November 2005

This has been a month of extremes... on the one hand, I hurt my back big time, "persuading" two rather energetic pigs that the trailer was absolutely THE place to be, and ended up flat on my back for several days. Hard at the best of times, but especially difficult when there's so much to be doing. We were grateful for the help of two healthy young men, Joe and Geoff during this time. Joe talked with the trees in the orchard and gave them some tlc in readiness for winter... Geoff busied himself with the help of the tractor and a big spade, creating raised vegetable beds in the garden. They both helped make sausages and bacon, built chicken houses and helped with the general day to day stuff around the farm. Thank goodness.

The turkeys and the fox continue to do battle in the paddock... the fox wins. In spite of our increasing the number of strands, the height of the fence and putting a hot wire about 6" from the ground, the little begger is still finding his way in, and this year's flock of turkeys seem to like roosting on the ground... easy targets. We have made a commitment to rework the fencing or not do turkeys next year... this is an expensive way to support wildlife!

Have you ever wondered how Sleeping Beauty pricked her finger on a spinning wheel? All the spinning wheels I've every seen are treadle machines without anything remotely sharp on them. Well, I learnt something new this month (again!). Our friend Emma has a huge spinning wheel which she brought round to the farm in kit form one weekend. It's a reproduction wheel with a HUGE spike on it. Not a piece of kit to be messed with! This wonderful piece has now taken up semi-permanent residency in our conservatory as I have taken a great liking to it and the yarn I can spin with it. So much more reliable than my little treadle and it's like doing a slow dance with your whole body involved.

The end of the month saw Mark, Emily and I working our little sox off. Mark manned the farm, Emily and I did back to back farmers markets and "Christmas Lights" events selling our cooked burgers and patties and sausages in home made buns. We think the bank manager should give us a gold star!