FAQ’s
Here we aim to answer all of the most frequently asked questions.
If you can’t find an answer to your question then please contact us for an answer.
The only thing I can think of that is not lockdown vaccinated super-spreader stuff is eating Christmas Dinner. I have been preparing for some time and now you can too.
This year is a little different as due to a goose hatchery in Norfolk closing, bird flu last year in central Europe and the Brexit thing affecting imports, I have had to hatch out every gosling this year myself from eggs. It was much easier to buy the chicks in at day old as I previously used to do.
Even sourcing decent goose eggs was pretty difficult this year, and that came after buying various incubators and the extra accoutrements that you need to go along with it. I received a life ban from facebook in the process for reasons that remain unclear, so i even resorted to looking at an online forum with a simple hope there would be help with classic goose incubation techniques. I will not ever be going on an online forum again – through choice not by being banned for life in this case.
What it means is I am very short of geese this year so please order early.
Turkeys, chickens and ducks have not been affected by this shortfall in numbers so please go wild ordering these.
Collection from the farm will be the same as in previous years from the 20th – 23rd December.
Christmas Delivery this year is only with our trusted couriers who have a 100% delivery record, Igloo – and will again be on the 23rd December.
We have had to remove the standard delivery option because we have now tried over 12 companies for this service and not a single one of them can ensure all deliveries arrive on time and no one wants to be rushing to the shops at 1637 hours on Christmas eve trying to find a turkey because a van driver has gone home early.
We will also be at our usual farmers and local markets where you can buy our fresh products, place your Christmas order and collect your birds for the big day.
These are just the collection and delivery details for Christmas Day – you can of course pick up your bird or have it delivered on any other day of the year if you so wish. Please contact us for more details or just make a note at checkout of when you require your delicious items.
We are always happy to help out with any question or request so please get in touch with Simon on 07968 148 896 or simon@greatclerkesfarmfoods.co.uk if you need to.
Many thanks
Simon Hughes
Yet again
For our premium delivery we use a specialist delivery company who guarantee 100% success and they have never let us down. They deliver countless chilled and frozen items every day across the country so you can rest assured that your products will be delivered on the 23rd December.
You can either order through our website and pay with your credit card or through PayPal, which are both very secure 3rd party payment-processing site. Or you can make your order by post or phone, and send us a check. We can now also take credit cards over the phone. If you would like to pay by check, please make checks payable to Great Clerkes Farm Foods and post to us at the Great Clerkes Farm, Little Sampford, Saffron Walden, Essex, CB10 2QJ. To order on the phone, please call either 07968 148896 or 07801 132334.
For Christmas deliveries in 2021, Premium Christmas Delivery will be delivered on 23rd December.
Collection from the farm will be the same as in previous years from the 20th – 23rd December.
Your delivery will be made between the hours of 8 am and 8 pm. If you require delivery on any other day, before or after Christmas, please get in touch with Simon on 07968 148896 or Clare on 07801 132 334 or email info@greatclerkesfarmfoods.co.uk.
We do not deliver our geese and chickens ourselves; a delivery is made through a 3rd party courier specializing in temperature-controlled deliveries. Therefore, we don’t know the exact delivery time but we can find out a 1 hour delivery slot on the day of delivery. A delivery can arrive anytime from 8am-8pm. If you are out, please leave alternate delivery instructions.
Please make a note as you checkout and tell us what you want us to do with your bird and we will pass this on to the driver. If you’ve already ordered, just email us at info@greatclerkesfarmfoods.co.uk and telephone 07801 132 334. In the case that you are not home, we recommend you leave instructions about where you want your order to be left safely.
Great Clerkes Farm
CB10 2QJ
Grid Reference
The farm is in a beautiful part of North Essex and is surrounded by lots of footpaths and cycle tracks.
We are located in Little Sampford, Essex, just 5 minutes outside of the historic town of Thaxted which has lovely tea rooms and shops (and some pretty average ones).
From Thaxted, follow the signs for the Bardfields.
You will drive out of Thaxted up a hill past the primary school and fire station.
At the fork at the top of the hill, turn left towards Little Sampford and Finchingfield.
Continue along this road for about 2.5 miles until you get to a black and white striped signpost on the left which says Great Clerkes and Flemings Farm.
Take this road down the hill and turn left at the fork. You will then reach the farm.
We are open from around 9 am to 4 pm.
Please call us on 07968 148896 to let us know when you would like to collect so we can ensure there is someone there to meet you with your order.
You can collect your order from the farm from the 21st December onwards. If you would like an early collection then please get in touch.
This is an approximate guide to how many people each weight of goose feeds. Please note it will vary depending on the shape of the goose and your portion size and appetite.
4kg – 4-5 people
4.5kg – 4-6 people
5kg – 5-7 people
5.5kg – 6-9 people
6kg – 8-12 (sometimes more)
| Turkeys | |||
| Feeds | Kg | ||
| 4 – 5 | 4 | ||
| 5 – 6 | 4.5 | ||
| 6 – 7 | 5 | ||
| 7 – 8 | 5.5 | ||
| 8 – 9 | 6 | ||
| 9 – 10 | 6.5 | ||
The growing of free-range poultry is not an exact science due to the constant changes in temperature and weather, which affect the overall size and finish of each bird from year to year. Because the birds do not stop growing at an exact weight, we are forced to sell the birds in a half Kg weight ranges (range is determined from the weight you have chosen). For example, a 4kg goose will weigh between 3.7kg and 4.25kg. A 4.5kg goose will weigh between 4.26kg and 4.75kg. A 5kg goose will weigh between 4.76kg and 5.25kg. A 5.5kg goose will weigh between 5.26kg and 5.75kg. A 6kg goose will weigh between 5.76kg and 6.25kg. A 6.5kg goose will weigh between 6.26kg and 6.8kg. However, we will always try to ensure that your bird is as close as possible to the exact weight you have ordered.
All our birds come with a packet of giblets from the bird (heart, liver, neck and gizzard) and the geese also with a bag of fat (extracted from the goose). You can use this fat to make delicious roast potatoes. The weight of your goose is includes the weight of these items.
Poultry giblets make the most wonderful gravy, soup or stock when boiled down, and even a fantastic treat for the dog.
Goose fat is incredibly versatile – with a rich flavour and silky texture it is rightly famous for making the ultimate roast potatoes. This unique fat can be used for many other recipes.
Chips, omelettes, fried eggs, dumplings, pastry, fried onions, any roast dish or recipe that uses butter can be greatly improved by using our goose fat.
Some people rub it on their chest for medicinal purposes. I do not recommend you follow suit.
If you’d like your goose to have the neck left on, or if you would prefer to gut the bird yourself, or have any other special instructions then please let us know in your order details.
Take your goose out of the box and store it in your fridge below 4 degrees Celsius. My fridge is set on 2 degrees as 2 has always seemed a decent number to me.
Our geese come with their own cooking instructions/recipe card which gives a step by step guide on how to cook and roast your Christmas goose.
Goose is a rich, dark meat, quite unlike chicken. When cooked properly, it is tender, juicy and absolutely delicious. Crispy goose skin is also wonderful. Best of all is goose fat. With it you can make the best roast potatoes you’ll ever eat.
We may need to contact you about your delivery or order, especially during urgencies. For example, if the courier cannot find your house, we will contact you via phone in order to reach you and safely deliver your order to you.
We will never pass your phone number on to anyone else and we will only ring you if necessary.
You can if you want to but i strongly recommend against it. I am sure Woolworths sells some nice ornaments, why not try one of them instead?
This should not really be in the FAQ’s as i have only been asked it once.
