MY FINAL NEWSLETTER!

After 20 years of organic growing and having reached the ripe old age of 65 earlier this year, I've decided that it's time for me to take off my welly boots and hang up my gardening gloves and pass on my business to a someone younger, brimming with enthusiasm, energy and new ideas. I have been very lucky indeed to find such a person and her name is Fiona Pollock and what's more, she's passionate about all things organic and local.

Fiona will officially be taking over the business from me on 1st January, 2010 and she is writing to all existing subscribers to introduce herself and give you essential information, such as the new bank account number and contact details, etc. Fiona introduces herself on the Home page.

From 1st January 2010, payment and contact details will change. Therefore, will all customers kindly pay for your existing orders up to the end of 2009 only (i.e. including your last delivery before Christmas), using your current method of payment.

I will be going on holiday from 3rd December until the middle of January, so Fiona will be dealing with any enquiries during my absence. You can use the same telephone number and email address or Fiona's mobile: 07781 435 395 if you need to contact us.

Fiona wants me to stay on for another full growing season in order to pass on some of the growing expertise I have acquired during the past 20 years and to assist and advise her wherever necessary. Initially you may not notice much difference, but I'm sure she has some new ideas that she will eventually want to bring to the business.

Otherwise, the team will remain essentially the same including Robert, my delivery driver, Valda, my loyal and enormously experienced Latvia supervisor and Rose, my knowledgeable box packer, with one or two additional seasonal helpers. I'd like to thank them all for working so hard and going beyond the call of duty to make Guernsey Organic Growers so successful.

Sheila has done an excellent job for the past few years in keeping tabs on everyone's payments and delivery requirements and I'm very grateful to her for that, but at the end of the year she will be handing over her book-keeping and record keeping duties to Fiona. Also many thanks to Michelle for keeping the website updated.

Finally, I'd like to say a very big thank you to all my customers, past and present, for being so supportive and loyal. Also for understanding that organic growing has its difficulties and some produce may not always quite be 'supermarket' perfect and that from time to time there are problems with slugs, caterpillars and other unavoidable pests and diseases! Without you, Guernsey Organic Growers could not exist. The past 20 years have rushed by and I've enjoyed every minute, learned an enormous amount, met some amazing and inspiring people in the organic world and developed my business from a few very old greenhouses in Baubigny to a bigger operation based in the Castel and St Saviour's.

I trust you will give Fiona the same level of support that you have given to me.

Kind regards

Anne Sandwith,
Guernsey Organic Growers
November 2009

WINTER VEGETABLE SELECTION

Over the winter period - from now until the early Spring, you can expect to receive some of the following vegetables:

From Guernsey Organic Growers (Hillcrest and Montreux vineries):

Pumpkins/squash (the larger ones cut into slices or wedges), fennel, kohl rabi (pale green and purple), cabbage (Savoy, January King, Spring), leeks, calabrese, broccoli, chard, celery, beetroot, spring onions, pak choi (various varieties), lettuce, cut and come again salad leaves, rocket, spinach, purple top turnips, Brussels sprouts, chilli peppers, celeriac and onions.

Imported from Jersey organic producers (Vermont Farm, Farm Fresh Organics and Grass Roots Organics):

Main crop potatoes, carrots, parsnips, onions (when ours run out) and occasionally cauliflowers. Possibly swedes from time to time.

Obviously, any of the above which you have requested not to receive will be excluded. In their place we will endeavour to give you an alternative that you do like, or a larger quantity of another vegetable. We try to 'ring the changes' as much as possible, but we are obviously limited to what is in season at any one time.

We are already sowing broad beans, green peas and carrots, lettuce and other crops for the spring. Seed potatoes will be planted early in 2010. Seed catalogues for 2010 are being scrutinised. Crop and rotation planning is underway. Over-wintering green manures have been sown to increase fertility and we hope to spread some seaweed on the outside land.

IMPORTANT NOTICE RE CLOSURE OVER CHRISTMAS/NEW YEAR PERIOD

Guernsey Organic Growers will be closed for business from Thursday 24th December, 2009 until Wednesday 6th January, 2010.

TUESDAY CUSTOMERS:

Last delivery of 2009: Tuesday 22nd December
First delivery of 2010: Tuesday 12th January

FRIDAY CUSTOMERS:

Last delivery of 2009: Wednesday 23rd December - i.e. two days early
First delivery of 2010: Friday 8th January

Fortnightly customers

If your last order of 2009 is Tuesday 15 December, your first delivery of 2009 will be Tuesday 12 January.
If your last order of 2009 is Tuesday 22 December, your first delivery of 2009 will be Tuesday 19 January.

If your last delivery of 2009 is due Friday 18 December, your first delivery of 2010 will be Friday 8 January.
If your last delivery of 2009 is due Wednesday 23 December, your first delivery of 2010 will be Friday 15 January.

If you don't require a delivery on any of these dates, please notify us as soon as possible (unless you've already done so).

If you are a fortnightly customer with a delivery on 15th December, but would like an 'extra' pre-Christmas delivery on Tuesday 22nd December, please let us know in good time (two weeks' notice please).

If you would like to order additional vegetables, or an extra veg box, to tide you over the holiday period, please notify us of your requirements as soon as possible.

I will be away from 3rd December, but Fiona will be dealing with your messages, so please give her plenty of notice of your holiday requirements by using the usual contact number or email address or her mobile: 07781 435 395. Please give your full name and telephone number.

I'd like to thank you for your custom and send best wishes to you and your family for the festive period from all the 'team' at Guernsey Organic Growers.

Anne Sandwith

Our philosophy is organic, fresh, local, seasonal.

For information on our environmental policy, please see our Home page.

Useful Websites

I'm now registered with a new, excellent website especially designed for veg box operators and users. I strongly recommend that you take a look at it, especially if you want to identify a more unusual vegetable, as it has photos and some excellent tips on preparation and a selection of recipes. It's www.VegBox-Recipes.co.uk - do check it out. Another excellent website is: www.thinkvegetables.co.uk.

Price Reminder

Big 'family size' box - £18.00
Mini box delivered alone - £11.00
Mini box collected - £10.00
Unibag collected - £6.00

Please get in touch if there's anything you'd like to discuss in connection with your veg box.

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Contact Details:
Fiona Pollack or Anne Sandwith
Tel: 237547 or 07781 435 395
Fax: 233045
email: guernseyorganics@cwgsy.net.

 

 

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