Spring time and what’s been happening at Shandy’s?
First off, besides the weather, spring has sprung and what an awesome country we live in, the colours, the birds, the new growth, stunning.
Andy has had a rough start to the spring/summer markets with the weather wrecking havoc at times, with the Ellesmere A&P show falling on the day of 160km winds, which meant he didn't even get out the gate. The Country Christmas Fete was windy then eventually washed out from rain half way through the day, those that turned up for the first half did have a good day though.
The Orton Bradley Market was cold but had a good turn out. Finally The Hororata Parish Fete had a good day, still a little windy but not enough to put a dampener on the day. But the Hororata Highland Games was the winner on Saturday, a spectacular day and with apparently over 10,000 people turning out was an awesome event.
Aside from events, we travelled to Hanmer last week to get our products into the Creative Genius shop which showcases local producers, so within the next few weeks we will be announcing Shandy's Products in Hanmer. West Meats in Blenheim Road also wants to stock our products, another announcement coming for that.
Andy has had a trial of his own on the go, he has been trialing a bbq sauce with an interesting ingredient which is now in the naming and labeling process so that will hopefully be launched before Christmas too, the feed back has been amazing on the taste so people are asking to purchase it already.
Sharon is not happy with the quality of the home grow mushroom kits so far, so the trials continue hoping to have some available for Christmas but only if they are good enough. The NZ Lions Mane grew well so we should have a regular supply of them shortly, or they might just be as a grow at home kit depending on demand.
The excitement is building too for the new Wine Caps or King Stropharia outdoor bed and the logs we inoculated last year which there is a variety of Enoki, NZ Lions Mane, NZ Shiitake, Tawaka and Phoenix Oyster, all Native of course. They will put on an awesome show once they are fully inoculated and decide it’s time to show their amazing fruit. Hopefully in time for some of our guests that will be here for a tour.
At Home
The garden has been struggling with the weather, and has caused frustration for the gardener! With no frost sensitive plants planted out as the frosts are still a bit regular the last one Saturday. We have had a few brassicas out of the tunnel house, one broccoli was ginormous see in the photos and a bonus was, no bugs, not even one!
We had our first calves head away last week, looking very healthy and the rest off milk now so they won't be far behind.
We have been making our own laundry powder over the last few months and it seems to be working out ok (wasn't sure if it would clean the same). A huge bonus with it is every time you make it you can use a different scented cake of soap, they have all been amazing.
Also made some cream cheese last week which was nice but a few tweaks next time and it will be just like the bought one, but better, and following the cheese theme we have some camembert in the process at the moment, so will see how that goes. Here at Shandy's we enjoy trying new things and especially if it's something we are buying but can learn to do it ourselves.
What’s coming up
Every Sunday - @South Christchurch Farmers Market continues
17th - 18th November - Geraldine Festival (this Friday and Saturday)
25th -26th November - Encraftment Christmas Market at Pioneer Stadium, Christchurch
Sharon has to clean up the Shandy's Shirt with The Courtney Show also on the 25th of November at the Kirwee Domain
And it will be Sharon at the South Christchurch Farmers Market on the 26th. Andy thinks he is hilarious when he double books and Sharon has to do markets (she doesn't really mind)