All i can see every time I go into the field is 9 ducks an 18 chickens charging towards me. Its a lovely site they are all think I come with food I am sure! Pigs well they are just being pigs digging stuff up. defo using their current space for veg next year save me digging loads.
The weekend was spent staring apple and blackberry jelly and doing research at the cornwall food festival. lovely food just had to buy some goodies.
I also started a little nursing job part time in a Nursing home and I am really enjoying it. It fits really well with my smallholding.
Another couple of puddings I am adding to the menu this week at market. My dehydrator arrived I have been reading about dehydrating if I do it now then will have to get up in middle of night so will have to wait till tomorrow afternoon. Tuesday is always a busy day fresh cooking for weds market.
Monday 30 September 2013
Friday 27 September 2013
Musical beds
Well I have put the baby ducks and chickens in a coop, ducks in a coop and adult chickens in another. Last two nights one of my adult hens has taken to sleeping with the babies. Just been in the coop to put them to bed and the babies are all cuddled round her! Aww so sweet.
Pigs well they chucked loads of grass and earth on their electric fence and buried it. You would think they would have legged it! No they wouldn't go past the line where the fence should have been and where still in their pen. All sorted now.
Market stall went well this week puddings and soup. I am investing in a dehydrator as i have an idea for market but keeping it under my hat for now. Christmas pudding making time this weekend!
Pigs well they chucked loads of grass and earth on their electric fence and buried it. You would think they would have legged it! No they wouldn't go past the line where the fence should have been and where still in their pen. All sorted now.
Market stall went well this week puddings and soup. I am investing in a dehydrator as i have an idea for market but keeping it under my hat for now. Christmas pudding making time this weekend!
Monday 23 September 2013
The start of Autumn
Looking at chutney recipes!!
Pigs are very intelligent and clean I have noticed. When they want there bedding changed they throw out the old stuff from their sty! Makes mucking out a lot easier as don't have to climb in the sty as much. However they choose Sunday of all days to do this. I think I need to get them a calendar! Getting straw on a Sunday in Bude not an easy task. Nor was getting vegetable suet for my Xmas cake and Xmas puddings! Straw sorted for pigs now, Veg suet sorted so Thursday/Friday is Xmas cake and Xmas pudding baking day.
Escapee chicken has settled back into the flock no signs of waiting to escape again even when I was doing the routine chicken muck out with wheelbarrow. Must be the KT charm.........nah just food and warmth of living in a coop me thinks.
Greenhouse plants really thriving but still a sauna in there so I am not surprised. Looking like a few jobs of potting on happening. Um better sorted some more compost out.
Pigs are very intelligent and clean I have noticed. When they want there bedding changed they throw out the old stuff from their sty! Makes mucking out a lot easier as don't have to climb in the sty as much. However they choose Sunday of all days to do this. I think I need to get them a calendar! Getting straw on a Sunday in Bude not an easy task. Nor was getting vegetable suet for my Xmas cake and Xmas puddings! Straw sorted for pigs now, Veg suet sorted so Thursday/Friday is Xmas cake and Xmas pudding baking day.
Escapee chicken has settled back into the flock no signs of waiting to escape again even when I was doing the routine chicken muck out with wheelbarrow. Must be the KT charm.........nah just food and warmth of living in a coop me thinks.
Greenhouse plants really thriving but still a sauna in there so I am not surprised. Looking like a few jobs of potting on happening. Um better sorted some more compost out.
Saturday 21 September 2013
Smallholding ................To live the dream: Mincemeat for xmas
Smallholding ................To live the dream: Mincemeat for xmas: Made the mincemeat for xmas Another market under my belt. Soup went down a treat. Specially the beetroot! I had people coming back for...
Return of the Chicken
Caught with a landing net after coaxing with food and all before 9am. Wing clipped and she flew on the chicken coop. Lets hope she stays in the coop this time as I have folded up the landing net.Cost of landing net and her she better start laying some eggs!!
Friday 20 September 2013
Mincemeat for xmas
Made the mincemeat for xmas
Another market under my belt. Soup went down a treat. Specially the beetroot! I had people coming back for second helpings and paying. Pudding going down well. Had some Custard tart left that wont keep. Neighbors got a treat.
