Valefresco

New Recruit!

2011-07-22T13:15:00.001+01:00

This is our newest recruit! He couldn't get decent salads up North so he come down South!

Even the weather couldn't stop us on Open Farm Sunday!

2011-06-14T15:18:00.004+01:00

What a success! Even with the heavy rain and blustering winds we opened our farm to the public for Open Farm Sunday 2011. A great team effort ensuring that everyone had an enjoyable, educational and entertaining afternoon.

Tractor Power!!

2011-06-08T10:34:00.004+01:00

New tractor all the way from America!

2011-05-19T16:44:00.002+01:00

This tractor has come all the way from America to help cultivate the Valefresco fields in Warwickshire.

It's very BIG!

Valefresco Open Day12th June! Please come!

2011-05-19T12:44:00.004+01:00

Once again we will be hosting Open Farm Sunday on the 12th June starting at 2pm. Everyone is invited to come and enjoy a relaxing and interesting afternoon out. There will be trailer rides around the farm, guided tours of the facilities and equipment and much more.

Villainous weeds no match for Garford Robocrop

2010-06-05T21:04:00.003+01:00

Just like in the movie where Robocop single handedly deals with the violent crime in the city, our new high- tech part machine-part computer, and driven by our very own cyborg, (well Neville,actually) is keeping the fields free from dastardly weeds.

A camera looks ahead and sends images of the plants to the computer which notes where they are and the speed at which they are approaching. Technical wizardry ensures the weeds are hoed out and the crop is untouched.

Joe and Valefresco on Countryfile

2010-02-15T08:51:00.003Z

James Wong and a BBC film crew came filming to mark the start of the Chinese New Year on Countryfile with a look at Chinese vegetables, and shown last night.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

2010-01-02T20:38:00.002Z

WISHING EVERYONE ASSOCIATED WITH VALEFRESCO ALL THE BEST WISHES FOR A HEALTHY AND VERY PROSPEROUS 2010.

Giant Pak Choi !!!!!!

2009-10-23T18:00:00.001+01:00

our Pak Choi is even fit for giants!

ORIENTAL VEG SEED REPRODUCTION.

2009-08-30T11:03:00.005+01:00

after three years having followed an extremely rigorous breeding and selection process, we are now reproducing our very own varieties, completely unique to Valefresco.

& finished today!!

2009-08-27T14:25:00.000+01:00

The corn harvest began 10 days ago!

2009-08-27T14:21:00.001+01:00

Time to remain positive!

2009-06-09T20:44:00.010+01:00

..... although the continued poor weather conditions hamper proceedings, demand for our produce remains fairly strong..... we must be doing something right!!

But it will not stop us!!

2009-06-08T16:42:00.002+01:00

Back to basic harvesting methods & away we go.

Wet weather hampers harvest!

2009-06-08T16:40:00.000+01:00

So many lovely people in one small village!

2009-06-07T20:39:00.012+01:00

The pouring rain had stopped by late morning and it brightened up nicely for our open afternoon. Lots of people came to see and hear what we get up to, and if you were one of them thank you for coming and making our day a success!

It went so quickly I only got a chance to take two photos, one at the beginning as everyone was arriving and one at the end as we arrived back in the yard after the last trailer trip.

If anyone has any photos please email them to me; steve at valefresco dot com.

If you did visit and would like a free Wiggly Wigglers gift voucher, follow this link http://www.farmsunday.org/ofs/home.eb

Open Farm Sunday

2009-06-06T22:45:00.004+01:00

Come rain or shine we will be holding our first ever open day at Old Pastures Farm, Hampton Lucy on Sunday 7th. With lots of interesting things to see and hear about and a tractor/trailer ride (it is waterproof!) in the mud around the farm. Just make sure you are there by 2.30pm or we may leave without you!
I couldn't post without leaving a photo, so on this very wet Saturday, here is a photo of lettuce being irrigated just a few days ago whilst we were enjoying the week long heatwave

optimism pessimism realism

2009-05-07T20:53:00.006+01:00

Good conditions and good quality crops continue, and given a good summer forecast by the Met office, I apologise for a few pessimistic thoughts but you never know what is just round the corner. Early summer is when we are most likely to get a hail storm. I just hope it doesn't fall on our crops as it can leave us with fields full of bruised and shredded unmarketable leaves.

A pessimist complains about how hard the wind is blowing.
The optimist thinks he can change the wind.
The realist adjusts the sails!

Which one are you?

Its all new!

2009-05-07T20:35:00.006+01:00

We started harvesting on April 28th, a week or so earlier than normal. With new harvest trailers, new harvest method and a new harvest team it took a little while to get it all running sweetly!

