Saturday 30 December 2017

Project tool box

Upcycling 

Take one rusty old tool box found in daves shed. Don’t think Chris will notice! Ssh don’t tell big bro! 






Give it the anti rust treatment




And one very useful tool box. In need of white paint to draw sheep on it!!! 

Project tool box

Upcycling 

Take one rusty old tool box found in daves shed. Don’t think Chris will notice! Ssh don’t tell big bro! 






Give it the anti rust treatment




And one very useful tool box. In need of white paint to draw sheep on it!!! 

Thursday 28 December 2017

Digging out field entrance

Today I spent a couple of hours making a start on digging out field entrance. I made channels for water to flow down hill into drains rather then loads of puddles. Working well remaining me of making dams as a kid. 

A sheep was on her back and couldn’t get up. She has done this every pregnancy good sign! very dangerous for her though as if not helped up can die. I rolled her back and she got up and appeared fine. 

Chickens have decided they want to fly the fence thought they had clipped wings. Tried to get them in gobby the sheep isn’t a good round up sheep she just runs into chickens lol. All good when I left the field. 

Really looking forward to my new field this next year!

Thursday 14 December 2017

Down at KT's Acres

All going well down on the smallholding. Now that there was a break in the weather we have photos. At least we have had no snow like the rest of the country. I discovered a concreate water trough. I started to clean it out and discovered a hibernating Frog so I left the mud at the bottom but carried on with fresh water fingers crossed it is still in residence and will provide frogs spawn next spring. As I have given the frog a job resident Slug patrol!! No photo of said frog as left it alone but here is the trough.




The sheep are looking well. Think they had a lovely holiday and where looked after very well. Much appreciated they had somewhere to go whilst I moved and hopefully are pregnant aswell. These four need names so any suggestions? The last phot below is a really loud sheep always bleating.






The chickens are laying well as well which surprised me as they just moved and its winter



 Mr Duck needs some ladies cant wait till I can get him some in the spring time unless anyone knows of any female ducks needing a home. He seems pretty ok though with his chicken friends




Sunday 10 December 2017

Return of my sheep

Yippee my sheep are back with me in new field. Had some fence repairs I did first.

Delivered back to me so when I did welfare check this am they were there. My two orphans out the four came up to me and bleated so think they recognised me. A tad bit to windy to hang around and take photos so will get some later. 

Hopefully the ram they have been with has served them and they are pregnant. Here's counting the days down! 

Sunday 19 November 2017

Thursday 16 November 2017

Holiday Romance

Sheep are still away having a holiday romance with the ram! I Don’t think it involves any niceties like s hug afterwards or anything. However today I now have a new gate. Job well done by Jay Coleman fencer. 


Friday 10 November 2017

Kt acres

Sheep went to ram. Hoe he made them a drink and gave cuddle after lol. Somehow I doubt it. Still awaiting fence post and gate

Wednesday 8 November 2017

Kts acres update

Ninja been fighting. There is a stray cat. He came in through window 3ft height not using leg. Pulled two claws out of his thigh. Booked vet and cancelled vet.after I moved claws he using leg an no signs infection. He under observation any illness signs vet. 

Sheep still on holiday but been with ram

Saturday 21 October 2017

Experiments at KTS Acres

Today at KTs acres weather to wet to do anything at the land. Chickens are all well and digging up my veg patch quite nicely.

So today is about experimentation with last years produce. River Cottage Food U tube on sky and her we go.

First up was a Leg of Pork - Making ham is the intention. The leg of pork 1.6kg is curing in salt. £ days per KG -  near enough 5 days using river cottage recipe. for more info search u tube making ham. not much to see below but lets wait and see.


Next up Making Prosciutto with Pork Belly. The below is sitting in my fridge as per river cottage food tube recipe


Then there are my salami s that I started a while ago coming on well




Tuesday 17 October 2017

All go at KTs Acres

Finally internet has arrived at new house. Mean while KTs acres are being planned. So far Chickens have their patch  they are in what is going to be my veg patch. Why dig when you have chickens to dig and fertilise your patch.


Todays project was not only building pig arc but joining two broken pig arcs and creating a big animal shelter for the sheep. They are going to be pampered as usual.



 
Water trough added. Now just project gate to deal with before my ladies the sheep can move in. New gate posts and gate required. Which is in hand Hopefully sheep will join the chickens all pregnant after a visit from the Ram.


