What’s been happening!
We want to give a big shout out to all those that organised the Southern Crafters Market in Invercargill. A very well organised market with such an awesome variety of traders, which meant there was a huge number of customers that had a great time over the 2 days. The Shandy's team had a very enjoyable break away in Invercargill and expect we will be back.
The Selwyn Awards was held on Saturday the 5th of August which recognises the outstanding work and achievements of businesses, not-for-profit organisations and individuals that live and work within the Selwyn district. If you attended, on the drinks menu would have been a spritzer made by a local mixologist with a local gin and our Shandy's Elderflower cordial, delicious if you're a gin drinker. Also our local community group here in Sheffield called The Locals received a silver award in their category, so well done to them and all the winners and businesses within Selwyn. We live in a very unique part of New Zealand with a lot of very talented people.
Sharon has a new steamer, very exciting, which is allowing her to now sterilise sawdust blocks, expanding the range of mushrooms she can grow greatly. So pekepeke-kiore is the first she has tried, which is commonly known as 'lion's mane', a very spectacular fungi that looks like coral and is very good for brain function and just tastes good. So watch this space for all sorts of different mushrooms in the coming months.
This season we have the pleasure of rearing calves again, and we are looking at doing 160 beef calves and we have already got 12 with more due tomorrow! So around the mushrooms, sauces/cordial, markets and shows we will also be tending to calves, always something to do!!
Coming up
Andy has his regular markets in Christchurch on a Sunday, being the South Christchurch Farmers Market 9am-12pm, then the Riverside Pantry at the Riverside Market in the afternoon 2pm-5pm.
With his next event The Ashburton Market Day on Monday 25th of September which is South Canterbury day.
Of course with spring/summer upon us there will be lots of A&P shows and Market Days coming up, Andy really loves getting out and meeting new people and supporting communities on these days.
We have had a few 'tours' here at Shandy's and also been out and presented ourselves at different groups, this is something we very much enjoy and hope to expand on this in this coming year, so watch out for developments in that area.
At Home
Tips for cheese scones
They are delicious, a great quick lunch or afternoon tea. I get a lot of compliments on my scones and all I do is have the mixture slightly wetter than recommended and if baking on non-stick sheets or baking paper put grated cheese on first, then put the uncooked scones on top and bake as normal. And of course, eat still warm. Make too many? Great out of the freezer, pop in the microwave when you are in a hurry.
A part of who Shandy's is and their lifestyle is to live off the land and share resources with our friends and neighbours. Being rural adds to the need to rely on our communities, friends and neighbours in time of need and celebration. Over the last few years with weather events, Covid and all the challenges life has brought along, we are very appreciative of those in our lives, and our lifestyle of supporting one another. So if you have supported us in any way thank you, so much, and if we have supported you, it is genuinely our pleasure.
In the Garden
The garlic is well up, most of the onions are planted and I have a few brassica's in the tunnel house, as in our climate they will be out before I can plant tomatoes. In trays, I have spinach, snap peas, more brassica's and more onions. In the next week I will look at planting the tunnel house plants in trays to raise inside for planting late October.