http://www.candeoakley.com en-gb candeoakley.com 2011-12-20T00:00:00Z candeoakley.com http://www.candeoakley.com/page9.htm#108976 Hello.Well what a month so far December was always going to be busy but this year it seems weve started early. First to come along were our 24 saddleback piglets. Good old Cagney and Lacey thats the sows had 12 each and once again theyre doing a brilliant job with their little tykes. Next the surprise arrival of Archie our first child. He took us all by surprise by turning up a month early and weighing only 4lb 10oz. Luckily he was allowed to come home straight away and is a little angel even at 4 in the morningNext came another litter of Gloucester old spot piglets and finally yesterday saw the arrival of our first calf for this season Holly. Heres a picture of mum and daughter.Happy Christmas 2011-12-20 09:42:17 http://www.candeoakley.com/page9.htm#105072 2011-10-20 15:00:05 http://www.candeoakley.com/page9.htm#104640 Wow its literally amazing how quickly the time goes especially when you have a farm to run animals to feed a shop to run two festivals to cater for oh and a baby on the wayBut were not moaning August was a good month for us with the Benington Chilli festival going from strength to strength followed by us providing all day and all night catering at Wilkestock music festival. Excellent organisation at both events made them a pleasure to attend. September saw us doing our bit for charity by catering the SABN buggy dash and the clay pigeon shoot to raise money for the Letchworth hospice both incredibly worthy causes that we were chuffed to be asked to help with.And before we know it its October and the big news is we finally have a card machine in the shop. HurrayPlus visitors to the farm will see our freernage turkeys out in the field. Dont forget to start thinking about placing your orders as once theyre gone well theyre gone.Thats it for now more photos to follow next time promise 2011-10-14 15:05:52 http://www.candeoakley.com/page9.htm#99820 They say bad things always happen in 3s. What I dint realise is that is doesnt always have to end in 3 Poor old Chris and nephew Tom whos been helping us out for a few weeks had a right old time of it last week with broken tractors escaped animals and to top it all rain on the straw.Still hopefully weve got through our little glitch and August will be kind to us.And roll on the Benington Chilli Festival 2011-8-4 16:54:34 http://www.candeoakley.com/page9.htm#97636 It doesnt feel like only 5 weeks ago we moved to Appleby Street but in that time weve certainly been working hard. All of the pigs piglets and sows are now in their new homes. Some of the cows are here and the next ones should be ready to come over soon. The hold up was due to our last calf which took ages to arrive but low and behold today Ginger put in an appearance so well just wait a few weeks until he and mum are strong enough and then all the cows and calves can join us on their lush new pasture.Apart from that Gill Chriss mum has been busy making cakes and fruit pies which have started whizzing off the shelves along with our homemade sausage flavours. Weve even found the time to fit in 2 hog roasts Grass still hasnt been cut though... 2011-7-4 17:28:16 http://www.candeoakley.com/page9.htm#94894 Well its an exciting day for the Oakley empire tomorrow sees us take over Appleby Street Farm near Cheshunt. Its a 100 acre livestock farm perfect for our needss. Plus its got a Farm Shop which well be able to fill up with our own homereared meats.Stay tuned for more on our big adventure 2011-5-27 16:14:04 http://www.candeoakley.com/page9.htm#81770 So the warm days of summer are definitely behind us in fact as I write its snowing and Chris is out on the stall at Baldock market. Brrrr.Weve been busy gearing up for Christmas staring with the Baldock Christmas market this weekend where well be serving hot hog roast with stuffing and homemade apple sauce Weve also bee busy getting the beef ready for our Christmas shop which opens on 23rd December. Well be serving fresh beef and all the trimmings to go alongside your Christmas Turkey.Weve also been stocking up on our cattle and pigs even buying one cow that unbeknown to us was actually in calf Shes due any day now so watch this space 2010-12-1 11:22:01 http://www.candeoakley.com/page9.htm#75003 So this month saw us take a stand at the Benington Chilli festival for the first time and boy what a success. Sunday was the first day and we thought that was busy but then Monday hit and that was even busier. So much co we sold out of packs of sausages and did pretty well with the hotdogs too. Hopefully well see a few new customers returning and well definitely be back again next year. Check out our stand 2010-9-8 10:57:35 http://www.candeoakley.com/page9.htm#71584 Well its been a busy old month for Chris and I. Firstly the lambs and new piglets arrived and then we had to get all the cows in to see how many of them were pregnant. And were pretty relieved to say that 7 out of 8 have calves inside them And theyre all due in the same week in January cant wait.While we had them in we decided to move them to a different location as grass was a bit thin on the ground where they were. As you can see from the photo now theyre in their new home theyve got plenty of lovely green grass to help their calves grow big and strong. 2010-7-29 09:17:07 http://www.candeoakley.com/page9.htm#69657 2010-7-6 10:50:23 http://www.candeoakley.com/page9.htm#69572 Wow what a busy weekend. Saturday saw the arrival of 4 8week old saddleback piglets and loading them wasnt the easiest of missions with one making an escape into the neighbouring field. But luckily all 4 girls are now settling into their new home.Sundays activity saw the delivery of 10 3 month old South Down lams. Theyre very cute with their lovely wooly faces and they too are settling into their new patch. More photos to follow soon 2010-7-5 12:00:49 http://www.candeoakley.com/page9.htm#68483 The suns finally found us so its time to make some hay Then well be able to use it to feed the cattle during the winter. 2010-6-21 09:48:16 http://www.candeoakley.com/page9.htm#68076 So the sunshine is here sort of and its time to put the babies out in the field for the first time and they seem to be taking to it really well. 2010-6-16 10:02:06 http://www.candeoakley.com/page9.htm#67679 Ooops been a bit busy recently you know getting married and stuff so were a bit behind on the news which is that weve now added 10 lovely little Aberdeen Angus calves to our herd. Ahhhh. 2010-6-11 10:31:47 http://www.candeoakley.com/page9.htm#61417 Boy what with trying to organise a wedding and launching a new business weve been pretty busy But weve still had time to try out some new sausage flavours. Now on the menu we have sweet chilli pork and apple my favourites and our traditional 100 pork. We reckon the sweet chilli are going to be a hit at BBQ time... whenever that may be Theres plenty of everything in stock just let us know what you require. 2010-3-25 19:40:02 http://www.candeoakley.com/page9.htm#55733 So our first Aberdeen Angus cow was slaughtered three weeks ago and weve just had the meat back from the butcher and boy it tastes gooood 2010-1-8 15:01:05