NEWS IN 2010

July/August 2010

As seems to be the case nowadays, 'summer' doesn't seem to happen!  It has not been too wet, but the sun has only shone sporadically, when it's felt like it.  The vegetables are growing and producing, but the tomatoes are taking forever to ripen. 

Jack is a 'sprat' at the moment.  He is as good as gold when he knows there is no option, but like a toddler, he will run off and hide at any time when I really need him to be shut up or put in his bed!  Patience wears a bit thin when you cannot even brush the path without the brush being attacked and removed!  I've tried to get him to play with a stick, which is, of course, only interesting when I am on the other end of it!

My latest WWOOFer made a start on coppicing the wood.  Hazel, holly and alder trees in a small section of the wood have been cut down to ground level, which lets light in and allows new growth to sprout up straight and strong.  Trees will survive far longer if they are managed like this and they will provide wood for our fires and log burners for years and years.

June 2010

Two weeks ago Teg ran under my Land Rover and was killed.  It was a horrible moment and I miss him very much; he was such a wonderful dog.

However, things never stand still on a farm and I have found a new puppy.  His name is Jack and he has already become one of the family.  There is a picture of him meeting Flea for the first time in the Picture Gallery

April 2010

The derelict barn in the back yard has been de-roofed.  I have plans to create a ruined-wall vegetable garden; the old walls providing some protection to the veg. 

First I need to find a way of keeping the hens out, then I need to find some soil!  The second problem is to be solved by digging out the old sheep-wash pond below the house.  Bob the Builder, got stuck in and diverted the stream via an old, old irrigation culvert and finished off the day by falling into the sludgy water by the weir!

March 2010

Lambing is over.  To be honest, it was over nearly before it began as I sold 24 in-lamb ewes back in February and was left with just five to lamb myself; between them they ended up with four lambs, which was one of the worst efforts they have ever made! However, it has hardened my resolve to change the breed; my 'softy' Friesland sheep are and have been used to drier weather and better quality grass in East Anglia and coming here, they have not adapted well.  At the end of the summer, I will find some good Cheviot ewes and a ram, which come from the hills of Northumberland originally and are used to the kind of country we have here. 

  Frieslands at home Cheviots (somewhere else)