Smallholding
SSE tree cutting; Scottish Smallholder Festival
Monday 26 September, 2016
Monday 19th September
Had a visit from the Scottish and Southern Electricity tree-cutting supervisor today. They are coming tomorrow to cut back some of our trees that are fouling the power lines. These are mainly beeches that have been allowed to grow up through the beech hedge that bounds the southeast side of the vegetable garden and the orchard.
The trees have to be taken back to at least 1m below the lines but we’ve asked for them to be taken down to hedge level. We’re having some of the big timber for firewood and a couple of loads of chips and the rest of the chips are going to friends with a smallholding nearby.
Read more on SSE tree cutting; Scottish Smallholder Festival
Abattoir arrangements; Path; Sasso processing; Festival prep
Monday 19 September, 2016
Monday 12th September
Another lovely day. We’re having a real Indian summer.
Got the tup lambs and cull ewes booked in to the abattoir for the last week in September – just need the butcher to confirm now. I want to take the lambskins to Skyeskyns when we go to Skye on holiday, so timing was crucial.
Tuesday 13th September
John’s started the last section of path. It will be lovely when it’s finished.
Read more on Abattoir arrangements; Path; Sasso processing; Festival prep
Harvest; Farmers Market; Festival; Sore throat
Tuesday 13 September, 2016
Monday 5th September
Paperwork day and it’s no very warm. Too early for the central heating but definitely considering lighting the stove.
Tuesday 6th September
Yesterday I was thinking about lighting the stove; today it’s sweltering. All the animals are pechin’; poor Smokey’s sides are heaving. It’s looked really stormy but it’s come to nothing.
More Festival stuff today – all P&W and livestock entries in the spreadsheets ready to go in the catalogue.
Festival prep; Peas; Pears; Apples; Poultry; Cattle
Wednesday 7 September, 2016
Monday 29th August
There was a slightly autumnal feel this morning but my, did it brighten up into a glorious day.
Moved the sheep and cattle to fresh paddocks and put a mineral lick in for the sheep.
There’s another Sasso with a bad leg so he’s isolated, as he was being bullied. We’ll have to cull him in the next 48 hours though.
Dan pruned the espalier pears in the vegetable garden. They've got a bit of fireblight damage but should be strong enough to overcome it with judicious pruning. A good crop in prospect this year.
Read more on Festival prep; Peas; Pears; Apples; Poultry; Cattle
RIP Wallace; Sheep movements; 2016 yarn; Sassos; Bull
Monday 29 August, 2016
Monday 22nd August
Grey and drizzling this morning but the sun came out at lunchtime and warmed the place up nicely. The sweetcorn must have grown two feet in the last week. Not sure if summer will last long enough for it to ripen cobs though – some of the trees are turning already.
Mak is courting Annie, which is good.
Tuesday 23rd August
Grey and mizzley all day; mild though. Been sorting out the paperwork for the twelve ewes and gimmers I’ve sold. They are going to their new owner tomorrow. I will be sad but onwards and upwards.
Read more on RIP Wallace; Sheep movements; 2016 yarn; Sassos; Bull
Bad back; Freezers; Spltting lambs; Sheep course
Tuesday 23 August, 2016
Monday 15th August
Cool first thing but shaping up to be hot. I let the sheep into a field with better shade – I think their agitation yesterday was due to the heat rather than flies.
Finally managed to submit my Scottish Beef Calf Scheme application for 2016. Payment isn’t made until about April next year; farmers have to claim for any eligible calf born in 2016 by the end of the calendar year, then the pot of available funding is divided up on a per head. I think we got about £150 per calf this April – for fours calves, but every little helps.
Read more on Bad back; Freezers; Spltting lambs; Sheep course
Pickling; The show; Fireblight; Bull comes home
Tuesday 16 August, 2016
Monday 8th August
Still windy but calmer than yesterday and last night; bright sunshine and warm though. Turned into a nice afternoon and evening but I didn’t see much of it because Monday is paperwork day. Sometimes I try to get ahead by doing it on a Sunday night, but not this week.
I tried to submit my application for the beef calf payment – it’s had a variety of names – but the system was down. Still. It was down last Monday too. And the week before that.
Read more on Pickling; The show; Fireblight; Bull comes home
A mixed bag - Floors, sheep, bees, weeds
Tuesday 9 August, 2016
Monday 1st August
Nice day today; mainly sunny but with a bit of a breeze. Monday is usually paperwork day so spent most of it catching up with emails and other bits and pieces. Tried to submit my application for the beef calf premium but there was a fault with the system. Also caught up with some phone calls. Swept out the loosebox, ready for Brian the joiner tomorrow.
Dan was in the orchard after dinner sorting out the windbreaks. I had a look at the trees in the vegetable garden – the Victoria plum is laden with fruit so I’ll have to thin that down. One of the gages has a bit of a crop but the other three are disappointing. One got broken and we tried to bind it together but I think it’s had it, and another had fire blight and Dan had to prune it really hard.
Holidays!
Tuesday 2 August, 2016
So we’ve been on our summer holiday – to Wales. As one might expect, the weather was a bit variable but it was good to learn that Welsh midges are less ferocious than Scottish ones.
We spent three nights at Dot and Tim Tyne’s smallholding, glamping in their bell tent.
Glamping with Bryn at Tyn y Mynydd
Produce; Nugget's escape; sheep and lambs; holiday prep
Monday 25 July, 2016
Monday 18th July
Summer’s here – for today and tomorrow according to the forecast. It was 22°C on the car thermometer when I went to check the cattle. It’s windy though.
Made raspberry jam and more blackcurrant cordial – bad day for it as the kitchen was like a sauna.
The Caerphilly came out of the cheese press today and looks really good. Can't eat it for 3 weeks though. :-(
Caerphilly fresh from the press.
Read more on Produce; Nugget's escape; sheep and lambs; holiday prep