But that's it now, the salads will be harvested daily right through until september

2009-04-27T13:03:00.002+01:00

We have been following this romaine lettuce through from planting and now its just about ready for harvesting

Courgette mulch laying

2009-04-23T00:02:00.006+01:00

A new machine just arrived for laying biodegradable plastic over the soil to prevent weed growth, preserve moisture and stop soil splash onto the courgettes. The plastic will be removed and composted at the end of the season.

Cutting Choi Sum

2009-04-20T23:00:00.003+01:00

Similar to broccoli in taste but far more tender, needing very litle cooking, a quick blanching in boiling water is all it needs. Great chopped up in salads too. Here is a simple recipe on a fellow bloggers site.

2009-04-17T23:58:00.006+01:00

Wild rocket, it's around 10-12cm tall and ready for cutting first thing in the morning.

Just a lovely view across the river from Hampton Lucy, looking towards Alveston

Winter Baby leaf crops soon coming to an end.

2009-04-17T10:13:00.003+01:00

What an achievement! Wild Rocket which has been harvested 11 times from the same drilling & the same seed, still looking great & approaching harvest for the final time.

Winter Baby leaf supplier & Valefresco Strengthening relationship.

2009-04-17T09:59:00.001+01:00

Our Winter Baby leaf supplier shows full commitment & looks forward to a long healthy relationship.

Valefresco visits Winter Salanova partner.

2009-04-17T09:52:00.003+01:00

Winter Salanova lettuce, procured from our Italian Salanova partner soon coming to an end.
A very successfull run with good quality & continuity shining through!

Another look under the fleeces

2009-04-13T15:33:00.003+01:00

Red oakleaf from the first planting

The same cos as before having put on a lot of weight.

Harvesting underway!!!!!!!!!!

2009-04-11T13:19:00.002+01:00

3mm of Rain through did not impede us from breaking yet anoyher record, where we harvested this morning the first Baby leaf Spinach well ahead of schedule.

Harvest went very smoothly & several tonnes of product are now cooling & being prepared for dispatch.

Bedformer

2009-04-09T14:42:00.004+01:00

Just arrived today, a new machine for preparing the beds-three at a time.

Still no rain

2009-04-08T23:14:00.003+01:00

It's around 10 weeks since the last significant rainfall. Rain was forecast for last night but amounted to nothing. At least it has meant we have been able to keep to our drilling and planting schedules. This photo shows the babyleaf drill , but also 15 acres of sweetcorn have gone in this week. Weekly lettuce planting has continued unhindered by the rain. More salad onions are due to be drilled over the weekend if the rain stays away.

Good growing

2009-04-06T23:20:00.003+01:00

Blessed with good growing conditions under the fleeces, growth is rapid and well on target for harvest to start mid May. The cos in this photo are the same ones shown on the 29th March

Salad onion seedlings from the first spring drilling made last month

Summer 2009 Babyleaf Ready!!

2009-04-04T11:43:00.001+01:00

The first Babyleaf Spinach ready too!!

Summer 2009 Babyleaf Ready!!

2009-04-04T11:39:00.003+01:00

the first outdoor Redchard ready for the blade !!

summer 2009 Babyleaf Ready!!

2009-04-04T11:39:00.000+01:00

So much going on

2009-03-29T21:24:00.010+01:00

A look under the fleece at the first week's planting. These are cos looking a little bit flattened, but their strength in numbers will soon lift the fleece. A close inspection reveals a flush of tiny weeds, always a problem under covers.

Babyleaf spinach. The fleece covers which were put on immediately after drilling have to be removed while the crop is quite small to prevent damage to the delicate leaves from the fleece flapping in the wind

The buildings are growing too!

Salanova lettuce just about ready for cutting

More pak choi, these were drilled three weeks ago

The Pak Choi in last weeks photo now being harvested

2009-03-22T09:23:00.003Z

Pak choi in the greenhouse. The continuing good growing conditions have boosted growth

2009-03-16T11:06:00.001Z

The green giant hard at work with the flatlift.

2009-03-15T11:11:00.001Z

Poly-tunnel Pak Choi, growth is speeding up as the weather gets milder and the days longer

Placing Tomato plants into the NFT troughs

planting continues

2009-03-13T13:43:00.000Z

Having had good planting conditions, the 11Ha field is almost full. Occasional light showers have kept them wet enough so irrigation hasn't been needed. The plants are covered over within hours of planting, protecting them from the drying winds and night frost.

2009-03-08T23:15:00.000Z

Off to a good start last Friday, with the first planting of lettuce going well on a nice sunny day and great soil conditions.

Revelling in it

2009-03-08T22:20:00.000Z

Well it's not every day we get to be on the BBC News and in the papers!

New season new blog!

2009-03-08T21:29:00.001Z

My intention is to post occasionally throughout the season as it progresses, reporting on crops and new developments. Watch this space!