Middle Farm - home of the sassiest rooster in Sussex

Firle, Lewes - off the A27

Look at the attitude on that rooster’s face. All I wanted was to take his picture and he fluffed right up and let me know who’s boss! Reminded me of the Goodfeathers mob from Tiny Toons. I reckon I was lucky he let me get as close as I did. I’m surprised I didn’t wake up the next morning to find broken eggs in my sheets.

Places like Middle Farm don’t happen to people like me every day. This would be because I don’t own a car. I don’t even have a driving license in this country because A-I can’t drive a geared car and B-the roads are just too. damn. narrow. Plus I nearly killed myself on a small roundabout that was installed in my hometown. I know that one day my faux-bohemian lifestyle will come to an end and I’ll have to sell out and pollute the air with car exhaust like everyone else but as of now I live a very insular life and visit those places only attainable on foot. Sometimes, by bus. So when friends offered a lift to “an organic farm” for a day out, I jumped at the chance.

This place is just so fantastic. It’s wonderful if you have small children because they have a massive open farm with picnic tables, swingsets and of course, friendly animals. We visited at the end of May and so many of the critters had recently given birth. It really was a sight to behold. A 26-year old donkey had even given birth! I had no idea donkeys could even live to be 26 let alone have babies at that age. They have chickens of every variety along with sheep, ducks, kittens, ferrets, guinea pigs, cows AND a turkey.

I soon found out that the reason our friends wanted to go was because apparently their cider shop has the largest selection of cider and perry in ALL THE GALAXY. Ok maybe not. Still, the collection was quite impressive. You grab a wee cup (reminiscent of a communion cup) and sample all the ciders. Well not ALL of them, otherwise you’d be on your face, but you get the idea. Then you purchase as you wish. Who knew that you could make wine from peaches? Or cherries? And that there were so many different kinds of mead? All the local brews and wines are on offer here as well. They also have an amazing food shop/deli with local offerings and a restaurant that I am definitely going to trek back to and sample. We brought back with us some Cheddar marbled with Guinness, some Papadeli Chilli Crackers, some local Sussex goat’s cheese and a Huntsman pie, which held Stephen over for two lunches. It was a savoury pie stuffed with ham, chicken and stuffing. He let me sample it. It was very good and very manly.

So since we’re being blessed with such lovely weather lately (although forecast is calling for rain the next 3 days), I recommend gathering the posse together and going to Middle Farm for a great day out. Just remember to bring your sunblock and don’t piss off the rooster. Or forget the cannoli.