Common names include poppy, corn poppy, corn rose, field poppy,

 red weed, headache, Flanders poppy, or red poppy. The penultimate

refers to the use of this flower as a symbol of dead soldiers. In

Persia the poppy was a symbol of love. The poppy is an annual

herbaceous species of flowering plant that is notable as an

unwanted plant (nowadays termed “weed”) in arable farming. It

appears in few places on the farm, mainly allotment areas. Poppy

seeds can lie dormant in the soil for many years and will germinate

when disturbed. Each plant can produce up to 400 flowers a

season, each flower only lasting one day. The black seeds are

edible, and can be eaten either on their own or as an ingredient

in bread. Oil can also be made from the seed is highly regarded in

 France, for example. The petals contain a red dye which is used

in some medicines and wines and, when dried, the petals are

occasionally used to give colour to potpourris.In traditional folk

medicine, the poppy was used for gout, aches, and pains and the

petals were used to create asyrup that was fed to children to help

them sleep. From a dairy farmer point of view it is worth noting

that the plant is slightly toxic to grazing animals.

Apart from the usual daily chores on the farm we made

another load of silage

and, given the suitable weather at the end of the month, we also

made hay, something unheard of for May, but another sign of a

changing climate.

We also cleared nettles and brambles from several patches

of land and field boundaries and undertook maintenance

and repair work on different pieces of machinery and farm

buildings, for example, one of the water tanks up at the

heifers’ barn. These concrete water tanks are over 40

years old and are usually places near rooves to catch run

off from rain gutters and thus store water.

Some farmers around us still use weedkiller as part

of their farm management.

As an organic farm we have to try and reach agreements

with farmers using weedkillers to not use them near our

farm boundaries or not to use them on days with prevailing

winds towards the fields we run. Although weedkillers are

apparently “efficient” as unwanted plants seem to disappear

when sprayed, these plants soon colonize sprayed areas

again.

Not long ago we featured a field in which thistles had been sprayed

with weedkiller. This is what that particular field looks like today.

Additionally, it should be remembered that weedkillers and their

components will gradually be washed into the soil and from there

to the water system.

Recipe of the month: Mushroom croquettes

Our thanks to Mari Nati for this recipe.

1 litre whole milk

1 medium onion

Olive oil

6 big mushrooms (Portobello for example)

Grated cheese to taste (we suggest half a Vista Alegre fine cheese)

Pinch of salt (optional)

150g plain flour

Bread crumbs

Finely chop the onion and fry in abundant olive oil until cooked.

Add the flour (and salt) and fry until it becomes yellow. Add the

milk little by little, mixing continually to avoid lumps forming. Add

the grated cheese continuing to mix.

Chop and fry the mushrooms in a little oil and add to the mixture

once done.

Divide the mixture into small round balls and coat in breadcrumbs

before frying. We suggest frying just before eating. They can be

eaten cold but they are just not the same!

The weather has been quite varied. We had some tremendous

thunder and lightening storms at the start of the month, one

of these producing cherry-sized hail stones. Another day we

could see a sun dog around the sun, including a slightly coloured

edge to the halo.

We collected a total of 69 litres of precipitation in the rain gauge.

Maximum temperatures rose to an unseasonable 30ºC at the end

of the month… which is when we managed to make hay!

What did the cows eat?

The cows grazed and were given freshly mown grass. This was

complemented with a little silage and feedstuff.

The allotment is in full swing with peas, onions, lettuces, peppers,

tomatoes, carrots, leeks, potatoes, cucumbers, marrows and Swiss

chard. This little toad appeared as we cleared a patch ready for

tomato plants.

We are still seeing an unusal number of reptiles, particularly different

sorts of snakes, slow worms (Anguis fragilis) and European green lizards

(Lacerta viridis).We assume the weather is particular suitable for

observing them.

The two ladies on our work team who had corona virus related

symptoms, had negative results from a swab test. However the

Basque Health Service, Osakidetza, has not allowed them back

to work, as these negative results could be erroneous, but neither

are they doing blood tests to clear up any doubts, something we

find highly perplexing. Five of our seven person work team are

now shouldering the work of the whole team, a situation which

could  last until at least the 12^th of June.