A Week on the Estate: Dry Year, Early Harvest & Peas Please

The weather has really forced the pace. Changes to our climate may well mean that whatever weather we get, be it hot, cold, wet or dry, could be more intense and persistent in the future. Our regenerative approach, centred on healthy, living soil better able to resist erosion in dry weather and run-off in wet weather, should pay dividends for nature and farming.

Out on the land, we’ve done our best to roll with the punches. You may recall that earlier this month, we swathed the oilseed rape, making the best of the arid weather by allowing the crop to dry in the open air, thereby reducing the time and energy needed to prepare it for storage post-harvest. When we started harvesting the oilseed rape towards the end of last week, the last rainfall recorded at South Ormsby Estate was 6mm on 19^th June.

The pea harvest also got underway this week, a good month earlier than last year. Starting early and working quickly are essential with this crop as the peas must be frozen within an hour of being harvested to preserve all those essential nutrients. Every pea seed sown grows into a single pea plant, each yielding an average of 48 peas in 6-8 pods.

Jacqui Rhodes took the opportunity to build up the Hall’s winter stock of vitamin-rich peas, preserving them the old-fashioned way. Blanching them briefly in salted water inhibits the ageing process, improves their flavour and keeps them green and tender for longer.

Closer to home, the parkland and the Walled Garden have yielded lovely produce. The Hall is fragrant with artfully arranged, freshly cut flowers from our own back yard, and we’ve had a bumper crop of walnuts. We’re sure Jacqui will think up some tasty walnut recipes, but we’re reliably informed that pickling them and serving them with cheese is a treat.

Speaking of cheese, if you’ve yet to cast your vote in our poll to name Mark’s new creation, you have until midnight on Friday 29^th July. ‘Oester Dale’ and ‘Bluestone Red’ are neck and neck at the time of writing so your vote could tip the balance.

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