Stop the Press!!!


Myrtle becomes a Mother!!!

We are thrilled to announce the safe arrival of the most gorgeous twin lambs (we are biased of course!!) born Wednesday May 1st - hence their names "Maisie" (little girl) and "Mayo" (little boy). All the family are doing well and are an absolute joy to watch - come and see them and we guarantee they will put a big smile on your face!
The alpacas are extremely curious and anxious to meet the new members of their 'herd' especially Lizzie the young one who keeps poking her head through the fence for a quick nip! They have only been introduced over the fence as yet , as Myrtle has proven to be an extremely protective mum - very caring, very bossy and very vocal!!

A Massive Thank You to both Rhodri and Rydian for their wonderful help on the day - ensuring a safe and healthy delivery!
Goats a go-go?  No no!
Joey and Bruiser are truly settled in and extremely happy in their new home - so much so, they seem to have forgotten they are here to work and spend much of their time reclining on their "decking" basking in the sun!  This is the good life!

Spring is Sprouting…
Finally the sun has put his hat on and in the garden, purple sprouting broccoli is being picked as we type. This fabulous vegetable was cultivated by the Romans and grown in the UK since the early 18th century.  It is a wonderful sign of spring and full of goodness packed with iron, vitamin C, folic acid, calcium, fibre and vitamin A.  If you’ve not tried it before, come and get some!  Cook delicately, steaming is good, so as not to over cook it’s delicate beauty and 
eat the stems, leaves and heads with anything you fancy!

Also thriving in the raised beds are Brussel sprouts, rhubarb, cabbage, leeks and elephant garlic...so much to look forward to eating!
In the warmth of the polytunnel the tomato plants are finally catching up along with cucumbers, peppers and courgettes so.........watch this space!  Before long, they’ll be in the shop ready and waiting for you!
Get in touch with Nature…
Our restaurant garden looks really pretty this year, the daffodils may be fading but the tulips are blooming! Indeed everything in the garden is rosy so please do come and visit.   Enjoy some lunch on the terrace, take a stroll around the garden, marvel at the animals and take home some goodies from the farm shop, what better way to spend a sunny afternoon?  Even if it’s raining, transport yourself to sunshine in the restaurant with some delicious fish and a refreshing glass of rose.

Mystery of the Month...Calling all Nature Detectives!

And finally…can anyone out there identify the person/animal who is determined to burrow and dig in one of our raised beds, despite being constantly filled in by John???  It’s too big for a mole unless it’s an absolute monster and not a rabbit because there is no 'evidence' left behind!  Any suggestions gratefully received!!
Have a fabulous month of May and we look forward to seeing you again very soon!

Easter Eggscellence!


We hope that you all had a lovely Easter and got to enjoy some quality time with your loved ones!  Congratulations again to all our Easter colouring competition winners.  We were thrilled to receive so many wonderful pictures which are still on display in the shop and have been brightening up the walls even with all the cold weather.  Here are some of the talented winners with their prizes.  Well done!!
  


More support for DiabetesUK Cymru
Congratulations also to Kerry who won the raffle and a big thank you to everyone who bought a ticket, we raised an amazing £102 which has been sent to Diabetes UK Cymru who we know will be thrilled.

Here Comes the Sun…
Well, thank goodness today it feels like Spring is finally arriving and not a moment too early!  Following the freezing temperatures, growing has been very slow in the veg garden this year so far with John being reticent to 'plant out' due to the cold nights.   We have been taking it slowly to ensure we don't harm the seedlings, but thankfully now we can go full throttle as the warm weather puts everything right again!

Even inside the polytunnel the tomato plants are coming through but way behind where we were this time last year!  All the more reason to snap them up when you see them!

The lettuces and cabbages are cwtched up under the fleeces and doing well, no doubt they will be under the sun very soon, ever the optimists…

Herbtastic!
Thankfully the herbs are doing well…bursting through are Mint, Coriander, Oregano and a new one for us this year, Tarragon.  Did you know that herbs are full of antioxidants, anti-inflammatory properties and may even boost metabolism?!?
Just one teaspoon of Oregano has as much antioxidant power as three cups of chopped broccoli!  But don’t skip the broccoli…have them together as our Broccoli will be ready to pick this week…or you could wait for some of our tomatoes and slice them up, drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle over oregano for a delicious, health boosting snack!
Goats Galore…
Since we last wrote, we have welcomed two new arrivals in the form of Bruiser and Joey the goats who have been given a home on the understanding they will do some hard graft and as I type, they are busy tackling the forest of brambles.  It has to be said that so far they are earning their keep, unlike the alpacas who were obviously far too busy to chase away the nearby fox seen on the prowl the other day.  As a result, the chickens are now guarded by an electric fence to ensure we don’t have a massacre!

We are still watching Myrtle (our expectant mother Ewe) with baited breathe to see if we will hear the sound of baby hooves….no signs yet, not helped by the fact her normal size is barrel shaped anyway!  Maybe she’s hiding triplets in there…

As always we look forward to seeing you in the shop soon!



Spring Stirrings...