So all going to plan down at the acres. All excited for the prospect of the next 5 years in KT's acres.





Monday 9 October 2017

Busy summer

It's been a big gap since I last wrote a blog. I still have a smallholding. I have been busy finding and moving house and smallholding. I have a field for a long let and the animals other than the sheep have moved in. Chickens loving their new home. Sheep are still on their holidays. So day one of the new smallholding project stated yesterday. Going to call it kts acre! 

The new house is lovely a lot more suitable. I have salami in the process of being made from my pig and lamb. Had some delicious home grown pig, lamb and chicken. So I made it know where my meat comes from. Let the journey continue and you lot are coming with me virtually at kts acre! 

Sunday 11 June 2017

Unexpected fertility

I went into the field this evening to check up on the sheep and what did I see a lamb! what a lovely surprise. Didn't think mum was old enough teenage pregnancy.







Baby Chicks are now in the nursery pen outside and loving it and getting bigger.

Monday 22 May 2017

Live Cockeral Hat

Came out this am to find my hen has actually hatched a chick. It was pretty doubtful at many time along the way. She laid on these eggs on a perch near to next doors dogs out in the elements. She had 12 eggs she was down to 5 as she kept accidentally knocking a few off the perch when she left the nest at feeding times. she now has 7 eggs so she is laying eggs whilst hatching chicks.

I took the decision today to move her off the ledge into the nursery. I risky decision as very high risk of her going off the eggs. This is balanced with chicks falling off the ledge when they hatch and dying. Touch dilemma. Anyway I lifted mum and eggs and baby chick all at the same time and put her in the nursery coop. Phew Mum hasn't rejected chick or eggs. Whilst doing it out of protection cockerel flew and landed on my head and shoulders to see what I was doing with his lady and child. All is well in the chicken coop now.

Sunday 7 May 2017

Chickens for eating

This blog is a diary of my life as a smallholder and my smallholding is about knowing where my food comes from.. This is about eating my chickens so if you veggie or don't want to read its time to move away from this blog until the next post.

I have chick births today and yesterday. Its also been a sad day but a time to mark out of respect to the animals that I raise for food,.I had some very kind friends who are licenced to dispatch Chickens come round this afternoon. I had far too many cockerels  and had to dispatch two of my cockerels. There was no horror story they are very professional. They stunned the birds within seconds no pain no trauma. Very dignified and they had a happy life.

I then plucked the chickens. I have plucked pheasants but never a chicken. Lot easier with a chicken in my opinion. Then removed all the inner bits. Considered saying the livers but didn't in the end. The two Birds are now in my freezer. Need a couple of days before I will look forward to the meat.

I have to admit its taken me 4 years to get to this point of been able to dispatch my own chickens.

Time to check on the other 4 hatching chicks in the incubator

Chicks a hatching

Yesterday on day 19 I think! The first hatched now up to 5 and another 4 breaking through.

5 in their new warm home

Friday 28 April 2017

Broody Hen

I put eggs in the incubater and two days later hen decides to sit on the rest of the eggs. So double load of chicks hopefully. I bet she has a better success rate then me. we will see in a few weeks time

Saturday 15 April 2017

Its that time of year

Its that time of year that I get make good friends again with the strimmer. As we will be spending a lot of time together over the next few months

I spent time today sorted, cleaning and getting Poly tunnel ready. I planted tomatoes cucumbers, herbs and lettuce. Spent lots of time strimming and weeding. The years war against Blackberries begins. I enjoyed listening to my honey bees. Yes they survived. looking forward to honey this year!


Poly tunnel bed ready for action.

Winters experiement. My first pease of the season will be ready

My wild herb bed Sorrel and wild garlice coming up nicely almost the weeds!

This is the path to the wild garden sometimes refered to as my secret garden.

The path to the bees and fruit garden

The wild fruit garden and bees under the trees

This years beds protected from growth.

Rhubarb has survived!


And then time to relax and enjoy watching the sheep!


Saturday 8 April 2017

Animal Antics - has there been a full moon?

Where do I start. lets go sheep went to pick nettles this am in the field for sauces. The sheep not happy that I had a bucket without food and I was filling it with nettles. Ram started to head butt me and tried to chase me out the field lol. I resisted telling him he will be mutton shortly if he didn't stop!.

