Yet again i am starting the blog with an apology....! We have had such a busy time since i last wrote
and now it's the Christmas Break already
The students finished this week, but we will be seeing most of them again on Monday as we are having our Christmas Lunch at the Village Hall - this is a great occasion and everyone dresses up in a Festive jumper (or hat!)
Back at the Care Farm, the animals are all ok - we still have 3 gilts for sale, and Sandy has moved back in with her boyfriend Perry (just as well as Perry had already broken down the fence and tried to force his way through the gate to her!) Let's hope this time she gets pregnant, as sadly that wasn't the case earlier on - if she is that will mean piglets in March / April time
Gerrhalt has worked his magic on the ewes down on the bank, and most of them have orange bottoms, aside from three that must have cycled the second time, and they have green bottoms!
Our lambs are up in Woodmancote, having a lovely time and being very well looked after by Ron who checks them every day for us
This week, we heard on the news about the threat of Avian Flu so, we have reduced the size of the hen run, and are netting the tops, to try and stop wild birds flying down and eating their food - we are doing the same with the ducks too....we will do this for 30 days, and hopefully this will keep a lid on it - i was on BBC Radio Gloucestershire on Thursday morning at 7.45am discussing our plans!
Our Christmas cards have been selling really well this year - we keep having to order more - do look at the website
Sadly we had to cancel our Christmas Fair at Daglingworth Village Hall this time....for all sorts of reasons, but we will be organising a much better one next year.
HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO ALL OUR SUPPORTERS AND SEE YOU IN THE NEW YEAR!
Saturday, 10 December 2016
Monday, 17 October 2016
HALF TERM ALREADY!
Yet again....i have been a very poor blogger this last four weeks! We have been so busy....Gerry and i have done three talks this past month - two to WI groups and one in Cirencester to the Ashfcroft Ladies Group. We have now finally got a really good projector (having struggled to show good enough quality photographs before) and it makes such a difference! The talks we do are a really good way of raising our profile, and great fun to do.
We had an article in the local paper looking for volunteers recently, that led to RADIO Gloucestershire ringing and coming to interview us the following week! We went out 'live' two days later....another great profile raiser, and our student Helen, and Volunteer Alan were brilliant!
Hazel's piglets have all been weaned and are ready to sell so we took four of them to the market last week (it costs so much to keep feeding them all) Unfortunately there were a load of really grotty dreadfully thin pigs for sale and so although they made more than any others = they still went for half what we can get for them privately.....a lesson learnt - we will know for next time.
Sandy is pregnant again and is due to farrow the end of November, so we will do some 'moving around' when the students get back to make sure she is in the 'nursery' in plenty of time.
Our veg boxes are nearly finished - we just have some tomatoes, and lovely 'flower sprouts' - a delicious cross between brussel sprouts and kale and pumpkins left....
The poultry have completely gone on strike - the hens aren't laying at all....apparently lots of people are saying the same thing - weather i imagine, but it's not good for our 'produce income'! The ducks are still going strong - but only 3 per day instead of 5 at the moment. I am off to buy some more 'point of lay' hens this week, we may need to rig up a light of some kind in order to make sure they start laying before next year ....!
We had our third quiz on Friday night, run by Neil (father of one of our students) - it was a great success again.....a really fun evening - everyone brings their own food and wine. The questions were very varied again and 'interactive' which keeps everyone interested!
On Saturday i took Christmas Cards and Jam to the Autumn Fair at Beaudesert School - they have chosen us as one of their 'Charities' this year. There was a huge footfall so hopefully they will have raised a lots of money. With any luck it will go to purchasing another second hand portacabin to use for a cookery room....another thing to tick off my '10 year plan'!
we are now on half term for two weeks. as it's such a long term - this gives us time to catch up with lots of maintenance on site, and plan for the next half term. Alan (volunteer) and i are off to pick up 'Gerhallt' a magnificent Wiltshire Horn Ram this week ...watch out girls!
