Wharfe Valley Farms Blog Articles

Oh My Goodness

Is it my age do you think?  Time is passing so quickly, and we are nearly at the end of 2016.  Where has the time gone?

What a year it has been. Chatsworth last year left me in bed until January hence not attending this year!  It was great to lose the weight though.

This year has seen many changes – the Stove business and the hearth business are manically busy which is great, and the  bathroom side is also growing.  We have more staff and are running out of space.  So we are looking to expand again.  New presses and new equipment, for the oil, together with more staff.  Lots of moving of machinery and new computer programmes to help us to grow efficiently and give you all good service.

Having said all  of that we have had a major server crash.  A power cut and the server died.  So to everyone.  If you have emailed us and not had a response, or have phoned and not heard rom us over the past month, we have been without phones, computers and emails are still a bit iffy.  We are installing a dedicated line so that that everything will work beautifully, all  the time, and have brought in more staff to  help us to catch up.  If we have learnt anything it is that even with backups things take time to out right.

So thank you to all who have been understanding, and we are catching up!  Have a great Christmas and feel free to read more of our blogs here.

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Spring News

Just hoping to squeeze this in before the 1st May, then I don’t feel quite so guilty- so much is going on here, the days are flying past!.

Family update: Amanda had another little girl Poppy, adorable as you can imagine, and after both Mum and Daughter causing a bit of a panic, both are flying along. Just waiting for them to arrive as we speak, ready for our big visit tomorrow. More of that later.

Spring has finally arrived here in Yorkshire. The rapeseed flowers are in bloom and the ground is warming up. Potatoes have been planted this week, and the barleys are, for the moment, looking really good. Just to prove I am a farmers wife though I will say that there is still time for things to go wrong. Things on the farming side really have been dire for the last few years, as you have no doubt gathered from my previous blogs.

Last weekend we went to Bishop Auckland Food Fair and had a fabulous time. it was great to attend such a well organised show, weather was great, attendance was high and the surroundings were really special. Well worth the visit! This weekend we are off to Leyburn – looking forward to seeing you all there – please come by and check out the new line. A lovely little spray bottle, great for those who are, like me, attempting to lose weight. Should be coming on line soon as well. So for all those who are trying to be ultra healthy, a great addition to the pantry.

The BIG news is that tomorrow we have the television cameras coming to the farm to film for the TV series Great British Food trip. Looking forward to meeting Sir Terry Wogan and crew. Just praying for good weather, as they are eating here as well – A meal cooked using rapeseed oil in every dish. For those who were Terry Wogan aficionados on Radio 2, my mother is called Mrs Biggadike, and we have Janet and John working for us…….

We have more new staff members now as well to welcome. Tracey has joined our accounts, and Claire is busy beavering away with our sales. No doubt you will see or hear from these in the near future.

Stephen is expanding again and has added Barbeques and Pizza ovens to his repertoire. They are looking good I have to say, no doubt the meal we will be cooking tomorrow will prove whether or not they can cope! He is still unbelievably busy with both stoves and bathrooms, but at least its cleaner than being installed during the winter months.

Its Chatsworth – is Christmas is on the horizon already?

I have decided it is an age thing. Time is flying so quickly I cannot keep up. Yesterday it was July, the end of this week it will be November. What happened to August, September and October?

So to give you a quick catch up – harvest was good, prices were terrible. (Wasn’t it the other way round last year?) All is safely gathered in and we are already talking about next years prices. Perhaps we will have a good harvest and good prices – its about time!

In my last missive I said we were not attending Chatsworth this winter, well things have changed. The team in the office, ably assisted by my sister has split the time up into bite sizes and we shall be there in force. Geoff and I will be fleeting visitors in between Grandparent duties –Grandchild no 2 is due at the end of October. We will keep you informed! We are also attending Knaresborough Christmas Fair for the first time, and have lots of tasting around the area before the end of November.

This year we will have oils, dressings, mayonnaise and vinegars, as well as our Eco briquettes, and gift packs. The new truffle oil will be available and as usual all competitively priced. You will all have a chance to win a hamper as well – just in time for Christmas.

So keep in touch, its always great to get your feedback and news. See you at Chatsworth!

July 2014 brings our new Mayonnaise

“Oh No”  to quote my 19 month grand daughter Isla,  its the end of July already!  Geoff is busy on his combine doing his ‘thing’ bringing in the harvest, I am busy checking the accounts to make sure that we do actually make a profit on the grain this year (have you seen the latest price for Malting Barley- Its less than it was 5 years ago!) The sun is shining, the rape is drying nicely – we missed the storms this year fortunately so the seeds were not battered from the seed heads. There is for once peace and tranquility in the Kilby household. Well, when I say peace and tranquility, what I actually mean is that we are coming in and falling asleep, so the peace is only broken by – dare I say it – the snores of both Geoff and I as the TV blares out its never ending tales of woe. At least the Commonwealth Games may add a little cheer for the next fortnight.

