Farms are wonderful places for children to grow up. They are a fantastic place of learning too. Many farms host organised visits for school children throughout the year, which helps them to learn about where their food comes from and how the industry is vital to everyday life. And our own children learn about independence, responsibility and family relationships are strengthened. But farms and farmyards are not playgrounds. 

During these extraordinary times, with schools closed and parents having to juggle more than ever, we must make every effort to keep our children safe. Farms can be dangerous places for everyone, not just children, but children are put at great risk of injury when playing, visiting or helping out around the farm. 

We’ve caught up with FUW Meirionnydd member Rachael Madley Davies to find out how they address the challenge on farm. 

Dyma rysáit hawdd yn defnyddio golwythion Cig Oen. Mae Cumin yn sbeis sy’n gweithio’n wych gyda chig Oen, ddim yn rhy sbeislyd, ond yn ddigon cryf i ddod a’r blas gorau allan o’r Cig Oen.

Bydd angen:

6 Golwyth o Gig Oen Cymreig

1kg Tatws Newydd

1 Clof o Arlleg- gratio neu dorri’n fan.

1 lemwn – croen wedi ei gratio yn fan, a sudd ar wahân.

2 llwy fwrdd o olew olewydd neu olew coginio ansawdd uchel (extra virgin) (mae olew Blodyn Aur yn gweithio’n dda)

Mintys Ffres wedi ei dorri’n fan.

1 llwy de o Cumin

Dull:

1. Berwi’r tatws am 15 munud. Ar ôl draenio, cymysgu 1 llwy fwrdd o olew, y garlleg, croen y lemwn a’r cumin gan orchuddio’r tatws. Cadwch y gymysgedd yn y sosban gyda’r caead arni mewn lle cynnes.
2. Rhwbio 1 llwy fwrdd o olew dros y golwythion cig oen, ynghyd a phinsiad o halen a phupur. Cynhesu padell addas, a choginio’r golwythion ar wres uchel am tua 4 munud ar bob ochr. Yn syth ar ôl tynnu’r badell oddi ar y gwres, tolltwch sudd y lemwn drostynt. Gadewch i orffwyso am o leiaf 5 munud cyn gweini.
3. Cyn gweini, cymysgu’r mintys i mewn i’r sosban datws a gweini’r cyfan gyda Salad neu bys wedi eu berwi.

Gyda mwy o bobl adref a gyda mwy o amser i fod yn y gegin, mae'n gyfle perffaith i geisio gwneud pethau newydd. Beth am geisio gwneud eich iogwrt eich hunain? Bydd plant wrth eu boddau yn helpu ac yn gweld y broses, a byddwch yn cefnogi ein ffermwyr llaeth ar yr un adeg!

Bydd angen:

1 litr o laeth llawn braster

3 llwy fwrdd o iogwrt byw (Iogwrt naturiol Llaeth y Llan yn gweithio'n berffaith)

Bydd angen y cyfarpar canlynol:

Thermomedr, Sosban, llwy bren, Fflasg

Dull

1.   I ddechrau rhowch y llaeth mewn sosban, a chynhesu'r llaeth i 85 gradd selsiws.
2.   Unwaith bydd y llaeth wedi cyrraedd 85 gradd, tynnwch ef oddi ar y gwres a'i adael i oeri, nes y bydd wedi cyrraedd 45 gradd (tua 5-10 munud)
3.   Unwaith bydd y llaeth yn 45 gradd, cymysgwch yr iogwrt byw i mewn gyda'r llaeth.
4.   Rhowch y gymysgedd mewn fflasg sy'n selio'n dda a gadwch iddo fod am 8 awr.
5.   Ar ôl 8 awr, rhowch y gymysgedd mewn jariau neu botiau wedi eu diheintio a'u gosod yn yr oergell. Bydd yr iogwrt yn iawn i'w fwyta am ychydig ddiwrnodau. Cofiwch arogli a chadw golwg ar yr iogwrt cyn ei fwyta, gan fod bacteria byw yn cael ei ddefnyddio, mae'n bwysig bod yn ofalus. Fel unrhyw fwyd, os oes arogl drwg arno, peidiwch â'i fwyta!
6.   Gellir defnyddio'r iogwrt ar gyfer brecwast iachus gyda ffrwythau, mewn pwdinau blasus, neu wrth goginio cyri neu gawl.