Wednesday 18 September 2013
Chicken and Duck Future
Today the babies (ducks and chickens) joined the gang. I took away the Nursery pen, Clipped their wings and let them. loose in the big coop. They loved it, no problems with electric fence, a couple of pecking order issues but no real aggression.
My catering venture is causing an egg problem - I keep running out this is all good news for the babies as it means I will have to keep them to produce eggs rather then them ending in my cooking pot. However if there is more then one cockerel or cockerel doesn't get on with Francis the drake, aggressive or upsets the neighbours they might still be in the pot.
The escapee is now living very close to the rest of the chickens. Still in a tree but not running off as quick so hopefully I can lull her into a false sense of security and catch her soon.
Tuesday 17 September 2013
Dick Dastardly
Still in the roll of Dick Dastardly - Stop that Chicken now.
The Landing net failed to close to trees and chicken see me coming in the field and makes a run for the trees. I have started going in the field with food and leaving her to eat it. Getting her to associate me going in to the field with food then I might get closer to atch her with the net. Nine days she has lasted in the tree got to be worth a try!!
Cooking day today for market tomorrow lets see what goodies I can come up with!!
Sunday 15 September 2013
Coming on nicely!
Well the weather is changing as summer ends. Still its 5 degree warmer here then up North where I used to live.
Greenhouse
Managed to pot up my plants in the sauna I mean greenhouse. lovely and warm in there nearly had to strip off. These plant experiments as to what will grow in there as the temperature changes seem to all be germinating and growing.
Fruit
Still picking blackberries and hacking down blackberries and rescuing trees. Found sloe or Damson bush not sure which but going to try damson/sloe vodka. Todays job is to store apples that arent bruised by wrapping them in paper and shoving them in the shed.
Animal updates
Pigs - doing rather well they are so funny and entertaining to watch. They have broken their food bowl completely and when it rains have a complete mud bath in part of their pen but they seem happy enough.
Chickens - I still have an escapee chicken living in a tree. Tried to catch her every day with various methods. Tried food no luck, tried a net cant get close enough, Tried leaving cat carrier out with food no luck there either. last resort i have ordered a landing net so lets hop I can catch her with that.
Baby ducks and chickens - The Baby chickens now fully feathered have their own coop outside with the old coop pen attached so they have a run whilst they get a bit bigger. I think at the moment they could get through the electric netting if it wasn't on of course. The baby ducks have joined them too in the daytime and shed at night.
Ducks - The two new ducks are certainly part of the flock now. They all spend their time running round after Francis the Drake.
Cats - Toffee is still beating Stardust in the mouse duties - Toffee wonders where her performance related pay/food is. If that where the case Trifle wouldn't get fed!! lazy cat.
Market stall stock
Been cooking and tasting ideas for next weeks market stalls. I have nearly decided the menu. I have invested in some cold food containers for easy carrying.
Honesty box - Eggs sales are slow due to the current molting of chickens situation so less eggs but I have sold my blackberry and apple crumbles.
Greenhouse
Managed to pot up my plants in the sauna I mean greenhouse. lovely and warm in there nearly had to strip off. These plant experiments as to what will grow in there as the temperature changes seem to all be germinating and growing.
Fruit
Still picking blackberries and hacking down blackberries and rescuing trees. Found sloe or Damson bush not sure which but going to try damson/sloe vodka. Todays job is to store apples that arent bruised by wrapping them in paper and shoving them in the shed.
Animal updates
Pigs - doing rather well they are so funny and entertaining to watch. They have broken their food bowl completely and when it rains have a complete mud bath in part of their pen but they seem happy enough.
Chickens - I still have an escapee chicken living in a tree. Tried to catch her every day with various methods. Tried food no luck, tried a net cant get close enough, Tried leaving cat carrier out with food no luck there either. last resort i have ordered a landing net so lets hop I can catch her with that.
Baby ducks and chickens - The Baby chickens now fully feathered have their own coop outside with the old coop pen attached so they have a run whilst they get a bit bigger. I think at the moment they could get through the electric netting if it wasn't on of course. The baby ducks have joined them too in the daytime and shed at night.
Ducks - The two new ducks are certainly part of the flock now. They all spend their time running round after Francis the Drake.
