A lot happens in 8 months

In these strange times - Moved house, Found myself in vulnerable group due to health condition and retired from NHS early. Less said about lockdown it was what it was and we need positivity in the world. I moved house in September 2020 so restarting my blog talking about smallholdings and projects since then in particular since I retired. 

I moved to live on a farm and as always have various projects on the go. 

The views from new place 

Project Garden 

Preparing for next season. Fruit trees and bushes moved from old field. We started with a field 

Then moved pallettes across and made raised beds from the pallettes. 

Supervised by the Dog!

Placed in the garden and filled with Manure and top soil. (ongoing progress)

I am not a Gnome person but when you find some and looking for something to paint in lockdown  they come in handy. The Fish pond needed a good clean out. Full of frogs so had to respect them. Pond has oxygenating plants in now so frogs happy and created spaces for frogs to bury themselves, The sleepy fishing gnome guards the pond. He caught a fish!

Fruit cages created around the fruit all with wood lying around the farm. So this Garden so far is all created from upcycling.

Bulbs planted and planters planted up and placed

Herbs planted for the revamp of spice mix business. Watch this space regarding that!

Old Milking Jars

We have old milking jars decided to create Terrariums using bulbs so planted them up. 

Photos to follow of finished article but looking good bulbs starting to appear.

Ducks and Chickens .

The Ducks and chickens have a new house 

The Sheep and Cows 

When cows meet sheep during welfare checks

The rams have been to the ewes so lambing this next year will be a lot more then I am used to

A day off

When the sheep dog gets a day off!

The Honey Project

 

I am in the process of creating 3 hives of bees to be placed watched this space.

Pallette Project - left over bits

After making the raised beds I had bits left. So I made a table for the garden. needs a varnish and tiding.

So as you see i have had my feet up doing nothing!!!

 

Lambs and chickens

My chickens escaped today into the sheep field. Lambs thought they had come to play with them. Chasing them round field. Unfortunately I didn’t have phone or camera! 

Shelter has a new roof

When you have to go feed the animals. 

I think success at putting lid on shelter. Just got to finish the wall papering ie old feed bags. Somewhere to sit in the shade between jobs. 

So proud of build shed out of Pallettes with waterproof roof. Going to be windy and wet tonight so let’s see if it stands up to it. 

Sheep and lambs all doing well. Ducks and chickens doing well. All good at kts acres.  Also day 16 of social distancing and symptom free. 

Day 12 social distancing

All this lambing feeding animals in a pandemic. Other than one shop at supermarket not been near anyone for 12 days! 

2 lambs are mischievous they going to be a handful for their mum! They leave mum to investigate the field. Then they realise mum not near them so rave across field to find her. Pray they don’t do this at night. I pray mum is Keeping them in shelter. 

Beds are coming on 6 out of 9 weeded. 

Chickens and ducks doing well. Must take pics! 

2 days early

2 days early and today ewe number three lambed successfully. 

Two rams 

Older step sister born last year meets new arrival 

Caught you. That was a exercise and half chasing lambs round field to tail and tag both ewes. Done the older ones. 

So three ewes and 2 rams so far. One left to lamb not due till 6th April but we will see. 

New additions

Born 29 March 2020

All looking good with lambs so far. 

Herb bed

The plot coming on. 6 beds to dig. 

So relieved only the occasional shoulder pain. Feels so much stronger. Pleased I will make this years growing season. 

Finished the new shelter

Still waiting for lambs got to field found a ewe on her back pushed her back on her feet. Feed and watered. 

Starting to look like a camping den. 

Up cycling at the acres -field shelter

The plan today was a quite planting session. Polytunnel has been -2.3 degree in night so decided to cold to sow seeds. 

What to next. Well I created a field shelter for £10. That £10 also go to charity so win win. I used Pallettes and old polytunnel lid to waterproof. Needs a Perspex roof but have to wait till shops open! So it’s polytunnel life for now! 

Slopes roof. Made design up today as an impulse. 

Then created my goose coop. Not finishing as sheep can use it way it is to keep lbs safe from fox. Next ewe due 28/29th. After that make part into a goose house again all from Pallettes! Then will buy geese. 

Ducks and chickens seem happy. Little lamb happy. Mum and lamb forgiven me for tagging lamb. 

The three ewes wanting sheep nut. They dont need it but cos chickens and ducks get fed they expect it. Spoilt! 

Tagging and a sneaky hug. 

Hammock in good working order! 

View from hammock