WE HAVE OUR FIRST SET OF TWINS! THEY ARRIVED YESTERDAY - TWO EWE LAMBS ...only trouble is their father is a Portland ram! He managed to jump in with the wiltshire horn ewes and was arm in arm with 'no. 11' next morning! The other 11 ewes shouldn't start till at least a week's time but we are getting them in at night as it's much easier to keep any eye on them all.
Sandy gets bigger by the day - she really looks fantastic - i photographed her yesterday and will try and add it to this blog...!
The students have been busy making up fantastic 'veg boxes' for selling all the produce in this year. We are hoping that we can sell at least 6 per week during the summer - mixed salads, and vegetables
We finish for Easter on 2 April, and start again on Thursday 16th April. Don't forget OPEN FARM SUNDAY ON 7 JUNE! The Care Farm is open from 10am to 1pm.
OPEN DAYS AT THE CARE FARM ARE WEEK COMMENCING 15th JUNE.
Sunday, 15 March 2015
Monday, 9 March 2015
The ewes are growing daily...much to our surprise one in particular has grown bigger 3 weeks earlier than the others - and we think she will probably have some rather different coloured twins...all being well!(Lucy's Portland ram ran through the fence when he was put out next to our Wiltshire ewes - i discovered him arm in arm with one of our ewes the next morning!) The other 11 ewes should start lambing the week beginning 23 March.
Sandy is also looking a lot bigger, so we are really hopeful that she is 'in pig' again too.
The students have been taking it in turns to work alongside John a new volunteer, in the wood workshop, making up vegetable boxes to sell all our produce in. They are thoroughly enjoying it; as it's something new and different. They are going to stencil 'Scrubditch' onto the side of each box, and we are hoping to fill them every week once our produce is up and growing, and sell a mixed box to locals.
I went on a training course last week at a Care Farm in the West Midlands. We are producing our own 'Code of Practise' that we will be assessed against, and then hopefully get accredited and be able to have the Care Farming UK logo on everything.
We are looking forward to Gerry coming back in a couple of weeks - the students have been missing her, and it will be great to have her and Jo working here along with Garry on Mondays.
Sandy is also looking a lot bigger, so we are really hopeful that she is 'in pig' again too.
The students have been taking it in turns to work alongside John a new volunteer, in the wood workshop, making up vegetable boxes to sell all our produce in. They are thoroughly enjoying it; as it's something new and different. They are going to stencil 'Scrubditch' onto the side of each box, and we are hoping to fill them every week once our produce is up and growing, and sell a mixed box to locals.
I went on a training course last week at a Care Farm in the West Midlands. We are producing our own 'Code of Practise' that we will be assessed against, and then hopefully get accredited and be able to have the Care Farming UK logo on everything.
We are looking forward to Gerry coming back in a couple of weeks - the students have been missing her, and it will be great to have her and Jo working here along with Garry on Mondays.
Sunday, 15 February 2015
All the students have settled back into the routine at the farm again. The weather is very difficult to predict, so we ask them to bring lots of layers each week! Last Thursday we met up with the Cotswold Wardens again down on the bank. They have been clearing the stream at the bottom of the field - it was completely overgrown and blocked ....now with the help of the students it's running much more freely and we have a watering hole again. We were blessed with gorgeous sunshine all morning, and armed with plenty of cakes for all the helpers, we had a great morning.
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| Alan showing Helen 'blowing up' Patch's nose a technique to calm them |
Yesterday, we loaded up Perry the boar first thing, and returned him to North Nibley. I think Sandy was sad to see him go, but is pleased she doesn't have to share her food with anyone now! She certainly looks as if she's 'in pig', so we will be watching her progress, and will move her back to the pig nursery in March.
We have started feeding the ewes hay now, as the grass is in short supply, and not enough goodness in it to nourish them and their offspring. They will come back to the farm at the end of February so we can start giving them hard feed.
Saturday, 17 January 2015
spring term!
i know it's the Spring term, but the weather is definitely not being 'spring' like at the moment!
The woodland where our pigs are is looking a bit sorry - we have been putting loads of wood chipping into it to try and soak up the wet - the pigs don't appear to care less! But it does make it hard work for us - and it means that we can't let the students in to their enclosures....could mean lots of 'lost' wellies!
The ewes were scanned yesterday - our Thursday group of students brought them back from the bank field across country as its too wet to get the trailer anywhere near. So, Graham the scanner has predicted 8 sets of twins and 3 singles this time - great news! Baxter has done his best, and hopefully we can get him back to Stanton St Quintin tomorrow (weather permitting)
Perry the boar is back staying with Sandy! It was great bringing him here again - Sandy was calling to him when we pulled up outside and she came out to meet him...they almost walked off hand in hand!
The students have settled back into their routine very quickly, and love being back with all the animals. It will soon be time to start planting up all the beds ....we have been busy preparing them, and have several beds of salads in the poly tunnel already.
The woodland where our pigs are is looking a bit sorry - we have been putting loads of wood chipping into it to try and soak up the wet - the pigs don't appear to care less! But it does make it hard work for us - and it means that we can't let the students in to their enclosures....could mean lots of 'lost' wellies!
