Smallholding
Beltane / Patio / Yurt / Split hive / New bakeware
Tuesday 16 May, 2017
Monday 1st May
So today is Beltane, one of the four Gaelic seasonal festivals and traditionally the start of summer and the day the cattle would be turned out.
One ritual associated with Beltane is to drive the cattle over or between sacred bonfires to protect them and to encourage growth. Cattle were also decorated with yellow flowers.
None of that happened here but I did give the cows and Ace a brush after they were fed.
Read more on Beltane / Patio / Yurt / Split hive / New bakeware
Open Farm Sunday / Soup / Yurt / Bees / A birthday
Monday 8 May, 2017
Monday 24th April
Sunny, windy and dry today; the promised rain didn’t materialize and it’s cold – 3°C – tonight.
Ace was very frisky this morning – and that gets the girls going – and Bryn “herding” them didn’t help.
Finally completed the papers for OSCR to register “Smallholding Scotland” as a Scottish Incorporated Charitable Organisation – fingers crossed that we’re accepted. It’s taken far longer than I thought it would.
Read more on Open Farm Sunday / Soup / Yurt / Bees / A birthday
Tooth oot / Weeding / Sunset
Thursday 27 April, 2017
Monday 20th March
So toady is the vernal equinox – day and night of equal length. Hopefully, we’ll see the grass start to come away now.
Jane was here to trim Bug’s feet; the grass may already be coming away, so he’s on restricted access now, poor boy.
Ace’s increased feed seems to be working and he’s a bit less ribby.
Tuesday 21st March
I had tooth extracted this morning. Dentist told me to have a restful day, so I did.
Birthday / New hens and chicks / Cheddar! / Baking
Tuesday 25 April, 2017
Monday 17th April
Yippee! A few rain showers today; crystal clear and a bit cool tonight, so maybe we will get the forecast frost.
Bryn is exhausted – Mickey is wearing him out, but he also played with Zaza this morning then Otir and Ceri this afternoon, when Jane came to do the ponies’ feet. Tough life.
The pigs have settled in well, they have dismantled a pile of turves that were left to break down last year, and like to sleep there during the day.
Read more on Birthday / New hens and chicks / Cheddar! / Baking
Holyrood / Trailer service / Boys moved / Weeding
Thursday 20 April, 2017
Monday 13th March
Caught up with paperwork and cleaned out the caravan henhouse.
Tuesday 14th March
Pressure washed the trailer after the sheep movement on Sunday.
Received, from my MSP, a copy of a letter from Fergus Ewing assuring us of his support for small farmers and saying that his officials will be looking at the Small Farm Grant Scheme to see where improvements can be made.
Read more on Holyrood / Trailer service / Boys moved / Weeding
New pigs / Veg sowing / Cattle out / Bee inspection
Wednesday 19 April, 2017
Monday 10th April
Back from sunny Gran Canaria today to find that the weather here has been pretty good too – with no rain while we were away.
John got all the paddocks harrowed and there were no mishaps – all animals stayed where they were supposed to and stayed healthy, which is good.
Tuesday 11th April
Jeez, windy today. Good drying day so got caught up with washing and housework and some paperwork. It’s the end of the financial year and the time of year when I mentally promise to do better next year – new spreadsheet; clean slate and all that. My record keeping isn’t bad but could be better.
Read more on New pigs / Veg sowing / Cattle out / Bee inspection
School visit / SCF Gathering / Sheep moves
Monday 13 March, 2017
Monday 6th March
Well, it was the weekly skip trip today, mainly stoorie hay. Thank goodness that’s coming to an end.
Mucked out the byre; good stuff coming out of it – a mix of chopped straw, soil and chicken poo, so I’ve made a separate pile for it.
In anticipation of tomorrow’s school visit, moved Nugget, our “feisty” cockerel into an area we won’t be entering.
Found a White Leghorn bloodied this morning; gave her a wash and put her back in the run. I’d guess it was a result of the reestablishment of the pecking order. Hopefully, she’ll be OK.
Hens out / Worming / Foot trimming / Diesel's gotcha day
Monday 6 March, 2017
Monday 27th Feb
Packed day today; visit to Ravensby to have a look at the grazing. It looks pretty good – there are two good shed, one a hay barn and then a block of looseboxes. Need to have a better look at the fencing though.
The owners have a lovely golden Labrador pup – he’s one of Bryn’s buddies now.
Made my weekly pilgrimage to the skip. Linda preempted me and turned out the potting shed. Much evidence of mice – it’s built with sleepers so not even nearly mouseproof so everything edible has been removed and the cats given free access – Bertie is dining well.
Read more on Hens out / Worming / Foot trimming / Diesel's gotcha day
Hens moving / Hay bell / Feed store clean / Escaped steer
Monday 27 February, 2017
Monday 20th
What a beautiful spring day. Decided to check the electric fence in the ponies’ field – it was working.
Pressure washed the perches and ladders from the brown and green henhouses and sprayed both houses with disinfectant.
After dark, did paperwork and the conference clear down, writing up notes for next year.
Tuesday 21st
Not so nice today – grey, colder and windy.
Don’t know what happened in Sheepfold last night but the electric tape protecting the wall was broken this morning and Smokey and Bug were dead spooky. Lucy was fine.
Read more on Hens moving / Hay bell / Feed store clean / Escaped steer
Vertigo / Pig pen fence / Conference / Poultry
Thursday 23 February, 2017
Saturday 11th February
Not much of a blog this week as we’ve been away for a few days with our daughter. All seemed to go fine while we were away.
Paul started preparations for the “classroom” today. We need a better name for it. I call it the Man Cave but that’s no good either.
Dan moved the caravan hens this morning. The good news is that the Avian Flu “lock down” is being relaxed from 28th February so the hens should get back out then.