Cats - Toffee is still beating Stardust in the mouse duties - Toffee wonders where her performance related pay/food is. If that where the case Trifle wouldn't get fed!! lazy cat.
Market stall stock
Been cooking and tasting ideas for next weeks market stalls. I have nearly decided the menu. I have invested in some cold food containers for easy carrying.
Wednesday 11 September 2013
First Market Day as a Trader
Well after a late night of cooking and getting everything ready. I was up at 6am fed the animals, Brekkie and loading up. I arrived at the market and was immediately made welcome by the market manager and stall holders. One stall holder even swapped a crumble for veg which was excellent. I look forward to trying a white courgette.
All the stall holders throughout the day came for a nosy at the new girl and offered their very welcomed advice. Despite what the market traders classed as a quite day I did ok for my first market it gave me a good start. I sold crumble and quiche after forgetting the soup and leaving it at home!! I still did well. After chatting to customers a lady used to do soup and left and its missed so soup angle is good specially as it gets colder. Also people loved the good old fashion pudding which appears to be well missed so crumbles went down really well.
My best customers for crumble was a 14 year old who doesnt normally eat fruit - sampled and said thats really nice. Her mum in a state of shock bought her a crumble and was even more shocked to watch her eat it. Another was a four year old. Parents bought crumble and watched the child eat it and then say yum. Excellent as there is nothing more honest then a child.
All the stall holders throughout the day came for a nosy at the new girl and offered their very welcomed advice. Despite what the market traders classed as a quite day I did ok for my first market it gave me a good start. I sold crumble and quiche after forgetting the soup and leaving it at home!! I still did well. After chatting to customers a lady used to do soup and left and its missed so soup angle is good specially as it gets colder. Also people loved the good old fashion pudding which appears to be well missed so crumbles went down really well.
My best customers for crumble was a 14 year old who doesnt normally eat fruit - sampled and said thats really nice. Her mum in a state of shock bought her a crumble and was even more shocked to watch her eat it. Another was a four year old. Parents bought crumble and watched the child eat it and then say yum. Excellent as there is nothing more honest then a child.
The market in Hollsworthy has some very loyal customers if the customers like your food they will come back. Glad I went for fresh, seasonal tasty homemade food.
Monday 9 September 2013
River Cottage Experience
Sunday I went to the River Cottage Autumn Fair.
What a lovely atmosphere and lovely place. After an hour an half journey and walk from the car park I was welcomed by the breakfast stand bacon and black pudding roll and a cup of tea.
I then listened to John Wrights mushroom talk which was very interesting.
After that I joined the book signing queue and met Hugh
What a lovely atmosphere and lovely place. After an hour an half journey and walk from the car park I was welcomed by the breakfast stand bacon and black pudding roll and a cup of tea.
I then listened to John Wrights mushroom talk which was very interesting.
After that I joined the book signing queue and met Hugh
Hugh seem a really genuine person.
After returning from River Cottage I came back to an escapee Chicken. Unable to catch her as she kept flying in the tree I thought she may come home at bedtime but no she didnt. This morning I couldn't see her so presumed the fox would have got her but no she was in the field this afternoon. Next door kindly came round with a net but we still couldn't catch her today due to her kept retreating back into the tree. Food hasn't worked either. Hoping she gets hungry and comes back the rest of the flock.
Today managed to get 38lb of apples from one tree and 7lb off another. made blackberry whisky and made progress with the homemade blackberry wine. Fingers crossed Chicken decides to come back to her flock.
Saturday 7 September 2013
new arrivals
To solve my no egg situation i purchased 4 new chickens at holsworthy poultry auction today. The Auctioneer commented on what a good buy which made me smile.
Got them home and have had 4 eggs - so back to selling eggs tomorrow me thinks. i cleared more of my field today and discovered what could be sloes or damsons. Not on a thorny bush so I believe after asking my friends on backyard and garden farming, smallholding and farmstead they are damsons.
Friday 6 September 2013
The Rain
I never thought i liked the rain but it makes me do the business stuff that needs to be done. Today has been about updating web site, costing for the two farmers markets I am planning for next week and thoughts towards my menu service for the locals. Costings, profit margins etc all done for farmers market. Time for test cooking. Plan is to get some photos for the web site to advertise the menu service.
