A Day In The Life Of A Smallholder

Saturday 4th August 2018

Got up at about 6am Martin was already  up and had a cup of tea ready for when I came downstairs, put a wash load on, got some paperwork ready for the people who were coming to buy the two female kids.Its Martin's turn to do the animal feeds, milking and chores today.

Got dressed another mug of tea and started loading my car up  ready for the village market, put second load of washing on and headed down to the village hall to get set up.

A lovely friend brought along a box of mushrooms for us that she had picked this morning in her field.

 Got home from doing the market about 1pm, made some good sales and picked up a couple of orders for the new range of children's clothes I am doing. Including an order for one of the Turkeys. Car unpacked.

Quick catch up with Martin, the goat kids were collected, I went and checked the new area Martin had set up for the pigs that we are collecting tomorrow.

 

Then headed up to the top field to turn the grass that had been topped the other day and cut some branches for the mama goats and the young billies that have now moved into the goat bachelor pad.
set about cleaning out the fridge while I was having a cup of tea

Into the poly tunnel, planted a tray of potatoes that were sitting in the barn sprouting, they were some of ours from last year.

 They have been planted into the border I cleared earlier in the week

Set up an experimental bed to grow some of the mixed grain  that we buy in for the doves,

It will be interesting to see what grows and how well it does, I intend cutting it for the goats.

 Went round and harvested some of the veg, runner beans, broad beans, black eyed beans, peas, courgettes, cucumber, broccoli and corn on the cob.

We spotted Frasier the Buffalo bull was in the wrong part of the field, he had rolled under the electric fencing, we head off to round him up and get him back were he belonged.
The washing was brought in 

 

Turned the mister on in poly tunnel 1

while that was getting a good soaking I headed back up to the top field to bring down all the cut grass that was dry

Three trailer loads, not the best of hay but it will feed the goats for a couple of weeks.

Martin was cooking dinner on the BBQ while I was gathering in the hay

Lovey dinner of Buffalo rib joint, new potatoes, corn on the cob, corn on the cob, tomatoes and cucumber.

I then switched the watering to the second poly tunnel

 While the watering was going on I headed to the woodland field and cut a row with the scythe

 This will get turned in the morning then several times through the day to dry out. Closed up poly tunnels, turned off water pump.

Finally got sat down with another cuppa 

Wont be long until bed time, how was your day?