Here is an easy recipe using Lamb chops. Cumin is a spice that works great with Lamb, not too spicy, but strong enough to bring out the best flavour of Lamb.

You will need:

6 Welsh Lamb chops

1kg New Potatoes

1 Clove of garlic- grated or chopped finely

1 lemon - skin grated finely and juice separately

2 tablespoons olive oil or extra virgin cooking oil (Blodyn Aur Oil works well)

Chopped fresh mint

1 teaspoon of Cumin

Method:

1. Boil the potatoes for 15 minutes. After draining, mix 1 tablespoon of oil, garlic, lemon zest and cumin and cover the potatoes. Keep the mixture in the pan with the lid on in a warm place.
2. Rub 1 tablespoon of oil over the lamb chops, as well as a pinch of salt and pepper. Heat a suitable pan, and cook the chops on high heat for about 4 minutes on each side. Immediately after removing the pan, put the lemon juice over them. Leave to rest for at least 5 minutes before serving.
3.     Before serving, mix the mint into the potato pan and serve with salad or peas.

With more people at home and more time to be in the kitchen, it's the perfect opportunity to try new things. Why not try making your own yoghurt? Kids will love to help and see the process, and you'll support our dairy farmers at the same time!

You will need

1 litre of full fat milk

3 tablespoons of live yogurt (Llaeth y Llan natural yoghurt works perfectly)

You will need the following equipment:

Thermometer, Saucepan, Wooden Spoon, Flask

Method

1.     Start by putting the milk in a saucepan, and heat the milk to 85 degrees celsius.
2.   Once the milk has reached 85 degrees, remove from the heat and leave to cool, until it reaches 45 degrees (about 5-10 minutes)
3.   Once the milk is 45 degrees, mix the live yoghurt in with the milk.
4.   Place the mixture in a well-sealed flask and let it stand for 8 hours.
5.   After 8 hours, place the mixture in sterile jars or pots and place in the fridge. The yogurt will be fine to eat for a few days. Remember to smell and check the yogurt before eating it, as live bacteria is used, it is important to be careful. Like any food, if it smells bad, don't eat it!
6.   The yogurt can be used for a healthy breakfast with fruit, in delicious desserts, or when cooking a curry or soup.

It came out of nowhere and hit us hard from the outset. Nobody here could have fathomed the changes this global pandemic would bring in terms of the economic impact, and changes to lifestyle. 

One minute we were watching scenes on the telly that could have been mistaken for a Hollywood blockbuster or a new Netflix hit, the next we were scrambling in supermarkets to get our hands on tinned peaches, mince meat, chips, nuggets and toilet roll. And not to mention the handwash and sanitizer. Crazy!

Overnight, restrictions came into place. Offices and businesses were forced to shut their doors, children were sent home with schools closed and there is no end in sight. 

All of this has of course changed the way we do things. Parents are facing the challenge of working from home whilst trying to look after and home-school children, others are suffering mentally from isolation measures and the economy is set to take the biggest nosedive possibly for hundreds of years. 

Watching the news terrifies me. As we see the death toll rise, people in despair, farmers in serious distress over milk and red meat sales, the predictions for the economy bleak to put it mildly and some people completely ignoring the restriction measures - I find myself muttering in the kitchen, sometimes in disgust about the sheer and utter ignorance of some, whilst in awe of others who go above and beyond the call of duty, and pondering over the financial crisis.

So when everything around me seems to fall apart, I like to look for the positives. I wouldn’t call it blind optimism but a gentle reality check. When you can’t go outside, go ‘inside’ a friend told me the other day as I was lamenting the dire situation. Take note of what’s good - it might be different, but that doesn’t mean it’s bad.