If you are feeling a sense of jet lag after the last 24 hours, Thistle wants you to know that she understands.
Across the farm, the grass is still growing, as are the nettles and thistles, but thankfully little ragwort to be seen so far. The fields we set aside for hay are almost ready for cutting, just in time for a rather wet weather forecast. We just need three dry days in a row, so we will cross fingers that is possible at some point in the next fortnight.
The bird scarers have failed to keep the pigeons away in the field 11 garden, but the netting is currently doing what it needs to do. The polytunnel’s cup runneth over! We have an abundance of leafy greens for the veg box which is very cheering. In the fruit cage, the raspberries are proving themselves particularly good this year. After the many losses to slugs, we will take this small win!
The sheep are looking good, with only a few cases of Orf in the lambs so far. They will be weighted next week, and faecal samples taken to check their health. With 2 cases of fly strike so far, it looks like a silver lining of the cooler summer is the lower numbers of flies bothering the flock.
Alice’s enormous efforts mean the whole flock has now been sheared. A huge job well done. The Wool Board seem to now be prepared to charge for taking fleeces from farmers. What a nonsense for such an enormously useful product – a product which was once at the forefront of this country’s industrial revolution. It’s mind boggling really. Research suggests that there is an independent movement making strides in diversifying the market for fleeces, hopefully enabling them to find their worth once more. An expert has been identified and asked to come and talk to us about what options we have. Watch this space!
The combined SCBS and Rush Farm teams’ attendance at Groundswell last week lived up to all the hype! It was a fantastic mix of trade stands and uplifting speakers that reminded us that we are not alone in trying to create a sustainable farming future – there is an inspiring network of people we can collaborate with from wool to leather to beef and, of course, nature. There was also a lot of interest in our unique ownership structure, and we are secretly hoping that we will be able to attend next year as speakers. After the stands closed at 5pm each day, a real party atmosphere took over with live music until midnight every day and a good selection of very good catering stands. Farmers, no matter their age, know how to work hard and party harder. Much food for thought – and thought for food!
A close quarters flyby of a Barn Owl made the other evening pretty special. We have also spotted a pair of Kestrels, and today saw a Chaffinch. Although these stunning birds are felt to be commonplace, we have very few of them on the farm, so to see one is a treat. A sense that insect numbers are low this year has led us to decide we should undertake an insect survey. Maybe it is the wet autumn/winter that played its part, but it would be good to have our feeling’s confirmed, and then have something to build our knowledge and decision making from.
The wet weather is also likely responsible for the suspected mineral deficiencies in the cattle. The excess rainfall has perhaps literally leached the minerals from the soil. The mineral testing we undertook showed us which specific deficiencies we needed to address, and we did this with a bolus. Minerals licks are perhaps easier, but bring with them the threat of TB when the licks are used by wildlife as well as the cattle. The tests for Johne’s and BVD came back all clear, and there have only been a handful of New Forest Eye cases to treat in the last fortnight too. All very good news.
“Hope” is the Thing with Feathers by Emily Dickenson
“Hope” is the thing with feathers –
That perches in the soul –
And sings the tune without the words –
And never stops – at all –
And sweetest – in the Gale – is heard –
And sore must be the storm –
That could abash the little Bird
That kept so many warm –
I’ve heard it in the chillest land –
And on the strangest Sea –
Yet – never – in Extremity,
It asked a crumb – of me.