Big up to Surrey Docks Farm

[PeckhamRose]

So I turned up to this client today to do a job and since getting the job I had cancelled others and am very busy anyway with other things. And she had forgotten I was coming and was not ready.

Pee'd off, but in bright sunshine, I took myself off to the nearby Surrey Docks Farm for a delicious Passion Fruit Sorbet and a wander around the farm. The baby goats are adorable and it was all just heavenly. There's a really good cafe there now. The tide was in otherwise I'd have gone for a squelchy walk down to the 'beach' next to the park.

Ooooh I felt so much better! Go visit this weekend if you're stuck for something to do. It's fab.

And he is king of all he surveys!

[jctg]

The cafe is good but it's the only cafe I've been to ever that doesn't sell any type of sandwiches (or paninis etc), hot or cold. Had a lovely burger but they don't do chips!

[PeckhamRose]

But you don't really go for the cuisine do you?

In the dim and distant past I went there and the cafe actually closed for lunch!

But it's nice for what it is and there seemed quite a good selection of stuff there today.

Maybe it's a new menu/cook because it was advertised outside the farm itself.

But anyway, enjoy the farm!

[Frankito]

Where is it exactly?

[Dorothy]

Ha haaah at the cafe closing for lunch! Reminds me of the time I lived in exile in Devon and friend came down for a job interview at Exeter prison. I was all excited at the prospect of a London friend living nearby. But she decided not to take the job, whether offered it or not, because she went to an Italian restaurant for lunch at 2pm - and they had run out of pasta! She felt she could never live in such a backwater, and who could blame her.

Yes, am an admirer of the lovely farm.

[Atticus]

It's brilliant and needs support! Free to get in but a donation appreciated, great time to go with all the spring arrivals.

Head towards Surrey Quays, not far from there, parking never a problem.

[PeckhamRose]

It's here and indeed there is quite a bit of free parking along the road.

http://www.surreydocksfarm.org.uk/

[PeckhamRose]

But to be honest, I will always prefer Mudchute, well, as long as they keep their llamas!

[richardw]

Surrey Docks Farm has a new cafe, run by the same people that run the superb cafe/restaurant at Hackney City Farm. It's called "Cafe Frizzante" http://www.frizzanteltd.co.uk

[Frankito]

So I turned up to this client today to do a job and since getting the job I had cancelled others and am very busy anyway with other things. And she had forgotten I was coming and was not ready.

Rosie, I just re-read your opening pist and I have a question for you:

When you say she wasn't ready, what do you mean exactly? Was she still alive? Given your alleged line of work, it's a fair question...

[PeckhamRose]

Ah but I do about four other lines of work, and only rarely do Humanist Funerals.

This was one of the others: I am a Helper with Southwark Circle.

But a funny post nevertheless! I do occasionally, however, meet with people who have contacted me because they want to plan their own funeral and so they want to tell me about themselves and how they would like it. Which is fair enough. They get the irony that since they won't be there anyway it wouldn't matter if I get people to sing hymns and stuff, but they do it to save their families the grief at the worst time.

Back to the farm. Hope you all have time to make your way there with your kids, while their kids are still little and oh-so-cute!

[Frankito]

Are dogs allowed?

[MrBen]

If like me, you grew up on a farm then going to see a goat sitting on some bricks is probably not going to thrill you. For everyone else that hasn't I'm sure it is a good day out. You can also go up to the Horniman which has a weird goat enclosure all of its own....

[Frankito]

Are we allowed to keep goats in the garden? Next to dogs, cats, pigs and parrots, I have always been obsessed with them.

[PeckhamRose]

MrBen I get your point but it is a little bit more than just a goat on a pile of bricks.

There are (I read recently) 64 city farms in Greater London. Many are working self financing business enterprises and perform a major service for people (specially kids) who don't get to see the countryside. On Surrey Docks Farm there is a working blacksmith and they also sell produce from the animals, ie eggs, honey etc. It may not be your thing since you grew up in a farm; many in London did not. This is for them. Enjoy.

[Frankito]

Here here Rosie..

[MrBen]

Yes PR. Sorry....I aint knocking that. Beats having to drive past the M25 to see a real one too..

[Frankito]

You are collectively forgiven Bennyboy.

[LadyDeliah]

MrBen Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Yes PR. Sorry....I aint knocking that. Beats

> having to drive past the M25 to see a real one

> too..

So city farms are not real farms?

[siousxiesue]

Surrey Docks Farm has been hit with frequent break ins to, needs all the support it can get!

[PeckhamRose]

True. I have a rare free day, I may go to see the llamas at Mudchute City Farm today, after going round Nunhead Cemetery Open Day of course!

Yes, the farms are working farms. But with the difference that they are mostly open to the public and are areas of learning for city kids, which most even open-to-the-public farms in the country, are not. Which is fine.