November 1, 2009 at 4:08 pm (Uncategorized)
Okay, okay- I know. Despite saying there would be regular updates, nearly five months on I am finally adding a new post. Sadly my lovely Dad died quite suddenly and left me in a state of numbness. However, he would be disappointed that I hadn’t continued blogging, so off we go again.
Things have changed quite a bit on our little smallholding. The number of goats has dropped from 9 to just 4. Lily, her kid Buster and two boys, Biscuit and Ben. They will now all be kept as pets as I have now broken the main rule of smallholding and gone soft in my old age!
Buster
Instead we decided to concentrate on poultry. A very impressive new incubator, trips to a great farm just down the road to buy fertile eggs, some eggs from Ebay and a visit to our mad and lovely friend Debbie in Lincolnshire mean that we now have more ducks, ducklings, chickens and chicks than you can shake a stick at. Plus we bought a breeding group of a turkey stag and his five ladies, all about two years old, and another breeding group of turkeys, one stag and 3 hens, just babies, and added two geese into the equation.
Just a few of the new arrivals.
George and his Mildreds
In addition to all of this EDF sent in their subcontractors BTS to brutally cut down many of the trees which surround our little plot. As a big “up yours” to them we are also in the process of planting 200metres of native hedging, ash trees for screening, willow and sweet chestnut for coppicing and a titchy fruit orchard.
Finally, two Gloucestershire Old Spot x Tamworths are arriving in the next week or two to root over and nicely manure our intended veggie plot for next year.
Phew, take a deep breath and calm down. As you can see, some big changes. From now I promise to do my very best to update this regularly. Thank you to all those who gently nagged and to Lucy, who really nagged at me to start posting again. Just for you Lucy, here are some more kitty pics from our little group of 12 cats.
Misty- cat with attitude
Bear, the hissy fit kitten!!
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June 12, 2009 at 3:54 pm (Uncategorized)
Tags: ducks, smallholding
Finally Sally Muscovy’s ducklings have hatched. After what had seemed like forever, they began to break out of their shells yesterday afternoon, with the final one arriving this morning. It looks like there will be four black and white, like mum and dad, and two white.
She had made her nest in a tumble down old giant sized rabbit hutch that had been waiting to be chopped up for firewood so now the ducklings are positioned three feet off the ground and in full glare of the sun. I have provided them with some shade, and food and a large tray of water have been put in the hutch. Sally and brood seem intent on staying where they are for the next day or two; I’m sure mum knows best.
Two of Sally's babies.
This now brings our duckling total to 10 for this year as Topsy already has her four little ones, hatched 13 days ago.
Muscovy ducklings at 13 days.
So that’s ducklings fed and watered, now to move onto the human inhabitants of the smallholding.
I think dinner this evening should be a very simple affair; roasted carrots, beetroot, onions and garlic with some herby roast potatos and fresh peas.
Dinner from the polytunnel.
I should be making cakes and bread and biscuits today as well, but as I can’t seem to find the kitchen under all the mess these may have to wait until tomorrow! Good job I decided on that simple dinner.
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June 7, 2009 at 4:18 pm (Uncategorized)
Tags: goats, home education, smallholding
Today I have lost my marbles and decided to start a blog. As I will have to keep it updated I’m hoping that this will inspire me to actually do something. Fingers crossed.
So first post is a quick introduction to who I am and how my life trundles along.
Home is the east of England in a tiny cottage with a little piece of land. I share our hovel with Andy (OH), youngest daughter, aged 9, and youngest son, just approaching 8. These two little lively people are home educated, although I think it’s me that gets educated the most. Eldest daughter lives too far away to the south and is always missed!
Four dogs, two cats, a budgie and two goldfish add to the household smells and noises. Outside is occupied by 9 goats, 2 lambs, 3 ducks and ducklings, 4 cats and kittens and 6 hens and cockerel.
We try to grow a lot of our food and tend to eat vegetarian or fish dishes unless we can have home reared meat. We are completely disorganised, everything is mild chaos and I LOVE IT!!
If all goes to plan I should be able to update you on the comings and goings here so watch this space. If you have been watching for a long time though and nothing happens, the plan didn’t work.
I will leave you with some pics of the strange characters around here and hope you come back for more.
Zorro, Esther & Lord Downey
Lovely Lily
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