8 people from a cheese-making course for mature

students run by the Derio Farm College visited us

on the 2^nd. The group included people from Nica-

ragua, Peru, Brazil, Colombia and the Basque Country,

which made for some interesting exchanges of information.

On the July 4^th a mixed group of Basque and US students visited

the farm and dairy as part of an exchange program run by Udaneta,

Loiu.

Two groups visited the farm and dairy on the 10^th in

the afternoon. Firstly, a family from California with

Marta, Luisa and Edith

and secondly two couples from Girona, Madrid and a

lady from Bilbao who were staying in the Spa in Molinar

(Karrantza).

and lastly, on the 31th, a family living in Miama (USA) visited,

although the mother is from Madrid and the father from Mexico.

Flower of the month Common nettle or stinging nettle

(Urtica dioica)

Although originally native to Europe, temperate Asia and NW Africa,

it is now found worldwide. The scientific name “Urtica” comes from

the Latin “uro”, to burn, because its leaves cause a temporary burn-

ing sensation upon contact, due to hair-like structures on the leaves

that sting and also produce itching, redness and swelling. In fact it

is recorded that Roman troops rubbed nettles on themselves to stay

warm. The plant has been used in herbal medicine since ancient times,

to treat arthritis for example. The leaves and roots of the stinging

nettle contain many nutrients (such as Vitamin A, C and K, minerals

such as calcium, iron, magnesium and potassium, fats such as linoleic

and linolenic acids and all essential amino acids) and once cooked

they may be consumed safely. Nettles have thus been used as a food

stuff in many cultures.

Most of July was quite dry, although we had one or two rain showers,

associated with thunderstorms. Towards the end of the month we had

quite a few rainy days, which were most welcome. We thus collected

a total of 57 litres in the rain gauge. Minimum temperatures were low

several mornings, down to 11,8ºC but usually between 15 and 19ºC.

Maximum temperatures reached 34,9ºC.

The weather in June meant we still had quite a lot of grass for the

cows in July and were able to take them freshly mown grass during

the first fortnight and they could still graze outside until the last

week of the month. We supplemented the grass with alfalfa and,

the last week of July, some silage and a little feedstuff. Two lorry

loads of organically certified alfalfa were delivered in July.

Recipe of the month: Blackcurrant cream.

250g blackcurrants

250ml cream

25g sugar

This recipe can be altered according to taste. As blackcurrants are

quite tart, those with a sweet tongue might wish to add more cream

and/or sugar. Those who like tart tasting food might wish to reduce

the amount of cream and add no sugar.

Top and tail and wash the blackcurrants. Place in a saucepan and

add 50ml of water. Bring to the boil and leave to simmer until the

fruit is soft (15 minutes at most), stirring occasionally. Leave to

cool overnight.

Remove the blackcurrants from the fridge and liquidize. Pour in the

cream and sugar to taste and mix thoroughly with the liquidizer.

Place in a glass bowl or individual bowls and leave in fridge at least

an hour before eating.

It is easier to spot snakes in hot weather, such as

this viperine snake (Natrix maura)

We are also an unusual number of buitterflies this

year, including this Buff-tip moth (Phalera bucephala).

At the start of July we made more silage. We will now leave any

grass that grows to mature enough to flower and produce seed

and thus guarantee plenty of new grass next year. We will then

top the fields, probably in the second fortnight of August.

In 2016 we lodged a formal complaint concerning a TV advert in which

one of the big industrial dairies claimed their milk was “the only milk

collected and bottled in the Basque Country”. As this is not the case

(we collect and bottle our milk in the Basque Country as do several

other small farms and dairies) we placed an official complaint with the

Basque Government who sent the complaint on to the National Commi-

ttee for Markets in Madrid (CNMC). The CNMC sent us their decision

this month (nearly three years after our initial complaint), arguing that

because the two businesses are of  completely different size (the

industrial dairy in question billed 120.826.000 euros in 2017 as the

CNMC itself underlined in its decision) and the milk each use completely

different (organic on the one hand, sterile –their term-  and UHT on the

other) the advert is not a problem. As we understand things, neither

the size of the businesses nor the sort of milk changes the fact that

the advert was, at the very least, erroneous and the CNMC specifically

states that they “no dot judge as to whether or not Kaiku’s statement

could confuse consumers”.  This suggests that perhaps the CNMC isn’t

the right body to consider this question and will ask the Basque Govern-

ment once again which would be. The only other means of defending

ourselves would be to take the issue to court, but that is, obviously,

financially impossible for us. It is rather interesting to note, however,

that the big dairy in question no longer runs that particular advert.

One bull calf was born in July and has been sold to the meat trade.

The she calf that was born will be kept for the dairy herd.

We went to the farmers' market in Bilbao every Saturday and to the

anual organic farm held in Elorrio on the 8th.