62 GAZEGILL ORGANICS OCT / NOV 2021 • farmers-mart . co . uk
We offer collection and Disposal services for all categories of fallen stock and animal by-products , servicing butchers , abattoirs , farmers and catering establishments .
ANIMAL BY-PRODUCT RENDERERS , MANUFACTURERS OF TALLOW & PROTEIN MEALS
JG Pears wishes Ian & Emma O ' Reilly at Gazegill Organics continued success .
Tel : 01226 762175 Fax : 01226 762512
Email : graham @ jgpears . com Mobile : 07825 064906
Head Office : Bella Vista Farm , Hartcliffe , Penistone , Sheffield . S36 9FN couriers as they are needed , ensuring when you order from Gazegill it ’ s going to get there quickly . www . gazegillorganics . co . uk The choice is simply amazing .
Having worked so hard to diversify and establish the shop and online site , whilst maintaining the organic status of Gazegill , you would think they could relax and sit back ( not something farmers are renowned for ) – well , not a bit of it .
Ian and Emma , being passionate about maintaining and developing organic production , have now decided to take things one step forward by completing the cycle from farm , to fork , to plate . They are mid-way through the construction of what will be an amazing state-of-the-art , on-farm , 120-seater , full-service restaurant with bar , made primarily from sustainable oak and sporting superb panoramic windows that will allow you to look out over Pendle Hill . The project was started back in 2019 , however the pandemic has meant a much longer lead time , as you would expect . Initially this will be open Daily during the daytime and Thursday , Friday and Saturday nights and is scheduled for completion next May .
With a restaurant of this size and the plan being to expand its opening times , the current prep area will just not be big enough to cope and as Ian said to me already the current farm shop has already outgrown itself .
So , in July next year , the second half of this huge project will open . A brandnew purpose-built farm shop will be completed , adjacent to the restaurant . This will allow the current shop area to be converted into a much larger prepping unit . The plan is to produce their own pies and cooked meats . They are currently looking for a full time chef so they can be in situ in time for the restaurant opening .
Ian and I walked around the shell of the new restaurant and already you can see how fantastic it promises to be .
In line with their commitment to the environment , it is Ian and Emma ’ s desire to be completely “ off grid ”. They currently have a wind turbine , solar panels and ground-source heat-pump . The plan is for the new restaurant to be completely run by solar panels , other plans include a purifying plant for spring water plus a hydro-electric generator , which will enable hydrogen harvested using surplus electricity from the turbine to run the farm ’ s vehicles . The goal is to be completely self-sufficient .
Both Ian and Emma are busy right across the farm , with Ian taking charge of the building projects etc . Emma , as well as being busy on the farm and managing the dairy , training her dogs and looking after three kids , she also unbelievably carries on something her parents started in the late 1960 ’ s – farm visits for children ! Each year , Emma and Ian host 250 to 300 free educational school and group visits , where people of all ages can learn about sustainable , organic agriculture and how food is produced . The Gazegill Education Experience also offers day activities for adults with mental health illnesses and workplace-based experience in the farm ’ s herb and edible flower poly tunnels and growing area – currently mothballed for covid .
During the Pandemic , they conducted them via ZOOM , would you believe ? They sent out farm boxes which contained wool , milk labels , pictures and much more to whet the children ’ s appetite for farming and learning where their food comes from . Emma said it was positively manic running around the farm , camera in hand , talking to the children and capturing the many events and animals on the farm .
If ever there was a role model and inspiration for farm diversification and how to pack as much into a day as possible , Ian and Emma O ’ Reilly are just that . Farmers Mart wish them well for the completion of the new shop and restaurant and will be back next year to cover the grand opening .