We ran our first Farm Picnic Day last month. We were very nervous. Like, really nervous. It sold out quickly and we closed it down at 50 people, and I had visions of people eveywhere and chaos and children climbing silos and falling into electric fences and ambulances and lawsuits and me in a data entry job in Nowra and Adam in roadworks.
But you know what? It was fabulous fun.
People are lovely. Particularly people who bother to come all the way down here for a bit of a picnic. Lovely.
We set up a welcome tent and gave the lovely people cherry slice and homemade cordial on arrival. Adam brought out some two-day-old chickens for cuddles and then everyone went for a big walk around the farm and had a look at what we're up to. (Our necks, obviously.)
The seriously awesome Tory, our intern, who arrived four days beforehand, who made it a calmer, better-catered event.
kids lunchbox
grownups lunchbox for 2
As they came back past the kitchen we gave them sturdy brown paper bags with lunchboxes full of farm goodness. The kids got a sausage roll made from our chickens, a savoury muffin, a little pot of handmade yoghurt with our raw honey and a chocolate fudge brownie wrapped in paper.
The grownups got our pastured chicken, smoked, in a salad with handmade pesto, and freshly baked bread rolls, spinach quiche, cherry tomato pickles, our suckling pig rillette and a chocolate fudge brownie.
We gave everyone a map of the farm, pointed out the nice picnic spots and left them to it.
No tractors got broken, no emergency services were called, and I think everyone had a lovely time. Which follows, because they were lovely. We struck an absolutely beautiful day and were grateful for it, and grateful, again, that we can share this adventure and this pretty spot.
We'll do it again.
You should come!
Visitors were encouraged to forage cherry tomatos in the kitchen garden
Mmmmm, brownies (I used this recipe).
Well that was fun.
xxx
P.S The final two instalments of Hayden Quinn's Buena Vista Farm series have been released - the farm tour, and the farm dinner, and are both here below:
You guys are totally amazing. You should all be so proud of what you are doing. I am in complete admiration of what you are doing.
I bet you just fell into bed.
Take care (and sleep well)
Posted by: Bruisemouse | Tuesday, 04 March 2014 at 12:04 AM
Really wish i lived closer looked like a great day.
Posted by: Jacinta | Tuesday, 04 March 2014 at 12:16 AM
Fantastic, guys! Always delighted to hear that everything is going well. What a beautiful idea too. xx J.
Posted by: Jodie | Tuesday, 04 March 2014 at 07:50 AM
What a delightful way to spend the day! I am constantly in awe of what you are up to!
Posted by: Mrs Homespun | Tuesday, 04 March 2014 at 08:18 AM
Oh my, those lunchboxes look ever so delicious!! Congrats on another successful farm event!
-Jaime
Posted by: Ngo Family Farm | Tuesday, 04 March 2014 at 11:16 AM
And how cute are you all in the videos?! So sweet.
Posted by: Ngo Family Farm | Tuesday, 04 March 2014 at 11:16 AM
So glad it went so well! You're doing such fantastic and creative things at Buena Vista - very impressive and keep up the wonderful work! Hope to pop in to the next picnic!
Cheers,
Ally
www.happyearth.com.au
Posted by: Ally | Tuesday, 04 March 2014 at 12:18 PM
Would love to come to the next one! Didn't manage to see it advertised... an autumn picnic on the farm sounds wonderful! - Fiona -
Posted by: Fiona | Tuesday, 04 March 2014 at 06:18 PM
that looks awesome. good on you. Such an inspiration.
Posted by: Robyn | Tuesday, 04 March 2014 at 08:30 PM
Ahrg pastured chicken sausage rolls? How did you get everyone to leave?
Posted by: Kirsten | Monday, 10 March 2014 at 01:10 PM