In October, apart from the weekly farmers’ market in Bilbao, we went

to the Autumn fair in Karrantza on the 7th and the annual fair in

Galdames on the 29th.

Daily chores on the farm continue unabated…milking, feeding the

cows, checking up on the heifers, etc. Additionally we topped some

fields and spread slurry and manure.

Recipe of the month: Spinach and cheese pasty

1 sheet of pastry

300 g fresh or frozen spinach

250 g cheese (type depending on taste)

1 Medium onion, finely grated

A handful of pine nuts

1 beaten egg

Olive oil

Salt to taste

Ground black pepper to taste

Steam the spinach (or alternatively, if fresh, fry in a little olive oil)

Add some olive oil to a frying pan and gently fry the onion for a

few minutes. Add the spinach, salt, pepper and pine nuts and heat

for a few minutes.

Lastly, added the cheese (diced or grated) and mix thoroughly,

leaving to heat a few minutes longer.

Spread a sheet of greaseproof paper on a baking tray. Extend the

pastry and cut in half. Place half on the baking tray and spread on

top the spinach and cheese mixture, leaving enough room at the

edges to later close the pastry. Place the other half of the pastry

on top and using a fork, pinch the edges together.

Using a pastry brush, glaze with beaten egg.

Place in a preheated oven at 180ºC for 20 minutes or until the

pastry browns and/or is crispy on top.

Serve hot.

"Flower of the month". (Asplenium adiantum-nigrum)

Black spleenwort

This is another of the spleenworts found on the farm. As with the

maidenhair spleenwort from our September update, the black spleen-

wort also tends to grow on stone walls or rocky outcrops. It has no

forage value.

October started with hot drying south winds, unseasonably high tem-

peraturas (upto 29 ºC) and no rain. Fortunately, the weather changed

towards the end of the month, the temperatura became more seasonal

and it rained a Little more. Ww collected a total of 67 litres in the rain

gauge.

We are observing different indicators of the unusual weather we are

having due to climate change. For example, there were still many

butterflies around in October, including many of these red admiral

butterflies (Vanessa atalanta)

Another example of the changing climatic conditions are what actually

germinates in the allotment. We cleared the green bean and kidney

bean plants at the start of September and the unseasonably warm con-

ditions meant some fallen beans germinated, flowered and gave us

green beans in October. Although these have made a nice addition to

our vegetable dishes, we would rather not live through such climate

change.

Periodically samples of our milk are taken for analyses.

Jaime joined us to do a work experience session making cheese with

Azucena.