Welcome to April, spring is in the air, with blossom on the trees and the lambs have now all been born at Forty Hall Farm.
It is one of our favourite times of year here, but also a race against time to prepare and spray the vines (organically) to protect them before the buds burst to life. We've finished pruning and are now tieing down the fruiting canes that will carry the grapes this summer. It's hard graft, made easier with treats like these delicious homemade hot cross blondies (below right) brought in by volunteer Ian.
We use organic practices because, not only do we think it makes our wine taste better, but also because we care about the planet and its ecosystem.
April is Earth Month and on April 22nd, we'll be getting behind Earth Day and their ‘Protect our Species’ campaign . The campaign seeks to highlight the unprecedented global destruction and rapid reduction of plant and wildlife populations directly linked to causes driven by human activity, including unsustainable agriculture, pollution and pesticides.
We were also sad to read from the Soil Association about the widespread crash in bees and pollinators last month. April is a key month for bees in the UK, by the end of the month they are fully operational and you will hopefully see many out pollinating. The beehives on Forty Hall Farm (photo top right) are already active.
If you would like to get involved and help pollinators thrive, then take a look at the advice from our good friends at The Soil Association and Pukka who have provided some tips as part of their #BeeOrganic campaign launched last year to bring attention to this issue of declining bees.
Here's how you can help:
1) Shop for certified organic food, which uses far fewer pesticides – if you're local to the Vineyard our partners at Forty Hall Farm have a certified organic veg bag scheme. The Enfield Veg Co. Find out more here.
2) Grow bee-friendly plants and herbs – such as these free seeds from Just Bee Drinks, who plant a seed for every bottle sold
3) Avoid using pesticides in your garden – read the Two Thirsty Gardeners perspectives on organic growing
4) Support the Soil Association to champion wildlife-friendly farming – sign up for monthly membership here.
With Easter around the corner, we also suggest buying organic Easter treats. Chocolates like Fair Trade & Organic Little Choc Chickens by Coca Loco, which are available in Forty Hall Farm shop and online or, raw organic chocolate eggs by g.org.e (Guilt-free Organic Eating) or the Moo Free eggs, made with organic rice milk chocolate.
Forty Hall Farmers Market - Sunday April 14th - 10am - 3pm
Over 20 stalls of local produce including veg and meat direct from the Farm, plus bakery, preserves, pies, fish, local beer and streetfood. Come and meet the vineyard volunteers and enjoy a glass of Forty Hall Fizz and take home a bottle for your Easter celebrations. More information here.
Online Orders for Easter Sunday - 21st April
Place online orders by 17th April to make sure you have your Forty Hall Vineyard Fizz on the table for Easter, or pop along to Forty Hall Farm Shop or other stockists here.
Join us for a picnic, live music and a glass of wine in the vines. All for a good cause :)