To add to our joy a little bird told us that all the Tour de France cyclists were insisting on using Cold Pressed Rapeseed Oil – and yes, we supplied them. What a fantastic weekend that was. Such a great advert for our beautiful Yorkshire countryside and people!

Our new Mayonnaise is selling well – Sugar free and made with free range pasteurised eggs, it is safe for those who are pregnant, good for diabetics and very very tasty. Come and see at Chatsworth and taste the full range. The caravan and I will be setting up camp in our usual spot near the river, this year with a new addition to the troup, Elizabeth will be sharing our lodgings (poor girl – she has no idea what she is letting herself in for) Gordon from Posh Pots, will no doubt have another terrible joke to share with us and it will be great to catch up with all your news. It really does not feel like a year since the last show. Heres hoping the weather is as good as it is now.

Apparently we are receiving lots of attention to our website, so come on, if you have something you want to tell us, email us your thoughts and news, as well as your recipes, and ways you are using our fantastic heart healthy, yorkshire grown oil. It is always great to hear your snippets!

Make the heart healthy switch to rapeseed oil for 2014

Oh woe is me, my new motto is that a New Year brings new beginnings, so for those of you who like me, overindulged at Christmas then there’s no better time to think of changing your eating habits permanently. For me it will be to lose a few extra pounds (or stones) or to cleanse my inner self of wine, cream, chocolate and all things nice. Big sigh!

Making the heart healthy by switching to rapeseed is simple and so beneficial. Eating balanced healthy meals made with Wharfe Valley Rapeseed Oils is a great way to gain control over your diet. You’ll boost your heart health and you won’t notice any difference in taste.

Leading nutritionists and medics extol rapeseed as the golden oil for keeping your heart healthy, because it is:

  • Only 6% saturated fat – this is less than half the unhealthy saturated fat of olive oil
  • It is high in omega 3, 6 and 9
  • It is a rich source of the natural antioxidant, Vitamin E
  • High in monounsaturated fats
  • Can help maintain cholesterol levels
  • It retains all nutrients during frying and roasting due to its high smoke point
  • Contains no artificial preservatives and is trans-fat and GM free.

OK Lecture over. Now where is that bar of chocolate I stashed!!!!!! No seriously, I know it’s the time of year when everyone thinks about doing the ‘healthy bit’ but this year we all must try. I have a Diabetes clinic coming up and I know exactly the lecture she will read to me – and she is absolutely right.

Just before Christmas at the BBC Good Food Show the celebrity chefs used our oil liberally (bless them all) in their recipes to wow the crowds, make people think differently about food and prove that Yorkshire produce is the best and most beneficial in the world. We cannot thank them enough for all their help, Lawrence Keogh, James Martin, Brian Turner, to name but a few. Amanda took some time of work to help on the stand, and Geoff came down for the weekend to do the heavy lifting and give me some time off, so all in all, it was a great family outing. It was good to catch up with everyone as well. I cannot believe how many people came especially for our oil. To all those many many thanks. It really does give us such a boost.
We have put some recipe ideas of our own on our new look website so give them a try this month and let us know what you think. Even better send us your own favourite recipes. Pictures always help as well! We will do our best to include them, especially if they are heart healthy! Thanks to all those in the office who have finally dragged the right information from me to make this work. I think it looks great!
We have also had some great feedback from top foodies who have made the switch to Wharfe Valley Oil and hope to be featuring their ideas on our website over the coming months. So watch this space.
Join our campaign on Twitter (link to their Twitter) by using the hashtags #hearthealthy and #maketheswitch.
For more information and for tasty healthy recipes visit: http://rapeseedoilbenefits.hgca.com
Have a fantastic New Year everyone and we look forward to speaking and seeing you over the coming months.

Where is time going?

It’s November already and we are heading at the speed of light towards Christmas. Just where is the time going? Tomorrow sees us dashing off to Chatsworth for the Christmas Fair. Those of you who have not attended before, its a great day out, well worth a visit, and the decorations in the house are superb. I am really looking forward to seeing their ideas, only problem is – I dash home to try to recreate things at home and for some reason they just do not work. Could it be the difference in house size? Their stairs alone would more than fill our entire house!!

