July Newsletter 2010
July newsletter - Scouts, Spixworth FM, shopping & success (hopefully)
Let it rain, let it rain, let it rain...
1. Watch out, Scouts about!
We're delighted to welcome the First Frettenham & Hainford Scout Group to their new group headquarters at Beck Farm, Frettenham. The Scouts have built themselves a super new building on a bit of rough land here at the farm, with plenty of space around them for typical outdoor Scouting activities. For the past few years the Group has used various rented premises for different activities, but none of them were within the village. Moving here to the farm will hopefully allow them to attract even more youngsters to the Group, allowing them a secure and vibrant future. Philip and I had a good look round at the opening celebration a couple of weeks ago, and met Akala Paul Lake and Scout leader Darren Livock (see photo, with Philip Norton in the middle). We were really impressed with the set up and the kids, and welcome them wholeheartedly as neighbours.
2. Spixworth Farmers Market, Saturday 17 July 9.30-12.30
Nortons Farm Shop & Dairy will be making an appearance at the inaugural Spixworth Farmers Market, to be held at Spixworth Village Hall this Saturday 17 July. The market runs from 9.30 to 12.30 and will be indoors, so if this rain lasts all week (fingers crossed) it'll still be a good morning out. I've had word that there will be a full selection of producers there, from free range chickens to fresh locally grown vegetables, and that refreshments will be served. I'm looking forward to attending a market practically in our own back yard, and to meeting some customers new and old. We will also have a little bit of Norfolk Butter to bring with us hopefully. The market will run regularly on the third Saturday of the month, and we look forward to seeing you there!
3. Nortons Farm Shop: now just a little bit cooler.
Following weeks of soaring heat and scorching sun, we've given in and purchased an air-conditioning unit for the Shop. It has arrived just in time for the drought to break and for a full week of rain and cooler temperatures to be forecast for Norfolk. A coincidence? Sensibly though, we got a unit that also works as a heater during the winter (what a clever idea!), so we can also be a little bit warmer in the colder months. Nortons Farm Shop - the perfect ambient shopping experience. Almost.
4. Awards Week
This week we are mostly being inspected for the EDP Norfolk Food Awards. We are absolutely delighted to have been nominated in two categories - Farm Shop of the Year and Plough to Plate. Thank you if you were one of those who nominated us. Judges are coming out twice this week to visit the Shop and the farm, so I've been spending some time making sure everything looks just right. Doris and Gertrude have been scrubbed (have you seen how big they are getting?!), business plans have been updated, plant baskets and pots outside the shop spruced up, and the office sorted & hoovered. You know it's serious when you hoover the office. Anyway, we look forward to welcoming the Judges to our farm, and have our fingers crossed for some success at the awards ceremony in September. Wish us luck.
Date Added: July 12th 2010