 
What’s Growing?
Well…even though it may not feel like it with these sub-arctic temperatures, Spring will be with us soon…she has assured us by sending some Daffodils and there are signs of Tulips trying to push through the frozen ground.  It’s been a hard Winter but the veg growing goes on all the same..

Broad Beans are currently bursting through under the shelter of the polytunnel and herb seedlings are starting to warm up in their trays.  We’re also rather excited to have a new addition to this year’s crop in the form of Brussel Sprouts, can’t wait to try some of those!

The Shop
We celebrated St. Dwynwen’s & St. Valentine’s day selling Cariad Chocolate Lovespoons which (following a romantic meal at Caesars, of course) proved to be the perfect gift as well as lots of pots of our Caesar’s beehive Honey – what better sweet treats to snuggle up and share with your loved one?

Caesar’s Prime Pork
We have recently stocked up on fabulous legs and loins of pork as well as bellies, chops and sausages all produced from our very own Gloucester Old Spot stock…all of this pork is absolutely delicious, why not try a leg for a sensational Sunday roast or a few packs of sausages - the perfect affordable treat to enjoy any day of the week.  If you’ve not tried traditional rare breed meat, this would be the perfect introduction, we are sure you won’t go back…tastes like pork used to taste! 

Due to popular demand, Leslie, our Shop Manager continues to make the most delicious Beef and Pork burgers and you can rest assured, the only horses you’ll find at Caesars are in the stables across the road!  Interestingly, local butchers have seen sales rise following the horsemeat scandal and it’s no surprise!  You can see what you’re getting and be happy in the knowledge that you are supporting local producers and suppliers too, it’s the way to go!
 
What’s more, we now have 100 Welsh Mountain ewes grazing in our extensive pastures across the road and we are looking forward to the first of their Spring Lambs arriving, such an exciting time of year!



 Livestock
The Alpacas and Myrtle our lovely lamb have been moved into a new paddock as all the rain and snow caused havoc with the land which needs some time to recover.  Lizzie, our youngest Alpaca recently celebrated her first birthday and when the weather warms up a little will be having her first shear, exciting stuff!!  Being such a youngster, her fleece will be super soft and will be hand spun: Details to follow!

Cock-a-doodle-do-you?!?
It turns out ‘Geronimo’ our gorgeous cockerel has some new kids on the block looking to take the medal for top boy!  It has been such fun hearing ‘Rollo’ our Polish Frizzle finding his voice along with another demure black and green beauty…it’s like x Factor in the big chicken house!  Geronimo, being the Gentleman he is, is taking it all in his stride but everyone knows, he’s the boss!!

We hope you’ve been keeping warm and cooking up some tasty meals…we’d love to see you in the shop soon and always love hearing from you!

A new year...


Well! We've certainly had our fair share of snow along with everybody else!  So much so that we actually had to close both shop and restaurant...thankfully only for one day! Everything looks so beautiful covered in snow and the animals have great fun playing in it, although the chickens are not so fussed...no wonder when you consider they originate from the jungle!  Our dedicated staff have been in every day making sure the animals have fresh water (as it keeps freezing)! Plenty of food, a little more than normal to keep them warm and clean, fresh bedding to keep them cosy!
With all the snow, there's not been much going on in the planting department but just before it's arrival,  John was busy preparing the soil ready for action with our very own compost, lovingly created and nurtured throughout the year using manure from our obliging horses!
 Compost is actually quite amazing stuff!  We can tell you as we've been very involved with it this year...not only is it an environmentally friendly alternative to chemical fertilisers, it also builds good soil structure and texture, increasing the levels of air and water in the soil...even more amazingly, it distributes nutrients in the right quantities depending on the size of the plants, amazing!  Mother Nature really is quite remarkable!

 We've been harvesting lots of Winter Mizuna (perfect for this time of year as it hales from the mustard family and has a peppery little kick) and Lambs Lettuce which have been sold in the shop and used for the salads in the restaurant.
 
Having been tucked in under fleeces through the winter months,  we are already starting to get some early broad beans, elephant garlic and broccoli.  

Meanwhile in the warmth of the polytunnel, we have various seedlings coming along nicely but we'll have to wait for some warmer weather before we can transfer them into the beds.

Christmas was our best yet with hundreds of happy customers enjoying their meat and other lovely festive produce ordered from the shop...we've had some fabulous feedback and are delighted to have played a part in so many customers' Christmas feasts and festivities.  We're now busy restocking the shelves and have some exciting new jams and chutneys for you to come and try!  It's also the perfect weather for cwtching up at home in front of the fire and getting some lovely soups and stews on the go, we have everything you need here to get cooking...

Back to the animals and we are very glad to announce the welcome return of Myrtle, our beautiful sheep this week.  For those who don't know, she's been on a prolonged 'healthy break' as a result of which, we hope to hear the joyful pitter-patter of baby lamb hooves in early Spring!!  Watch this space!  She certainly enjoyed her holiday and has been very vocal since she got back, telling the alpacas all about her adventure!  Needless to say, they gave her a warm welcome back :-)

We are all looking forward to celebrating Lizzie, our beautiful baby Alpaca's, first birthday at the beginning of next month.  We can't believe it's been a year since she arrived (somewhat unexpectedly) one very cold February morning.  She's a feisty little Madame, the spitting image of her mother although, fortunately, a little more friendly!  Why not come and see her in celebration of her birthday?  We'd love to see you!

Well, as I sign off, the snowfalls again, so please call and check if you are planning to pay us a visit.  Keep yourselves and each other warm!  

Farm Shop

Just to let everyone know that the farm shop will re-open Thursday 3rd of January 2013.

Christmas is coming…


Incredibly, it’s that time of year again when we are taking orders for the most special of family gatherings, Christmas Day Dinner.  We’ve been hard at work (somebody had to do it), tasting turkeys born and reared in Wales and have arrived at what we consider to be the best in terms of flavour, quality and  value for money.

The turkeys we have selected have all been reared on Welsh farms with the highest welfare conditions thus ensuring the most succulent and flavorsome Christmas Day Roast.  Take your pick from the following and be sure to get your orders in quick, you have until Monday 10th December to order:

Bryn Derw Farm
Free-range corn-fed Bronze Turkey              £11.95 per kg

Maesmawr Farm
White Monmouthshire Turkey                     £ 9.95 per kg

Usk Vale
Butterfly Turkey Breast Fillet (Boneless)      £10.95 per kg

Madgett's Farm
Free-range Goose                               £11.95 per kg

Madgett's Farm
Free-range Capons                              £ 7.95 per kg
(A Capon is a Rooster that has been specially reared to improve tenderness and flavour)

If you need any advice on what size to order for your party or which of the above would suit your needs best, don’t hesitate to call (029) 2089 1223 or call in and speak to either Lesley or Steve.

While you’re at it, take the stress out of Christmas shopping and avoid the crazy supermarkets, ordering everything you need for your Christmas lunch from us as well as your pâtés, Vegetables and stuffings etc. for the whole festive season.  We can get it all prepared for you to collect.

Not forgetting that we have some lovely gifts in store now is the perfect time to pick up some of our fantastic gift-packed jams and chutneys and order our fabulous hampers which make the perfect Christmas presents for the most discerning friends and relatives!  All you need to do is tell us what size you would like and we can prepare and gift wrap it for you. They are already selling fast and our elves are busy making up beautiful hampers.  Go on!  Treat your loved ones to a taste of Caesars fine fayre!

In the run up to Christmas, the shop will be open as usual (Tuesday – Saturday 10am- 4pm) until Friday 21st and then as follows:
Saturday 22nd December 9am – 4pm
Sunday 23rd December 10am – 4pm
Monday 24th December 8am – 2pm

It's all go at the Farm.


We had some very special visitors to the farm shop last week! Pupils from Creigiau Primary accompanied by the lovely Miss Moore came to visit on Thursday to feed our pigs some apples!  The scrumptious apples came from the schools own trees and made a wonderful seasonal treat for our lovely porkers! Needless to say, they tucked right in and were appley happy!  We all had a great time and look forward to their next visit.



John has been busy as usual and is delighted with the pumpkin patch progress.  The pumpkins are being fattened up in preparation for Halloween.  Did you know that pumpkins belong to the squash family?  In our humble opinion, pumpkins and other squash are very under rated, be inspired by these lovely winter warming recipes: http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/content/recipes/ingredients/pumpkin/

Sadly the leeks are not doing so well and appear to be randomly collapsing...John thinks this is probably due to all the rain that we have had and he is toiling away to salvage them.


There are some lovely salad leaves popping up now which will soon be bagged as mixed leaves and ready for the shop...they include some new varieties for the Caesars garden such as Tatsoi, Mizuna, Polycress, Rocket and Mustard.  In researching this week’s blog, we have discovered that there is actually a British Leafy Salads Association – how fantastic!  Check out their leaf guide and learn more about these varieties here: http://www.britishleafysalads.co.uk/know/leaf-guide.shtml and before winter proper arrives while we can still enjoy these lovely leaves, check out all the recipes for and facts on salad leaves: http://www.makemoreofsalad.com/ 


John is also picking and preparing onions, curly kale and carrots, all full of nutritional goodness!  He has started to train some blackberries which will be ready for sale next year.  Another hitch that John has had to deal with is a surprising amount of stingy nettles growing out of his manure!  How uncomfortable ;-)  Needless to say, he has having to remove them all as they pop up and won’t make the same mistake next year!


If you are looking for a tasty and healthy breakfast treat, why not try Bendy Legs Granola! http://www.lovebendylegs.co.uk/   Another Wales True Taste Award winner, this delicious granola has been one of our most popular sellers for some time now and is lovely with milk or on top of some seasonal fruit and greek yoghurt with a drizzle of this season's Caesars Arms honey which is now in stock!  What is more, it's made in Wales :-) Its crazy name comes from the creator’s nephew not wanting to climb up the hill from the beach in Tresaith, we certainly know where that little fella was coming from!!
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