I have packed my thermals, fingerless gloves etc and hope that this year we will once again see the first fall of snow. Hopefully our stand will be next to someone with lots to tempt me for Christmas presents. Last year I think we managed to buy something from every stand. Obviously the alcohol stands took a lot of our business, closely followed by the food stands, and then the gifts – every dog we know now has a new bed and coat! Hopefully our new gift packs will add to the list of everyone’s must buy this year, we look forward to your comments.

Our friends Posh Pots will be there with their great pots and I am looking forward to hearing Gordon’s joke of the season. No doubt it will make me groan!

Stephen is really busy with his stoves. With all the talk of power cuts, stoves are flying out at a rate of knots. There are going to be some very warm people this winter. He has had to move his office into another building to give us some peace, only problem is – there is no heating, and they are all frozen! They just do not have time to put one in either.

If I do not have time to write again before Christmas, we will once again be at BBC Good Food Show at the NEC in the beginning of December, so do drop by to say ‘hello’. Its always great to catch up with people. Have a great Christmas and remember to put plenty of Rosemary and Garlic oil on your roasties!

Award Honour

Just have to pass on the news about Stephen. Last Friday he was awarded the honour of being runner up in the National Junior Director of the year category by the Institute of Directors. Big lunch in London with lots of important people. So proud!

The End of the Summer

The Indian Summer appears to be over, and our thoughts are turning towards the colder darker nights, comfort food of thick stews following a hearty soup for lunch! Apple pies with custard, and Burtree treacle puddings (I can’t make them as nice and they are quicker to cook)

The farmshops are ordering their gift packs ready for the festive season that will soon be on our doorstep. Sales of the plain and garlic and rosemary oil have gone through the roof now we are all eating roasts again, and I have to say that appearing on James Martin as his Yorkshire Rapeseed Oil has helped! Once again our thanks must go to him for his fantastic support of our oil over the past seven years.

In the office we are hoping to appoint someone with more expertise than I to keep you all informed of our antics. Watch this space for more news and announcements. I shall continue writing this news section though as I do enjoy it! You might start getting pictures though – which would be good!

Stephen has been madly busy with his stoves, and as we sit in front of ours I am not surprised. The lovely heat they generate is fantastic, very conducive to snoozing in the evening. Not that either of us do that…….. well only a little!

This last week we attended the Deliciously Yorkshire Awards Dinner, held at York Railway museum, with Nigel Baden from Radio 2. Great company and great food. The food producers in Yorkshire really do deserve your support. So much innovation and fabulous food. My personal favourites were the Sciolti’s chocolates and the savoury Nib nibs.

Next week Stephen is at the Institute of Directors Dinner in London, where he has been shortlisted for the National Junior Entrepreneur of the Year. To get this far is unbelievable, and you can guarantee I will be shouting from the rooftops if he wins.

Next week is also our Grand daughters first birthday it really does not seem to be a year since she was born, but what a joy she has been, so there will be lots of cuddles over the weekend can’t wait.

Next month we will be out and about with shows for the whole month, so hopefully will see you all then. Let me know where you would like to see us.

Ahhh

We did it! The tractor has been busy, the combine has been flying up and down the fields and the weather has been kind to us this year. No breakdowns, – well Geoff suffered a bit as he was not able to have a day off – but the harvest is all in and we are ready to sell everything and see whether or not we made any money this year!

The grain merchants have decreed that they cannot possibly give us the same price as last year – it was far too much – so prices have dropped considerably – bang goes my calculations for the cash flow –again. I had begun to dream of a summer holiday next year, Geoff was muttering about a new tractor, Stephen was planning his new showroom and Amanda was planning a new bathroom. Somehow I think it may be the holiday that loses out……..

Onto the next job – ploughing, and drilling next years crop. The oil seed rape needs to be planted this month, ready for the harvest in July 2014. Anyone care to gaze into their crystal ball and tell us whether the winter is going to be kind to us this year?

The oil seed rape harvest was OK. Nothing exciting, yield was down as expected, but we shall have enough – thank goodness. Quality and taste are fantastic, so everyone should be happy this year. Apparently there was a programme on BBC 2 this week talking about how good Rapeseed oil is – well we all knew that anyway- but there are still some people who need to be told, so our work is not yet done!

Had a GREAT weekend at Chatsworth, lovely people, lovely weather, a new joke from Gordon (Posh Pots) to keep us chuckling and for the first time Geoff was able to stay in the Caravan for the weekend. Although 4 of us in a 2 berth caravan was cosy, Geoff and I had the blow up bed in the awning, which was an experience Geoff will not be in a hurry to repeat.

Next trip out is to Harrogate Flower Festival, make sure you pop by and say hello!

