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.

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.

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!

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,

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.

wet wet wet

I wish it was just a pop band. Unfortunately its whats my smallholding is about at the moment. Its that time of year that you wish the rain would stop and that your pigs had wellies!. Talking of pigs its nearly their time they have been great pigs no escapism other then last few days. I thought they had lost respect of electric fence until I realised the cable to the fence was broke. All mended so pigs have stopped being sheep pigs.  Sheep I suspect I still have two pregnant sheep  who all seem very healthy.

Bees are hibernating well - I am keeping them well fed and they are ok.

Willow and tree chopping has been delayed due to poor weather and plus I cannot get chain saw to work boo hoo. working on a solution for that. I think carburettor set incorrectly so going to ask a engine mechanic friend.

However on the sauce, preserve spice mix front been busy plotting and planning new flavours. February the time of experimenting new tastes and new exciting produce.

Tomorrow unfortunately is storm Doris repairs to my shed. I may manage to get in my polytunnel for thinning out the spinach. Yes supermarkets may have a shortage of spinach but I do have baby spinach. I will get the plug in buy local, Buy british!






   

new year new plans

I realised I haven't blogged since November been a busy December with xmas sales of the sauces, xmas puds, preserves etc. The chaos has now passed and relaxation had over xmas nows the time to focus on the coming year. Well my ram that needed a step ladder has been busy last August and First lamb born already. Mum and lamb doing really well she is a good first time mum. Its a ram though so cant get attached next years food. He all tagged and the necessary jobs done. Castration and tail docing.

The sheep are all doing well got ? two pregnant ewes out there but think they will be a lot later lambing due to it being their second year of breeding.

The pigs are doing rather well they will be off for bacon soon sorry vegetarians but I cant loose the focus of raising my livestock is so that I know where my food comes from and that the animals have a happy healthy life!

The Chickens and Ducks just keep praying I am keeping them free from the dreaded Avian flu.

The bees are doing well hibernating at present. Looking forward to some honey this year.

Vegetable garden and polytunnel starting to take shape the nematodes appear to be doing their job and protecting the crops in the polytunnel

I plan to use my xmas present of a hot and cold smoker at a very good price so today is about research and learning the art of curing and smoking cant wait. I also plan to build a pizza oven will I finally get round to doing it!

Willow weaving I created a rustic basket for my firewood and some other bits and bobs to sell.

Dying wool still no further forward with this will have to get finger out.