As part of our 20th anniversary celebrations customers of Hexham Farmers’ Market will have an opportunity to have a look behind the scene of a few of the regular producers at the market starting withg Ravensworth Grange Farm near Gateshead on Saturday 17 August followed by Slackhouse Farm near Gilsland on Wednesday 28 August. To book a place on these exclusive opportunities you need to contact the farms direct and contacts are given at the end of this post.
Ravensworth Grange Farm is the home of Ann and Hugh Gray. The product they are reknown for at the market is pork from their Middle White pigs. Middle White pigs are a rare breed which the Rare Breeds Survival Trust classifies as endangered which means that there are only 100-200 breeding sows in the country. Middle Whites are very friendly and produce exceptionally nice pork. As well as seeing the animals you will be help finish off making a bird box to replace some of the existing ones on the farm, Ann will talk about the wildlife and plants on the farm and about sustainable food production. She’ll also lay on a barbeque! You can contact Ann by emailing annandhughie@gmail.com and booking is essentia as there are only a couple of places left. The open day at Ravensworth Grange starts at 2pm.
Dianne and Eric Horn run Slackhouse Farm near Gilsland and produce Birdosward Cheese, yoghurt and raw unpasteurised milk from their Ayrshire cows. The farm is run organically and certified by the Soil Association. Birdoswald cheese is made to a Dunlop recipe which was originally from the Ayrshire area and is ideal from sweet Ayrshire cows milk. In addition to the cows Dianne and Eric also have hens and sell eggs. Dianne and Eric will do two tours on 28 August with an overlap at lunch time. Booking is again essential and you can contact them on slackhouseorganicfarm@gmail.com.
We hope to have another couple for tour dates and venues later in the year.