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| Perry and Sandy happy again! |
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| Baxter just having a look round! |
Perry the boar is back staying with Sandy! It was great bringing him here again - Sandy was calling to him when we pulled up outside and she came out to meet him...they almost walked off hand in hand!
The students have settled back into their routine very quickly, and love being back with all the animals. It will soon be time to start planting up all the beds ....we have been busy preparing them, and have several beds of salads in the poly tunnel already.
Monday, 15 December 2014
Christmas Break!
We are now starting our 4 week break....where has this year gone to??
The Cotswold Christmas Fair at Andoversford turned out to be a rather quiet affair - mainly due to it being 'Black Friday'....and so we didn't get the foot fall we would normally. Still the stall ended up being ok, and we only have a few trees left, along with a few jars of jellies and jams.
The pork, gammon, bacon and sausages are all back - we have virtually sold out of pork, but the gammon and bacon are still available - it does look fantastic!
We had our end of term lunch last thursday here at the house. It was a great affair again, with all the volunteers pitching in to help cooking with me, and producing puddings galore! The students so enjoy getting together - it's a great end to their year. We also invited the head chef from The Bathurst Arms, Ben and Sue, one of our Trustees, so it ended up with 25 of us squeezed into the hall and round the dining table. Of course we had pork, slow roasted over night and it was delicious!
We are one of two charities that Tescos have given a 'helping hand' to this week. They had a cheque presentation at the large Tesco store in Kingsmeadow on Friday, and Johnny came with me to the photo call. We all had to wear silly Christmas hats....not looking forward to that photo! We are putting the cheque towards a set of livestock scales to weigh the sheep and pigs during the year.
Today, Alan (volunteer) came with me to pick up 'Perry' the boar. We have very kindly been lent him again by Gary Salter. Gary has started producing delicious salamis and parma hams with his Oxford Sandy and Blacks. Perhaps we will be able to build on a 'butcher's and cutting room' next year...it would be great to start producing our own specialities too. As we parked the trailer next to the woodland, Sandy and Perry were calling out to each other, and they almost walked off hand in hand - it was lovely to see!
i don't want to speak too soon, but the ducks are back laying again...not sure if it's the khakis or the older Aylesbury, but our customers are very happy! We also appear to have happy hens back laying. One of our new volunteers did a bit of research, and discovered that hens like laying low down, and the houses we bought from Countrywide have all their nesting boxes really high up. So we have put some nesting boxes on the floor for them, and moved the purches up higher - result...we are definitely getting more eggs!
HAPPY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE, and do keep spreading the word.
with festive wishes, for a peaceful time and a prosperous New year,
Emma x
The Cotswold Christmas Fair at Andoversford turned out to be a rather quiet affair - mainly due to it being 'Black Friday'....and so we didn't get the foot fall we would normally. Still the stall ended up being ok, and we only have a few trees left, along with a few jars of jellies and jams.
The pork, gammon, bacon and sausages are all back - we have virtually sold out of pork, but the gammon and bacon are still available - it does look fantastic!
We had our end of term lunch last thursday here at the house. It was a great affair again, with all the volunteers pitching in to help cooking with me, and producing puddings galore! The students so enjoy getting together - it's a great end to their year. We also invited the head chef from The Bathurst Arms, Ben and Sue, one of our Trustees, so it ended up with 25 of us squeezed into the hall and round the dining table. Of course we had pork, slow roasted over night and it was delicious!
We are one of two charities that Tescos have given a 'helping hand' to this week. They had a cheque presentation at the large Tesco store in Kingsmeadow on Friday, and Johnny came with me to the photo call. We all had to wear silly Christmas hats....not looking forward to that photo! We are putting the cheque towards a set of livestock scales to weigh the sheep and pigs during the year.
Today, Alan (volunteer) came with me to pick up 'Perry' the boar. We have very kindly been lent him again by Gary Salter. Gary has started producing delicious salamis and parma hams with his Oxford Sandy and Blacks. Perhaps we will be able to build on a 'butcher's and cutting room' next year...it would be great to start producing our own specialities too. As we parked the trailer next to the woodland, Sandy and Perry were calling out to each other, and they almost walked off hand in hand - it was lovely to see!
i don't want to speak too soon, but the ducks are back laying again...not sure if it's the khakis or the older Aylesbury, but our customers are very happy! We also appear to have happy hens back laying. One of our new volunteers did a bit of research, and discovered that hens like laying low down, and the houses we bought from Countrywide have all their nesting boxes really high up. So we have put some nesting boxes on the floor for them, and moved the purches up higher - result...we are definitely getting more eggs!
HAPPY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE, and do keep spreading the word.
with festive wishes, for a peaceful time and a prosperous New year,
Emma x
Friday, 14 November 2014
November!
We have been busy here getting our weaners ready to go off. We have been given some whey to feed as an extra boost, and the pigs love it! we will be sending off three of our biggest weaners the last week of November, ready for Christmas Hams and sausages. Do get in touch to book your pork.