Young cats loving the window being open when I am home they can come and go as they wish. Not that they are ruined at all. Unfortunately it means they bring in their catch. Too well fed yesterday as brought in a shrew alive and dropped it on the floor and walked off. 4 cats stood round this live mouse and they all ignored it. Had to catch it in my shoe and throw it outside.  I am sure the Shrew is now thinking how lucky it is. Ninja caught a mole. not sure how!

Problem with the window open and hot weather and Chickens in the back garden (netted as per defra) They have decided they want to come in the open window and say hello. Spent most of the day yesterday pm training them they are not allowed. Think they have grasped it. No attempts today.  Had good fun today whilst making sauces watching the drake chase a female chicken round trying to steal the female chickens slug!, It went on for a while the drake was tenacious and won the slug!

Bees I can see them flying not going near them today lol so much bizarre behaviour today!

Thursday 30 March 2017

bees

Lovely to see the bees today on the smallholding. Buzzing around the willow. Looking forward to the honey this year bees.

Collected the bacon today very nice completely different then commercial bacon. Looking at research into making ham.  Cant wait to use the smoker.

Looking good the herbs and the plants coming out. not much digging left. Poly tunnel has pea flowers and broad bean flowers. Plenty of spinach.

All looking good on the smallholding.

Sunday 26 March 2017

Springtime

After  start with the lambs its time to pay attention to the veg patch. digging, weeding and getting it ready. nematodes worked back end of last year. another application next month and pray fpr some lovely veg. Chicken manure rotting down

The weather is warming up cats are enjoying the window open as they can come and go. The chicken pen is starting to dry out. The poly tunnel has spinach ready and peas and broad beans have flowers on them. The wild garlic I planted last year is coming up. Cant wait for that as I have designed a recipe for wild garlic and chilli sauce.

Today I have an excess of eggs. Homemade Icecream using the old fashion custard ice cream and some raspberry sauce I had left over. Yum yum. That's the yolks sorted next step is the whites. I feel some meringue coming on.

The pork from my ladies is lovely. A tortilla stack is cooking as we speak. Pork mince, chilli sauce layed with tortillas instead of lasagne..

Bees are flying about lets hope no cold spells!

All go now spring is here so good to be outside .

Monday 20 March 2017

bad year for lambs

Lost the last two lambs both savagely attacked in the night. Not the usual fox mo. Mums wool suggested she gave  a good fight. Weird as not like a fox to take on a two month old lamb. I feel time to ask for help to get chain saw working and get some predator hiding places ruled out.

Sunday 12 March 2017

Relaunch of the Honesty Box

Today is the relaunch of my honesty box at the end of the drive. There is a selection of goodies preserves, Eggs, spice mix and sauce.





Wednesday 8 March 2017

reaping the rewards

Monday I took the pigs to the abbotoir as usual heart wrenching stuff empty feeling. However the other feeling is that I know my pigs had a very content life and where happy pigs in a field. Today I picked up the meat from the butchers Button Meat,

I forgot just how much meat is in two pigs I guess I wont starve. Bacon will be ready in 2 weeks. So this evening I have chosen to eat Pork Chops. Nice to know where your meat comes from. I must go and enjoy the chops!






Tuesday 7 March 2017

Unfortunatly it happens in farming

Sad news out of 5 lambs born 2 have survived been a tough few days. Consensus of opinion mother sheep didn't have the colostrum and milk  needed by a new born lamb. I managed to keep them a live for a short time but new born lambs recovering from hypothermia and dehydration was always a long shot. Hard to discover too as you see lambs sucking on mum you presuming they are getting milk! Long thoughts could I have done anything different on talking to experienced sheep farmers I did all I could its just farming.

Pigs also gone to abattoir at same time.  Empty feeling as always day after I am so glad however as I know the food I am eating the animals had a great life. They also had the longest life possible. I will remember this batch as pigs as sheep pigs!

I wont be increasing my sheep flock this year. I will learn that if you put dead lambs outside at a weekend so you can call for them to be picked up the fox will have them,

Friday 3 March 2017

Nice start to spring

As winter leaves us and spring arrives two lambs arrived yesterday and I went to check this am and another two lambs born early this morning. Mum was just washing the lambs off so very new born couldn't even stand. here are todays arrivals




And yesterdays arrivals





And here is how the lamb born earlier in the year is doing

So that's lambing over for another year and I still not seen them lamb. So pleased that my ewes have done it themselves. Its such a joy to see lambs.