Great excitement here at Bothen Hill as tomorrow, Wednesday 26th June we’re off to London to the Soil Association’s Best of Organic Markets (BOOM) Awards. Our Asparagus has qualified as one of the final three products in the Fresh Produce, Vegetables, section of the awards. Up against Organic Mushrooms from Aldi and Organic Carrots from R B Produce, the competition is stiff, but we think we’ve done amazingly well to get this far! We’ll post the results as soon as they are known on Twitter and Facebook, and in due course on the web site, but thank you to everyone who has supported us and for your good wishes.

Meanwhile of course there’s lots going on back at the farm! The recent rain has ensured that our transplanting schedule for calabrese, cabbage, sprouts, summer and winter PSB and leeks has been kept well up to date, such a contrast to last year. The tunnels are now full, and producing a good crop of French beans and courgettes. The tomatoes are growing well and bearing numerous fruits as are the cucumbers. In addition both the apricot and peach trees are extremely laden and we’re just hoping for some sunshine to ripen the fruits, it looks as if we are going to be fortunate in this respect.

Out in the fields the broad beans have cropped well, as have sugar snap peas. The rhubarb is still going, although not quite as red as we would like. Sweetcorn is looking good, the farmer’s expression of it being “Knee high by the 4th July” will be met, so with a good sized patch this year we’re hoping for great yields.

Beetroot and carrots are finally starting to yield well, and we’ve had good germination with parsnips and also the sown leeks; those which were transplanted are looking good.

All in all we’re looking forward to a good harvest and hope that you’ll enjoy the produce during the summer as well.

Yes, it’s all been happening here at Bothen Hill, whilst ‘Hungry Gap’ has been upon us, and longer than usual, the asparagus has certainly been keeping us very occupied! Long days, short nights and aching legs, but it’s all been very worthwhile and we’ve had a good harvest.

We were fortunate to be approached by our insurers, Cornish Mutual, to take part in their Food Heros campaign, see www.cornishmutual.co.uk/real-food-heroes/real-food-heroes/bothen-hill-west-dorset and as a result have also appeared in various newspapers and periodicals throughout the south-west, so hopefully Bothen Hill has managed to raise its profile somewhat!

Of course, farming still goes on, and we’ve been pretty busy with our routine work. As a result we’re delighted to say that as from Friday 14th June we’ll be back on our weekly box deliveries, and the list of what’s available will be updated shortly before – leaving it until the last minute to ensure everything we’ve got available is incorporated.

New potatoes have grown well and are absolutely delicious, as are all the new vegetables – we’re currently harvesting new carrots, courgettes from the tunnel, sugar snap peas, broad beans, lettuce, beetroot, calabrese and tender stem broccoli, so if you can’t wait until the 14th do call up on a Friday morning for a selection of lovely fresh vegetables for the weekend. Asparagus is still coming and we have plenty here, as do the local farm shops, Modbury Farm Shop, Washingpool Farm Shop, Millers Farm Shop and also Fruits of the Earth in Bridport.