The students have been tidying up all our raised beds in the poly tunnel and outside for the winter, whilst also planting more winter salads inside, to sell to the pub. We have some lovely red celery still growing outside, but other than that the poly tunnel is the best place to be from now on. They have also been making newspaper pots to plant the sweet peas in; they will also over winter inside.
The Christmas Trees are looking great in our colourful red, green and white pots, and they will be 'dressed' next week, ready for the Fair.
We have the two horses back now, so the students are very happy. They seem to especially like helping to put them out; doing their rugs, and bringing them in at the end of the afternoon, and brushing off some horrendous mud! It's a great opportunity for some therapeutic bonding, as Manny particularly likes being cuddled.
We have had some kind of sickness in the hen run - 4 hens have keeled over and died recently, so i took one poorly one along to the vets to see if they could shed any light on the mystery. Rob (vet) thinks it could be a bronchial problem, so we are putting anti biotics into their water, and also worming them for good measure. Fingers crossed we don't lose any more. Unfortunately 3 of them were Ella's new bantams.
Our flock of Wiltshires are doing really well - all the ewes are down on the bank with 'Baxter', and the rest of the ram lambs are up here at the Care Farm, having a bit of 'finishing food' to help them on their way. We supplied the local pub with their first lamb last month, and apparently they had really good 'feed back' from the customers, and so are having another one next week.
Don't forget to put 28 NOVEMBER in your diary for the Cotswold Christmas Fair at the Frogmill Hotel, as they are raising money for the Care Farm.
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| happy pigs! |
The Christmas Trees are looking great in our colourful red, green and white pots, and they will be 'dressed' next week, ready for the Fair.
We have the two horses back now, so the students are very happy. They seem to especially like helping to put them out; doing their rugs, and bringing them in at the end of the afternoon, and brushing off some horrendous mud! It's a great opportunity for some therapeutic bonding, as Manny particularly likes being cuddled.
We have had some kind of sickness in the hen run - 4 hens have keeled over and died recently, so i took one poorly one along to the vets to see if they could shed any light on the mystery. Rob (vet) thinks it could be a bronchial problem, so we are putting anti biotics into their water, and also worming them for good measure. Fingers crossed we don't lose any more. Unfortunately 3 of them were Ella's new bantams.
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| 'Baxter' joining his girls! |
Don't forget to put 28 NOVEMBER in your diary for the Cotswold Christmas Fair at the Frogmill Hotel, as they are raising money for the Care Farm.
Saturday, 1 November 2014
HALF TERM BREAK
Ella came home for half term, so while she was here, we went to pick up the Wiltshire Horn Ram, from Adrian Andrews in Stanton st Quinton. He is called Baxter, and is very handsome. Let's hope he performs as well as Neville from last year!
We have moved our lambs into the Orchard here at the farm, at the end of my parent's garden. They love it down there, and look quite at home. We will probably send another 2 or 3 off to the abattoir within the next week; having already sold 3. The local pub, The Bathurst Arms, in North Cerney, have our lamb on the menu this weekend! www.bathurstarms.com
Ella was given some little bantams by Lucy, her aunt, as a late birthday present. They look a bit like her favourite bantam, 'Fiver' that sadly got eaten by the fox this summer (along with all those others) They have little top knots, and are terribly tame. One keeps trying to sit on my arm when i'm feeding them - i had to take it up with me to feed the pigs this afternoon! I am hoping that Ella might be able to take them with her to The Orchards, where she is moving to in a couple of weeks time. It's still at The Orchard Trust, but more independent, and has a good bit of garden at the back - perfect for a little hen arc!
I discovered that the quail had been eaten yesterday - i think by rats...there was a tell tale 'run' in the corner of their arc - so disappointing...we'd managed to keep them out all summer. So, no quail left now. I think it is probably too late to incubate any more eggs; especially as colder weather is forecast for November. We will have to start again in the Spring.
ps has anyone seen November's issue of 'Small holder' magazine? There is an article about the care farm in it!
We have moved our lambs into the Orchard here at the farm, at the end of my parent's garden. They love it down there, and look quite at home. We will probably send another 2 or 3 off to the abattoir within the next week; having already sold 3. The local pub, The Bathurst Arms, in North Cerney, have our lamb on the menu this weekend! www.bathurstarms.com
Ella was given some little bantams by Lucy, her aunt, as a late birthday present. They look a bit like her favourite bantam, 'Fiver' that sadly got eaten by the fox this summer (along with all those others) They have little top knots, and are terribly tame. One keeps trying to sit on my arm when i'm feeding them - i had to take it up with me to feed the pigs this afternoon! I am hoping that Ella might be able to take them with her to The Orchards, where she is moving to in a couple of weeks time. It's still at The Orchard Trust, but more independent, and has a good bit of garden at the back - perfect for a little hen arc!
I discovered that the quail had been eaten yesterday - i think by rats...there was a tell tale 'run' in the corner of their arc - so disappointing...we'd managed to keep them out all summer. So, no quail left now. I think it is probably too late to incubate any more eggs; especially as colder weather is forecast for November. We will have to start again in the Spring.
ps has anyone seen November's issue of 'Small holder' magazine? There is an article about the care farm in it!
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