners!