The countdown is on

Whitmuir the Organic Place - 27 May 2011

35 days to go to the Highland Show and still haven't pinned down a supplier of organic early potatoes to go with the beef stew. Our own Colleen are through the ground but looking a bit sorry for themselves, and unlikely to make the grade in time. With overnight temperatures down to 5 and 70 mile per hour winds it's been a bit grim out there this week. The salads in the polytunnel have slowed right down but we've lined up four other local organic growers to top up supplies. 

The kitchen's geared up to do the 4,000 rolls for soups and ploughmans, and with last year's winter wheat testing at 13.2% protein we should be able to do some of them with our own flour if we can press Andrew Whitley's small grain mill into service. The Chocolate Tree have given us a great price on some 74% organic chocolate for the brownies and the test bake with our own eggs came out perfectly. 

Meeting this morning with Sue Hope from Mercy Ships who are doing some great work introducing organic farming methods to small communities in West Africa. They have booked our marquee for a Friday night reception with their supporters - including the young farmers from Scotland who have been out to meet their opposite numbers in Benin. It's amazing to hear how organic methods have turned lives around - doubling yields and allowing families not only to feed themselves but sell enough food to send their kids to school. Didier the chef is brushing up his West African recipes for the occasion. Eat local, think global.