Other News

Well, if I cannot be a proud parent then who can? Stephen has been nominated for Junior Director of the Year by the Institute of Directors. The award is to be held in London next month, and he and Anna are attending the dinner. There are 10 shortlisted from around the country, so the competition is stiff, but just to be nominated is fantastic news. Of course we wish him all the very best, and have all our fingers and toes crossed for him!

The Rape is Swathed

We did it!! The Rape is swathed and has dried beautifully, now the combine is ready and waiting in the yard. If you had sound attached to this you would hear the throaty roar as Geoff powers it up and covers all and sundry with dust as he makes sure everything is oiled, sharpened, cleaned and tightened. After 36 years you would have thought I would be less than impressed with this scene, but it still brings such an element of relief and excitement. Even if all the housework just completed is undone. The joys of having a house in the middle of the yard!

The winter Barley has already been harvested, a good yield, but described as a bit thin – so no beer with this. Another couple of weeks and we will be in the Spring Barley, then the Wheat. I cannot believe that this year it will bring the end of harvest for us – no potatoes to lift as the ground was too wet to plant. Whatever shall we do with ourselves in September – apart from drilling next years crop – perhaps we can go on holiday!!!! Now that really is wishful thinking.,

We will be at Chatsworth again at the end of the month, Always a joy, and we so enjoy meeting up with all the friendly customers, and my sister, Jane, her husband, Mike and I enjoy the time we have together in the caravan there on site. Relaxing evenings with wine and good food. Make sure you come along and see us.

Stephen is off tonight to give his first after dinner speech. He cannot believe that anyone would want to pay to hear him speak, and has spent the last week practicing his lines, and redoing the entire thing. I am refraining from comment……..

Amanda has only two weeks to go before she returns to work from maternity. Isla is now crawling, and we are all going through our own homes to ensure things are out of reach and cupboards are safe. I had forgotten just how much has to be checked, and her cheeky grin can light up the room when she achieves to open or reach something we had thought was safe. I am hoping that she will be able to come to Chatsworth on the Friday to see us. We shall have to see.

The Rape has Finished Flowering

Well who would have thought it?  Flaming June wasn’t but July looks as though it could well be!   Hay time has been a joy this year.  No breakdowns or rain, and all is safely baled.  The hard bit will be the next couple of days when we have to manhandle the crop into the barn – in this heat.  I must not complain though, its so lovely to have the sun make an appearance.  Asparagus was not great this year, it was just too cold and it rather looks as though next years crop has been struck with some disease, it just has not grown at all.  Further investigation is required.

The Barley is beginning to turn, and the Rape has finished flowering, soon be time to swath the crop ready for harvesting.  This is the time of year is when we all get excited about the prospect of our crops making a profit.  If this weather can hold for the next month we may well catch up on the cold start to the year. It would be so good to have an easy harvest after the last few years.

On a personal front Stephen has just found out that he has been shortlisted for Director of the Year by the Institute of Directors.  Such an honour.  We are all very proud of him – he has worked incredibly hard over the past couple of years and deserves to be amongst the top in the country.  Watch out for his next venture!

As for Amanda and Gary, the bank came good, and they are safely moved in.  Lots to do, but room to do it in.  They are looking forward to making friends in the area.

 

 

The Weather Needs to Make Its Mind Up

I JUST DO NOT BELIEVE IT!!!     You know how for the past few months we have been moaning on about how wet it is and how the land will take a full year to recover etc, etc, etc, Geoff has come into the house today and stated how dry the land is and how much we need rain……… the plants are stressing and the fertiliser is not being taken up, the grass for the hay isn’t growing.  I could go on but I tuned out at that point.

However the rape is looking fair to middling, and the flowers are just starting to come into bloom.  Yes the yield will be down, but at least at the moment there will be a crop.

Life is still hectic here on the farm, the Fastrac caught fire last week, still scratching our heads as to how the main bearing could shatter and twist but at least we caught it before too much damage was done.  We now have books all over the house covered in oil showing the different parts and how they are put together – some light bedtime reading.  We have caught up with all the drilling and are starting to get excited about Asparagus, a few spears have decided to emerge from the soil and we are poised with knife aloft to swoop down and cut them.  The first harvest of the year!

The ceiling in the lounge is now back in place, and the decorator has done his magic, peace is sort of reigning in the household, although our daughter and son in law together with grandchild have moved in short term while the bank and countrywide alliance FINALLY get their act together.  The least said about that the better, but hopefully all will be resolved this week.

The sun is shining today, the orders are flowing in and Leyburn was a great show.  We were next to a fantastic sweet stand with Carol and Geoff from Sweet Niblets Confectionary from Hartlepool.  www.sweetnibletsconfectionery.com  Really really good stuff!  Hope we are next to them next year!