We had an article in the local paper looking for volunteers recently, that led to RADIO Gloucestershire ringing and coming to interview us the following week! We went out 'live' two days later....another great profile raiser, and our student Helen, and Volunteer Alan were brilliant!
Hazel's piglets have all been weaned and are ready to sell so we took four of them to the market last week (it costs so much to keep feeding them all) Unfortunately there were a load of really grotty dreadfully thin pigs for sale and so although they made more than any others = they still went for half what we can get for them privately.....a lesson learnt - we will know for next time.
Sandy is pregnant again and is due to farrow the end of November, so we will do some 'moving around' when the students get back to make sure she is in the 'nursery' in plenty of time.
Our veg boxes are nearly finished - we just have some tomatoes, and lovely 'flower sprouts' - a delicious cross between brussel sprouts and kale and pumpkins left....
The poultry have completely gone on strike - the hens aren't laying at all....apparently lots of people are saying the same thing - weather i imagine, but it's not good for our 'produce income'! The ducks are still going strong - but only 3 per day instead of 5 at the moment. I am off to buy some more 'point of lay' hens this week, we may need to rig up a light of some kind in order to make sure they start laying before next year ....!
We had our third quiz on Friday night, run by Neil (father of one of our students) - it was a great success again.....a really fun evening - everyone brings their own food and wine. The questions were very varied again and 'interactive' which keeps everyone interested!
On Saturday i took Christmas Cards and Jam to the Autumn Fair at Beaudesert School - they have chosen us as one of their 'Charities' this year. There was a huge footfall so hopefully they will have raised a lots of money. With any luck it will go to purchasing another second hand portacabin to use for a cookery room....another thing to tick off my '10 year plan'!
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| Our stand at Beaudesert Autumn Fair! |
we are now on half term for two weeks. as it's such a long term - this gives us time to catch up with lots of maintenance on site, and plan for the next half term. Alan (volunteer) and i are off to pick up 'Gerhallt' a magnificent Wiltshire Horn Ram this week ...watch out girls!
Tuesday, 20 September 2016
AUTUMN!
firstly, the first weekend in September Gerry Rosie and i went to Moreton Show with our beautiful Pedigree Wiltshire Horn Shearling, Alice - we took Annabel for company too, but only showed Alice
we came a respectable 7th ......out of a class of 9! The judge sadly wanted all the ewes to stand in line, whereas we had spent all summer term, practising walking Alice with the students! She was very well behaved though, and we think we should definitely do more next year!
The students have all started back again, we have said goodbye to three lads, and welcome 3 new students this term. It's all systems go, with Hazel and her 7 piglets; due to be weaned next week, and the lambs nearly ready to go off.
We still have some lovely produce to sell in our veg boxes, as the sun has continued shining in between rain.
we came a respectable 7th ......out of a class of 9! The judge sadly wanted all the ewes to stand in line, whereas we had spent all summer term, practising walking Alice with the students! She was very well behaved though, and we think we should definitely do more next year!
The students have all started back again, we have said goodbye to three lads, and welcome 3 new students this term. It's all systems go, with Hazel and her 7 piglets; due to be weaned next week, and the lambs nearly ready to go off.
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| grown in the poly tunnel! |
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| does anyone recognise this? |
Monday, 1 August 2016
HOLIDAYS!
During the holidays we still have all the animals to look after and lots of produce to pick and sell in our veg boxes!
Hazel has just farrowed - she had 7 lovely piglets - they have been loving the sunshine, but now it's raining we will make sure the heat lamp is on to keep them warm
We have had two more lots of chicks hatch from our lovely dutch bantams, but sadly both our cockerels died during the last month.
The veg garden is brimming with produce; and we have now managed to keep the slugs at bay with copper tape round plastic bottles for the french beans - we have also been going out at night just before it's dark, rounding up the horrid blighters and putting them in buckets with salt and water.....not very kind, but essential as we have been over run with them!
The tomatoes in the poly tunnel are growing well, as are our cucumbers - we should have a bounty of them for September, when the students come back.
