Although there is still some of winter left to get through, we are slowly making our way into spring, the days are getting a little longer and (hopefully) the weather will be getting a little warmer. It’s a good time to come up with new ideas and finalise the plans for the year ahead.

The seed orders will no doubt be going in soon unless, like me, you’re impatient to get going and have ordered them already. This year I have resolved to resist the temptation to sow any seeds until the weather has definitely improved but as usual I can’t guarantee how long I can hold out.

Farmers Markets

Please consider supporting locally-based food producers (even if they’ve not yet joined the North Pennines Smallholders!) by visiting your local farmers market. Here is a quick update on the NEEFM farmers markets that are scheduled for this month but full details can be found on the events calendar as usual:

Friday 7th

NEWCASTLE (Grey’s Monument, 9am-3pm)

Saturday 8th

HEXHAM (Market Place from 9am to 1.30pm)

Saturday 15th

GIBSIDE (National Trust landscape garden near Rowlands Gill, 10am-3pm)

Thursday 20th

DURHAM (Market Place 9am-3:30pm)

Friday 21st

DARLINGTON (Prospect Place (heart of the pedestrianised town centre) from 10am to 3pm)

Saturday 22nd

HEXHAM (Market Place from 9am to 1.30pm)

More details about these markets can be found on the NEEFM website