In December, apart from the weekly farmers’ market in Bilbao we also

went to the Christmas fair in Karrantza held this year on December 8^th

and to the very big and very important annual “Santo Tomas” fair held

in Bilbao on December 21^st.

We once again contributed to the local Food Bank, this year with yoghurts.

Plant of the month. Juniper haircap moss (Polytrichum juniperinum)

Our last plant is a moss, commonly known as juniper haircap, which

has actually been found on every continent including Antartica. It tends

to grow on dry acidic and exposed habitats but can also flourish on

moister lands. Teas made from this species of moss were traditionally

used to relieve and dissolve gall bladder and kidney stones and a “strong

brew” from common hair cap moss was used as a rinse for women's hair

to “strengthen and beautify tresses”.

Two groups visited the farm and dairy in December. Firstly a weekend

club from Barakaldo and secondly a large group from the Leioa Catering College

What did the cows eat?

We gave the milkers dried forage, grass silage and a little feedstuff. The heifers

grazed when the ground was dry.

Recipe of the month: Kidney beans with cheese

As the dairy is now in the hands of Jaime from Venezuela we have included

a Latin American recipe. This would normally use a variety of Latin American

cheese (fresh, Oaxaca, Chihuahua and Monterrey Jack are examples of

Mexican cheeses), but our cheeses are highly suited for the recipe aswell.

500g small black kidney beans

12 cups of water (8 for one part of the recipe and 4 for another)

½ white onion, chopped

Salt to taste

1 cup grated cheese (more or less cheese may be used)

Thoroughly clean kidney beans and then put in a saucepan with 4 cups of

water. Bring to the boil and then take off the heat, cover and leave for one

hour. Then drain the beans, put back into the saucepan and add 8 cups of

water. Boil until cooked, usually about two or two and a half hours, depen-

ding on the variety of beans used. Check now and again to mke sure there

is enough water. If more water needed heat it before adding to avoid losing

boiling point.

Once well cooked, add the oinion and sat and leave a further 5 minues.

Then strain, serve into dishes and sprinkle with cheese.

December was our last month of work in the Vista Alegre Baserria dairy as,

just before Christmas, we closed our doors. We were really pleased when

Jaime approached us proposing carrying on with our work under his own

responsibility and we handed over the keys of the dairy in mid January.

Our dairy herd will continue to provide the dairy with organic milk and we

wish Jaime well for the future.