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Blacklake Farm

a handful of raspberries, Occombe organic farm

HOW TO BOOK:
Step 1 - Contact the farm on 01404 812 122 to check availability on the Master Classes below.
Step 2 - Join the Soil Association and qualify for your Master Class absolutely FREE.
» join online by direct debit (from £2 per month)
» join online with credit/debit card (£24)
Step 3 - Contact the farm on 01404 812 122 quoting your membership order reference number to book your free place.
Existing members can book a course at half price by quoting their membership number, found on their membership card. Please email memb@soilassociation.org if you have mislaid your card and would like a replacement, or would like to know your membership number.
BT staff: please click here

Tucked away in East Devon countryside is Blacklake farm, an organic farm three miles from the coast at Sidmouth. Its mix of old pastures, deciduous woodland and old apple orchards are situated in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty stretching from Lyme Regis to Exmouth. Blacklake is owned and farmed by Catherine and Nick Broomfield and is home to a pedigree herd of Red Ruby Devon Cows, a prize winning flock of Dorset Down sheep, the odd pig, and an assortment of hens. An organic lunch sourced from farm ingredients will be provided along with refreshments throughout the day. To check availability on the Master Classes below please telephone 01404 812122 or email catherine@blacklakefarm.com

Hedge your best
Hedgelaying and apple tree pruning
A hands-on practical day learning traditional skills in hedgelaying and fruit tree pruning. There has been a farm recorded at Blacklake since the Dooms Day and many of the farm’s hedges have been dated at several hundred years old. Nick Broomfield will introduce you to Devon Hedgelaying techniques and everyone will get involved splicing, cutting and laying. In the afternoon, the focus will be on one of the farm’s traditional apple orchards where you will learn the do’s and don’ts of winter pruning of fruit trees. An organic lunch sourced from farm ingredients will be provided along with refreshments throughout the day.

*Date:*	23rd February 2008
*Time:*	Starts at 10am
*Cost:*	£50 (inclusive of an organic lunch) or FREE to those who join the Soil Association (see HOW TO BOOK above).

Flower Power!
Wild flower pressing and identification
Blacklake Farm has several species-rich hay meadows with at least 20 indigenous species per square metre! This type of grassland is becoming an increasingly rare treasure. This family day is a great opportunity to enjoy a hay meadow in full bloom as well as brush up your knowledge of common names for many of our traditional meadow grasses and flowers. The day will take the shape of a walk through the hay meadow collecting whatever catches your eye, then back to the barn for identification. Take the flowers and grasses home and press them to create a lasting learning resource for you and your children.
An organic lunch sourced from farm ingredients will be provided along with refreshments throughout the day.

Date: 26th May 2008

Time: Starts at 10am

Cost: £30 per adult with up to 2 children free (inclusive of an organic lunch) or FREE to those who join the Soil Association (see HOW TO BOOK above).

Fox Talbot on the Farm
Fox Talbot Photography
Early May is bursting with new life and the promise of Spring. A great time to capture nature and what better way than to experience the simplicity and creativity of photography
with Fox Talbot's camera-less method, photograms. Work with photographic artist Susie Needham recording images of life on Blacklake Farm. Dark room processing on farm included.

Date: 24th May 2008

Time: Starts at 10am

Cost: £50 (inclusive of an organic lunch) or FREE to those who join the Soil Association (see HOW TO BOOK above).

The Big Apple
Apple picking pressing and cider making day
Tom Putt, Netherton Blower, Fair Maiden, Woolbrook Pipppin – great names to toy with and all, in fact, old varieties of Devon apples.
Spend a day picking apples in Blacklake’s lovely old orchards before pressing your very own apple juice and discovering the alchemy of apple juice and cider making. Take home the fruits of your labour at the end of the day to impress your friends and yourself!

Date: 4th October 2008 SOLD OUT

Date: 11th October 2008
Time: Starts at 10am

Cost: £50.00 (inclusive of lunch and refreshments) or FREE to those who join the Soil Association (see HOW TO BOOK above).


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