This warm wet weather has been a struggle to keep all the livestock healthy,,,,we have suffered with the poultry having lice and mites; cleaning out their housing religiously two or three times a week
And the sheep - a couple of our lambs have been 'fly struck'.....not a pleasant sight - but we have sprayed them both, and brought one back up to the care farm, where we can keep an eye on her, and give her some tlc!
Gerry and Kate have been running school activities over the past week and have 3 more days left this week - we have lots of school age children attending sessions to learn all about farming, and growing produce. They have a wonderful time; and for some it's the only chance they have to be in this environment.
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| sorry about these...can't get them to stand upright! |
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| These are beautiful aubergine plants...sideways! |
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| The shade area we made for Hazel to wallow in without getting sun burnt! |
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| Hazel resting before farrowing! |
We have had two more lots of chicks hatch from our lovely dutch bantams, but sadly both our cockerels died during the last month.
The veg garden is brimming with produce; and we have now managed to keep the slugs at bay with copper tape round plastic bottles for the french beans - we have also been going out at night just before it's dark, rounding up the horrid blighters and putting them in buckets with salt and water.....not very kind, but essential as we have been over run with them!
The tomatoes in the poly tunnel are growing well, as are our cucumbers - we should have a bounty of them for September, when the students come back.
This warm wet weather has been a struggle to keep all the livestock healthy,,,,we have suffered with the poultry having lice and mites; cleaning out their housing religiously two or three times a week
And the sheep - a couple of our lambs have been 'fly struck'.....not a pleasant sight - but we have sprayed them both, and brought one back up to the care farm, where we can keep an eye on her, and give her some tlc!
Gerry and Kate have been running school activities over the past week and have 3 more days left this week - we have lots of school age children attending sessions to learn all about farming, and growing produce. They have a wonderful time; and for some it's the only chance they have to be in this environment.
Friday, 8 July 2016
end of term already!
This half term has flown by....i can't believe we had our last day yesterday with the students for the next five weeks or so...although we will be doing summer activities during the holidays for school age children (look on the website for details)
We have had an awful month losing two lambs to pneumonia, and one ewe to a twisted gut - i think it's the weather...so much rain and not enough sun - until this last week or so
We have another bantam hatch 6 hens (she was sitting squashed down between one of the raised beds in the poly tunnel) and we have one sitting on eggs in the middle of the straw stack in the yard!
The lambs look fantastic - and we will be weaning them next month hopefully. we sent off two of last year's lambs last week - they will be delicious mutton as they are over a year old now
We have our end of term lunch next week, where we give out certificates to all the students. Sadly we say good bye to 3 of them this term, but will be welcoming 3 new students in September.
Sandy is looking forward to her 6 piglets being 'weaned' next week - she is getting a bit fed up with them eating her food! They look great and weigh in at around 14 kilos each.....
We have started selling our veg boxes this week - beetroot, chard, potatoes & salad bags with fresh herbs
We have had an awful month losing two lambs to pneumonia, and one ewe to a twisted gut - i think it's the weather...so much rain and not enough sun - until this last week or so
We have another bantam hatch 6 hens (she was sitting squashed down between one of the raised beds in the poly tunnel) and we have one sitting on eggs in the middle of the straw stack in the yard!
The lambs look fantastic - and we will be weaning them next month hopefully. we sent off two of last year's lambs last week - they will be delicious mutton as they are over a year old now
We have our end of term lunch next week, where we give out certificates to all the students. Sadly we say good bye to 3 of them this term, but will be welcoming 3 new students in September.
Sandy is looking forward to her 6 piglets being 'weaned' next week - she is getting a bit fed up with them eating her food! They look great and weigh in at around 14 kilos each.....
We have started selling our veg boxes this week - beetroot, chard, potatoes & salad bags with fresh herbs
Saturday, 11 June 2016
SANDY HAS FARROWED!!
At last ...we thought it was never going to happen - we even found a specialist pig scanner to come round and check! Sandy farrowed last week - 6 piglets only this time - but at least they are all healthy!
