Each
year on the farm we rear Organic Snow Geese from Goslings for our customers
Christmas Dinner. The Goslings arrive on the farm in April at one day
old. They live in 3 stables next to each other, for the first 3 weeks
on the farm they stay mostly in the stables under heat lamps, as they
are too young to survive out in the field. Each day they are let out
into the farm yard where they pick at vegetables that have gone over.
When they are strong enough the goslings are then turned out on a daily
basis into a 30 acre field opposite the main farm yard, each night we
bring them back into the stables for protection against the foxes.
The flock grazes
over 80% of their nutritional requirements from our herb rich leys.
Cereals and pulses are offered at night – wheat, triticale, naked
oats, peas and lupins – all home grown. Warborne Farm was the
winner for the poultry category in the Organic Food Awards 2004.
The geese are a wonderful addition
to the farm and the beautiful sea of heads, honking with delight as
they in a unified flock head for the field early morning, is certainly
a sight to be seen !
Eating a Goose for Christmas Dinner
has a long tradition in this country, and is ideal for the festive meal
as it is a larger bird, usually between 4 - 6kg in weight this is enough
to feed approximentely 8 - 10 people. Goose has a delicious flavour,
firm, succulent and, like duck, dark meat.
You can order your Snow Goose for
christmas 2009 online by filling in the form below. We will then contact
you with regards to the payment and we require a £20 deposit.
You can also order by calling 01590 688488 or emailing boxscheme@warbornefarm.co.uk
Recipe Suggestion for Roasting
Your Snow Goose
When you receive your goose poke it all over with a needle and leave
either in a cool place.
1. Preheat the oven
to 200°C/400°F/Gas mark 6.
2. Sprinkle the inside of the goose with salt and pepper, then roughly
chop two onions and stuff them along with a handful of sage leaves into
the goose. Rub salt all over the goose. Place a large roasting tin on
the floor of the oven and adjust the racks in the oven so that the goose
can sit on a directly on a rack.
3. Put the goose onto the rack and roast for 30 minutes per 500g. The
goose doesn’t need basting but don’t forget to empty the
roasting tray, reserving the fat for cooking.
4. When the goose is cooked, place onto a carving board or dish and
allow to rest for 30 minutes. Carve thin slices from the goose, and
serve with apple sauce or gravy and roast potatoes.
Goose Gravy
1. Preheat the oven to 200°C/400°F/Gas mark 6. Place goose giblets,
2 chopped onions, 2 chopped carrots, 2 sticks chopped celery, and 2
leeks chopped and place in a roasting tin in the oven for 30 minutes.
2. Remove tin from the oven and place on top of the stove. Pour 100ml
of port or Madeira into roasting tin and on a moderate heat scrape up
any bits clinging to the bottom.
3. Transfer the contents of the tin into a saucepan and add 300ml chicken
stock and 1 tbsp apple jelly. Bring to the simmer for 30 to 45 minutes.
4. Strain the gravy into a clean pan and remove as much fat as possible,
Season with salt & pepper, return to the boil and serve.