With blackberries coming all over the place the main theme for my desserts will be blackberries. I am experimenting making blackberry leathers and dehydrating blackberries. Plans to experiment with dried blackberries to make cereal bars. I have devised a recipe myself but just need dried blackberries to go in it. Bottom of the simmering oven in the aga apparently does it. We will see.
On other notes nearly at the end of the field for clearing dead trees and fencing for the sheep and goats.
Pigs doing really well. They have worked out that when i take the red clip off the fence, the fence isn't electric. They have been watch me at feeding times and then tested it today by touching fence and didn't get a shock. The pig soon realised though after feeding time if it touche the fence it gets a shock.
Chickens and Ducks - still no eggs they are in molt, which they do at their age and can take a couple of months however it looks like a hard molt so hopefully will be over soon. Not sure why two new point of lay are not laying. I have a demand for eggs and no eggs this calls for drastic action i feel a poultry auction coming on in the morning for point of lay chickens and another female aylesbury if possible.
Baby chicks and ducklings - growing and eating loads getting into chick ad duckling mischief.
With blackberries coming all over the place the main theme for my desserts will be blackberries. I am experimenting making blackberry leathers and dehydrating blackberries. Plans to experiment with dried blackberries to make cereal bars. I have devised a recipe myself but just need dried blackberries to go in it. Bottom of the simmering oven in the aga apparently does it. We will see.
On other notes nearly at the end of the field for clearing dead trees and fencing for the sheep and goats.
Pigs doing really well. They have worked out that when i take the red clip off the fence, the fence isn't electric. They have been watch me at feeding times and then tested it today by touching fence and didn't get a shock. The pig soon realised though after feeding time if it touche the fence it gets a shock.
Chickens and Ducks - still no eggs they are in molt, which they do at their age and can take a couple of months however it looks like a hard molt so hopefully will be over soon. Not sure why two new point of lay are not laying. I have a demand for eggs and no eggs this calls for drastic action i feel a poultry auction coming on in the morning for point of lay chickens and another female aylesbury if possible.
Baby chicks and ducklings - growing and eating loads getting into chick ad duckling mischief.
Wednesday 4 September 2013
Nettles revenge
All happening down on the smallholding.
Yesterday I uncovered the alleged wooden swing that was in the secret garden it was covered in about 4ft of blackberries! Not ready for sitting on yet as still has loads of blackberries around it but nearly there!
The holiday makers next door came with deck chairs and sat and watched the ducks and chickens.
We started today with the nettles I have been cutting down having their revenge. Whilst clearing the fence of dead trees I went to pull a dead tree off the fence which came away faster then I was expecting and i fell backward right in to a patch of nettles. Truly not recommended it hurts. However didnt half motivate me to carry on and cut some more nettles down. After carrying on I managed to discover an electric fence system praying it works as it will come very much useful.
Great news - my business plan was signed off by the new enterprise scheme I have signed up to. Great news as I get a business mentor and support till January. Until the business plan was signed off I wasnt allowed to trade other then the test trades - for market research purposes. I now start trading tomorrow - yipee. Loads of ideas now buzzing round my head. Loads of organising so that I can set up at farmers markets and thought as to what I can now sell from my honesty box. Tonight however Cath my neighbour
is coming round I think she will just have to help me celebrate!
Pigs - I have finally screwed down the lid on the sty on the sty so no more sun roof options for the girls .
Chickens - just as I start to trade the ladies start to molt! Guess what during molting the eggs production goes down! That explains the egg production reduction. Nice timing girls!!
Ducklings - The outdoor ducklings are now fully feathered - yipee. We do as suspected have a male and a female. Francis still cant catch the female!!
Ducklings and chicks update - Chicks are now flying on the roof and escaping their pen to explore. Sounding like they will not need the brooder for that much longer.
Todays pics are the pigs getting the hose pipe treatment. They love it when its hot like today.
Yesterday I uncovered the alleged wooden swing that was in the secret garden it was covered in about 4ft of blackberries! Not ready for sitting on yet as still has loads of blackberries around it but nearly there!
The holiday makers next door came with deck chairs and sat and watched the ducks and chickens.
