Pigs

Its the night before the pig deed. This post is in their honour. The reason I am here is to know where my meat and food comes from and ensure the animals have had the best life they can. Its sad but I will miss them but also looking forward to the lovely meat they will produce. I am also looking forward to the learning process of all the different cuts. If you are following me and in Cornwall/Devon and want some lovely meat from Pigs that have a great life do get in touch. I watched river cottage today their butchering and preparing a pig. I plan to do salami and  Prosciutto along with all the usual favourites. 

Pork Futures

The time has come to say goodbye to my pigs. Its all been arranged for monday. I have a local farmer helping me take the pigs for the deed. I have also found a lovely place that will butcher and vac pack and let me get involved and observe parts of the process so I will be able to learn the whole process. I have been putting off the arrangements for the obvious reasons of the emotional stress. Its all been arranged now though. The hard part is deciding what cuts I want and the farm i have chosen will help me do that too. I will feel sad to see them go I have enjoyed their company apart from the escaping that is!! Equally mixed emotion of I will know exactly where my pork has come from and know that the ladies had a lovely life.

Escape from Colditz on the small holding - one to me pigs!!

My pigs know if they kick mud at the electric netting it shorts the fence and after a couple of days of doing it the battery runs out. Then they can  just walk over the electric netting  fence into the big field.  They have created a nice hole in the fence near the bee hive which is their escape route out of the big field into the neighbourhood. They only escape when they can at feeding time if I am late and the battery is flat. Still its too many times!!

Well I found a water butt. The hole in the fence that the pigs created to escape from the big field has been blocked by a water butt - of course I filled it with water!! with a metal pole between butt and fence post. They couldn't move it today or escape and got multiple shocks from the chicken netting so they gave up!!  One to me!!!

The other hole they use to get back in the field has been blocked by an old chicken coop should keep them in the field whilst they plan their next escape!!

Its like escape form colditz!

Pencuke Pigs

Pigs - well they are sociable. Think they know more about neighbours then I do!! One way to get to know the neighbours I guess! I think I may owe a few joints of pig. On a serious note - They are obviously at that time. I need to get on with planning the deed. I have enjoyed them most of the time, been embarrassed at times, and frustrated at times. However glad i kept them and knowing where my meat came from brill.

Pigs Futures

Its that time I have to organise the pigs slaughter. I have afat month to arrange their fate. As i reflect they have had a fab life! Next challenge is selling the meat. Knowing where your meat comes from give us a shout and you can have fresh pork or pork related products.

A New year time to get on with next years plants

Well today I managed to dodge the rubbish weather and storm twice on animal checks and feeding and only got wet once. That was a miracle in itself as every time I came in heavens opened - its normal the other way round so I thank the weather gods!!

Pigs well they are behavingish - They have worked out they can short a battery in two days - as long as i change the battery I seem to be keeping them within the smallholding!!

Chickens and Ducks well hoping for a dry morning or afternoon so I can muck them out in the dry. Tomorrow will be bad enough as first tax return needs submitting!!

Whey hey though I have a new line in KT's Kitchen goodies - I have been drying herbs over the aga and my costings mean I can under cut the supermarkets for herbs and they will be freshly dried so tastier.  Mostly I have them growing in the garden. One or two I may have to buy in to dry until some of my plants mature but I can still undercut the supermarkets. I already undercut on my dried fruit and nut mixes!!

I will be starting to sell these on my market stall as I get more I will be selling them online if you buy in bulk will still be cheaper then the supermarket. Fresh Herbs will be cut to order to keep their freshness.

Today was another good day Started off sowing the first seeds of the year - Herbs obviously, tomatoes and leeks. A move forward to self sufficiency in vegetables. So this year a move towards self sufficency in fruit, meat and Veg brilliant started !!

Now time to make chutney and marmalade!!

Happy New Year

Happy New Year

storms on and off - keeping animals warm and safe is the main aim. Tomorrow um should be market but with major incident from police and environment agency and thought of driving through 4 serious flood zones to get there maybe stay at home. Its pretty wild outside my house a the moment, very wet and very windy. At least we have power.