Blog
I've been nominated!
Added 27-Nov-2009
This week I was nominated to be on the Council of Rangers......... no this isn't some Tolkeinesque group to protect the ring - but it is a pretty big deal! Its the Council for the British Free Range Egg Producers that helps decide how we should work within the industry and I would be the representative for the South West.
On 3rd December I will be going up with some of Blackacre's free range egg producers to the British Free Range Egg Producers' Annual General Meeting to amongst many other things find out if I am accepted onto the Council - so wish me luck!
Before all that excitement I have some important new arrivals at Blackacre Farm on Monday - 4000 lovely new hens! We've been getting the Farm ready for them to make sure they will be warm and comfortable so that they can produce some lovely Blackacre Free Range Eggs, pictures to follow - if we ever get a break in the rain!
Dan.
2 huge eggs, 2 helicopters, 4 scientists, police and an egg expert!
Added 19-Nov-2009
This week I was called into St Mary the Virgin School in Gillingham as an egg expert, when they found two very large UEs (unidentified eggs!). Well, really they were very large paper mache eggs made by the teachers, to create a fantastic spectacle for the children to explore when they came into school. I was called in as an egg expert for obvious reasons and they also had police, mad scientists (local drama students), and army helicopters circling above!
The children had a fantastic time trying to work out what had happened at their school overnight, asking questions, looking at evidence and developing theories that would put the writers on Dr Who to shame! I was astounded by the enthusiasm of the children, teachers and drama students from Gillingham Senior School and it was great to get to impart a bit of my knowledge on eggs, to a captive audience!
Dan.
What came first?
Added 11-Nov-2009
Last week my Dad Tim who started Blackacre over 30 years ago picked up an award at the NFU South West Poultry Committee's annual dinner in St Mellion for Blackacre's work on Chicken and Egg, presented by legendary jockey Bob Champion . Chicken and Egg is an NFU project to help educate people about the poultry industry and the Blackacre team was recognised for our work at the Royal Bath and West show.
For several years we have attended the show to help children and adults learn more about how the poultry industry works and the whole Blackacre team were delighted to receive the award.
As this clip shows there can be a lot of confusion about the chicken and egg scenario, we are just glad that we can do our bit to explain how it all works!
Dan.
Blackacre at the Bonfire Breakfast
Added 05-Nov-2009
Today the Stalbridge Linen Company is holding a Bonfire Breakfast in aid of Cancer Research UK. They are offering a host of menu options including mueslis, yogurts and fruit alongside the more traditional bacon butties, sausage sandwiches and full English breakfast, which is where we come in!
I popped down there to meet Vicky Matthews and Teresa Downs to donate a box of free range Blackacre Farm Eggs to the cause. They were busy making a host of different breckies in return for donations to Cancer Research UK and along with other local producers we helped them lower costs by donating ingredients for the menu.
Unfortunately I was too early to sample any of the delicious menu options! But having been enticed by some of the wonderful smells I had to take an early break to make myself a full English including fresh bread, streaky bacon, grilled tomatoes and of course Blackacre Free Range Eggs!
Dan.