A different turn

As with many businesses, big and small, the last few weeks have been challenging to say the least, with what feels like the rug being completely pulled from underneath you. Our planting plan was set, according to our current and existing markets that we have worked hard to establish, and then in less than 24 hours those markets had closed and gone.

After 4 or 5 days of muzzy heads and uncertainty we directed our efforts to the local community - empty shelves and the message of 'stay at home' we knew that we were in a very privileged position in that we could try to deliver a service that could help - grow produce for our local village. By doing this we could help those that had to self isolate and help those that wanted to stay at home and avoid public places. We were early enough in the season to be able to take a different turn and to direct our energy in to growing lots of the kind of salad, veg and fruit that local folk would need in the coming months. 

As I write this nobody knows what lies ahead of us, all we can focus on is what we can do now, at this moment in time, to help make the situation better and as long as this remains as our focus we can still achieve and succeed, however tough it gets.

As a result our planting plan now looks radically different, so do our seed packets!!

Whilst quality is still very important, variety has to take a bit of a back seat, with quantity more significant - to make sure that there is enough - e we are now on to 'sacks' of seeds rather than 'packets'.

So we have been scaling up, our hot box is no longer growing posh sweetcorn shoots for a luxury garnish at The Sheppey, is jammed with pea shoot trays, to provide people with a tasty addition to salads and a green that can be added to any dish stir fried.

Scaling up is the name of the game, we now have a sea of pea shoots, which are flying out of the door.

The salads continue to be our bread and butter as people crave fresh, either as living trays or cut leaves.

Greens are also key at this time of year, traditionally known as the 'hungry gap', collards and Swiss chard are currently our main offer.

We are working really hard to get ahead of the game and get fresh produce out to people as quickly as possible, as a result we have loads of new goodies on the go, like a forest of leeks...

Beetroot galore...

beans of 3 kinds - broad, dwarf fine and of course runners, to name a few.

Everyday is now an important step on a significant journey...

as we look to transform our operation to deliver a challenge we are very grateful to have, which provides us with a focus and a purpose that is very welcome indeed and one we will rise to.