Hazel is also pregnant - although she has been very off colour last week - refusing to eat anything / drink....we had to get a specialist pig vet to see her. Richard, the vet, gave her a thorough examination, but couldn't be sure what was wrong. He suggested buying a box of cereal and some milk, and putting cider vinegar in her water (she didn't seem to like that!) but ate all the cereal. Thankfully she is now back to eating and drinking - although she KEEPS throwing her water containers over which is a real pain!
We have also had our final lamb....Scarlet one of our shearlings lambed late last month (she had unfortunately been covered by one of the rams on the farm by mistake!) so now we have a lovely ewe lamb.
We had a really successful OPEN FARM SUNDAY last weekend - nearly 40 visitors and fantastic sunshine all morning. We are planning two more Open Days next week for prospective commissioners and students.
We took two ewes (Alice and Mo) to Oxtalls Tennis Centre during half term for a BIG HEALTH CHECK DAY to raise the profile of the Care Farm - it was bitterly cold outside, but hopefully we will get some referrals!
Last night Gerry and i gave a talk to the senior British Legion group in Cirencester.....rather frustratingly we couldn't get the projector to 'focus'quite right so our lovely photographs of the Care Farm were slightly hazy - although no-one seemed to mind much and they all appeared to enjoy the evening!
Everything is growing like mad in the raised beds which is great, and we should have lots of veg
for our boxes before long
Hazel is also pregnant - although she has been very off colour last week - refusing to eat anything / drink....we had to get a specialist pig vet to see her. Richard, the vet, gave her a thorough examination, but couldn't be sure what was wrong. He suggested buying a box of cereal and some milk, and putting cider vinegar in her water (she didn't seem to like that!) but ate all the cereal. Thankfully she is now back to eating and drinking - although she KEEPS throwing her water containers over which is a real pain!We have also had our final lamb....Scarlet one of our shearlings lambed late last month (she had unfortunately been covered by one of the rams on the farm by mistake!) so now we have a lovely ewe lamb.
We had a really successful OPEN FARM SUNDAY last weekend - nearly 40 visitors and fantastic sunshine all morning. We are planning two more Open Days next week for prospective commissioners and students.
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| Scarlet with her lamb! |
We took two ewes (Alice and Mo) to Oxtalls Tennis Centre during half term for a BIG HEALTH CHECK DAY to raise the profile of the Care Farm - it was bitterly cold outside, but hopefully we will get some referrals!
Last night Gerry and i gave a talk to the senior British Legion group in Cirencester.....rather frustratingly we couldn't get the projector to 'focus'quite right so our lovely photographs of the Care Farm were slightly hazy - although no-one seemed to mind much and they all appeared to enjoy the evening!
Everything is growing like mad in the raised beds which is great, and we should have lots of veg
for our boxes before long
Saturday, 23 April 2016
Getting ready for farrowing!
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| ewes and lambs scampering down the hill for their feed! |
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| Emma (the vet) and Alan drenching the ewe |
Sandy is looking 'imminent'....i reckon she will farrow within the next 48 hours - i'm really hoping she doesn't start till Monday, when Gerry is back! We have her in the nursery all ready, and the heat lamp is rigged up just in case....
We have another bantam sitting on eggs in the poly tunnel - the other one is out with the hens in the main run - unfortunately 3 of her 5 chicks are cockerels...!
We have had 4 chicks hatch over the last 24 hours in the incubator - let's hope they aren't all cockerels!
We have loads of seeds coming up in the poly tunnel, and have been planting out broad beans, and onions and getting the pots ready for sweet peas. We have planted carrot, beetroot, and pea seeds out, and sown more salads inside the poly tunnel.
we were really lucky to be given funding for two new pig arcs that arrived from Devon on Thursday....our others were inherited second hand, and very delapidated, and definitely wouldn't do another winter, so we are really thankful to The Cotswold Primrose Trust for their help, and to 'Traditional Pig Arks'.
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| preparing woodland for the new pig arks |
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| all the buckets cleaned out after lambing! |
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