And so it was that I found myself at 8am on a Sunday morning, devouring a bacon butty – fuel for the challenge ahead. I was taking part in the Pink Ladies’ Tractor Road Run for the first time. In its 20th year, this iconic event saw 197 tractors and 201 women, all swathed in… Continue reading Pink Ladies’ Tractor Road Run – I’m hooked!
In December our first Hereford cow left the farm. We look after a small herd of Herefords who live outside for the majority of the time – feeding on grass and pottering about as they wish. In the winter months they’re nestled in an open cattle shed feeding on homegrown hay. Farming isn’t particularly in… Continue reading Musings on meat…
Our last calf of the year took its time to arrive. The dam (mum) had been showing signs of the impending birth for a couple of weeks – her udder was gradually getting bigger as the milk prepared to come through and she was showing signs of discharge in the days leading up to the… Continue reading The last calf of the year arrives…
A few weeks ago the cows moved outside for summer and have since been enjoying the lush grass and sunshine. The first cow set to give birth this year is due in late June – imagine then my surprise when on a dog walk last night at about 10.30pm I flash the torch across a… Continue reading A birth on the farm…
This week felt a long time coming, but it eventually arrived. It was the joyous week when the cows were moved outside for the summer, and this year, it was a little later than usual. Later, because the grass decided it wasn’t too keen on growing. It wasn’t wet enough and there weren’t enough nutrients in… Continue reading The cows head outside for summer…
Over the past few days we have gone through another round of TB testing – the process for testing bovine tuberculosis in our cattle. We live in a part of Britain that is considered low risk for TB so we are normally tested every four years (other higher risk areas have to go through it… Continue reading Another TB test…
For the past few years my most favourite festive activity has been to make a Christmas wreath. I love the beauty of them, their brightness and greenness. They welcome visitors into our home and give a cheeriness to the farm. But what I really love is the task of gathering the ingredients. Traditionally I have made them with… Continue reading A year in the making…
We’ve recently welcomed a new calf onto the farm – the birth was tricky and complex. As the last calf due on the farm this year, its arrival was highly anticipated and it’s birth was expected to be pretty straight forward as the mother is the most experienced on the farm – she’s also the largest, making her the herd’s natural matriarch.… Continue reading The birth of a cow…
There are particular points in the farming year that bring me a real sense of joy – from the first cut of grass to the first bale of hay, to seeing and hearing the roar of combine harvesters on the fields. When harvest is in full swing there is a real sense of urgency in the… Continue reading Harvest is go…
It’s been a busy few weeks, but then again it always is at this time of the year – aside from the farm, the garden is in full bloom and the veg patch is bountiful which means I’m in my element in the kitchen cooking new dishes with seasonal produce. There are weeds to keep at… Continue reading A month without rain…