We started today with the nettles I have been cutting down having their revenge. Whilst clearing the fence of dead trees I went to pull a dead tree off the fence which came away faster then I was expecting and i fell backward right in to a patch of nettles. Truly not recommended it hurts. However didnt half motivate me to carry on and cut some more nettles down. After carrying on I managed to discover an electric fence system praying it works as it will come very much useful.
Great news - my business plan was signed off by the new enterprise scheme I have signed up to. Great news as I get a business mentor and support till January. Until the business plan was signed off I wasnt allowed to trade other then the test trades - for market research purposes. I now start trading tomorrow - yipee. Loads of ideas now buzzing round my head. Loads of organising so that I can set up at farmers markets and thought as to what I can now sell from my honesty box. Tonight however Cath my neighbour
Pigs - I have finally screwed down the lid on the sty on the sty so no more sun roof options for the girls .
Chickens - just as I start to trade the ladies start to molt! Guess what during molting the eggs production goes down! That explains the egg production reduction. Nice timing girls!!
Ducklings - The outdoor ducklings are now fully feathered - yipee. We do as suspected have a male and a female. Francis still cant catch the female!!
Ducklings and chicks update - Chicks are now flying on the roof and escaping their pen to explore. Sounding like they will not need the brooder for that much longer.
Todays pics are the pigs getting the hose pipe treatment. They love it when its hot like today.
Tuesday 3 September 2013
Food Safety Visit
Just had a visit from the food safety team this am. I have their approval to start trading in what I want to do at present so next step in the journey is to get trading.
Better start to sort labeling, marketing and decide exactly what to make and sell first and which will be my first farmers market. I think the indoor markets look more attractive somehow going into autumn/winter!!
Blackberry wine started last night - Blackberries steeping in water in a wine bucket.
Blackberry and apples where left in muslin bag over a bowl over night to kick the Blackberry and Apple Jelly off. Bottles in the aga sterilizing. Decision will then be if the blackberry and apple jelly is delicious do i send a sample for testing so that I can flog it. umm we will have to wait and see
Better start to sort labeling, marketing and decide exactly what to make and sell first and which will be my first farmers market. I think the indoor markets look more attractive somehow going into autumn/winter!!
Blackberry wine started last night - Blackberries steeping in water in a wine bucket.
Blackberry and apples where left in muslin bag over a bowl over night to kick the Blackberry and Apple Jelly off. Bottles in the aga sterilizing. Decision will then be if the blackberry and apple jelly is delicious do i send a sample for testing so that I can flog it. umm we will have to wait and see
Sunday 1 September 2013
Photos of the smallholding
Cath Ford and Eoin Gallagher came to visit - My first Lancashire visitors. They kindly took some brill photos. I thought I would put a few captions of how I read them. I would be interested in your comments for the pics.
The Country look
where is that worm?
I must start charging for my flock to be on facebook
I must strim that weed
Hehe i got her clean trousers with my snout!
can I blame the hair on the wind do you think!
I am not your next meal !! Honest
Them pigs - creating the sun roof effect again!!
I am sure there are two ducklings in here somewhere!!
all boys together
what are you doing?? If I know humans it will be that fb thing again!
we are not letting you out of this pen without you giving us food!
Market Research
Well I did market research today buy making apple and blackberry crumble with homemade ice cream for a neighbors wood carving unveiling. The wood sculptures where absolutely gorgeous so cleverly done. There was about 25 guests who all loved the crumble and ice cream and a quizzed a few who said if that was on offer at farmers markets they would defo buy. So we are getting closer to the catering venture.
Eggs - um i haven't the supply for the demand at the moment. We have guests in the holiday cottage next door who was telling me he was really looking forward to some eggs in the morning specially duck eggs. I hope the ladies lay in the night!! I was all smug this am as had 12 chicken and 12 duck eggs and they have all sold. I mentioned I was short and I only have 3 chicken eggs laid this pm he said I only need two for breakfast so i may be selling two single eggs rather then half a dozen in the morning!!
Eggs - um i haven't the supply for the demand at the moment. We have guests in the holiday cottage next door who was telling me he was really looking forward to some eggs in the morning specially duck eggs. I hope the ladies lay in the night!! I was all smug this am as had 12 chicken and 12 duck eggs and they have all sold. I mentioned I was short and I only have 3 chicken eggs laid this pm he said I only need two for breakfast so i may be selling two single eggs rather then half a dozen in the morning!!
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