the start of the season

Ten of ten photos I take 10 photos as part of a group - here are this months photos - been shown on fb but wanted to mark the beginning of this season on my diary blog

the sun has got his hat on............................ and been out to play

What an excellent day! market am with a strange yellow object in the sky, if i remember rightly think it was the sun. pm rescuing gooseberry bushes from the dreaded blackberries on the small holding and sowing seeds for this years harvest.

Lambs now used to bottle feeding and now wag their little tails when feeding with enjoyment. with weaning day set for 14th april. I have a field to prepare for them. Looks like going to be a lovely week so better write me job list.

Bottle feeding

Success - lamby lamb lambs have now successfully moved from breast to bottle. After they lost there mum yesterday and not feeding to well yesterday - I guess milk not as nice and teat different - Last three feeds lambs have drank what they should 

Orphaned Lambs

Today didnt go as planned when David from the sheep farm in the hamlet knocked on the door at 8am. One of his ewes has died with two 4 day old lambs. Quick move round of straw in the straw shed and laid a bed and a quick rive up the road in the fog later to get lamb milk powder and feeding bottles. Then Went to collect them so I now have 2 lambs to bottle feed to add to the small holding. I am feeling more like a smallholder again after the pigs left. More pigs in a couple of months ish. First Vegetables going in to the ground today - spuds so all looking good for the summer.

The Ducks and the chickens have just about dried out after the horrible storms of winter 2014. The Cockerel is performing now how he should and makes a lovely crow noise when your in the field. Cant hear him from the house though. 

Resident woodpecker has found that if he taps the bt pole at the top it works as an ampilifier to throw his sound first thing in the morning. Lovely to wake up to Lamb and bird noises.

next step

I saw were my next Pigs will be born and start their life today. Aww the piglets looked so sweet  - Ford Mill Farm a lovely place for hem to start their lives. Again the aim is to know where my food comes from give the pigs the happiest life from birth to the end stages that I can. I will ensure the pigs will be respected from birth to plate and looked after.

Chickens and Ducks - I have been far to soft and ducks and chickens that i have are now pets. They do lay eggs which is great and an income and want that to carry on. Its time to start breeding chickens and ducks for meat consumption to save buying chicken.

Vegetables for this months sowing - decided what and where sowing.

Poly tunnel - still needs lid still needs levelling.

Social life - Managed all markets, Smallholding and 3 social evenings this week

Cockerel has trousers

Mr Cockerel was practising his trouser department routine this morning and he even crowed. Cant wait for some eggs for hatching.

The oils seem to be going down well at market which is great stuff

Bacon is selling out better remember to save myself some!! Dont want to have to buy some in :)

Weather looks like it is picking up cant wait to get vegetable patch started

Signs of Spring

Its lovely when your alarm clock is a real wood pecker pecking away and baby lambs in the near by fields.

Success with the Pork Baps, oils and sauces. It brings a real smile to my face to see people enjoying my food.

We have had Lady Stardust playing the Hokey Cokey - Whole self in Whole self out.........In out in out, In out and shake it all about.

Chickens and Ducks a bit drier. Still only heard the Cockerel Crow once.

Part of the veg patch dug over and new fencing put in. Just have the Electric fence to finish and we will be ready for more animals this spring.

This year I am going to collect wood from the fallen trees from the storm damage for the wood burner and dry it out  Save myself fuel costs next winter.

First project is going to be to collect some gorse flower for gorse flower wine.

Hope we dont get snow before then