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THE EVERYDAY STORY OF LIFE ON A WILTSHIRE FARM
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March 2009 - Fairtrade fortnight, old cows and spring
The snow has gone and the sun is shining (between showers) surely spring is now really on its way. Life should be a bit easier apart from the fact that we are restructuring our business and moving some of the pigs back from Crooked Soley to West End. The aim of this is to try to streamline the business and make it more viable for the long-term. It's a big job though and a lot to do and the first pigs are coming back by the middle of March. There is fencing to do on the downs, water-pipe to lay and huts to move.
At the end of February we took part in a Fairtrade Fayre in Devizes. We were asked to take a stand and give a talk on Fairtrade for British Farmers. It was a really interesting challenge - we have long campaigned for fairer prices for British farmers but we would never suggest that we are in the same need of help as third world farmers. However, the principle of supporting good quality local producers and retailers alongside promoting fairtrade to third world producers I think is a balanced approach. We were really pleased to take part and had many interesting conversations - the selection of Walter Rose sausages we had as samples flew off the plates. Thank you to anyone who visited our stall. Unfortunately I didn't manage to take any pictures for the website.
A couple of weeks ago we were sorry to lose our old guernsey cow - Rosie. She became ill and died a couple of days before her 20th birthday. We had retired her from rearing calves last summer and decided to keep her to live out her days as an expensive lawnmower. She was a wonderful cow we had her for twelve years and she reared many, many batches of calves. She was a great mum and an old friend. We still have Gussie, who is also retired we don't know how old she is exactly but must be nearly 14 years old. She has a calf with her as a companion so we hope she won't miss Rosie too much.
Little cat diary - 9th March 2009
Over the last few weeks four of our kittens left for their new homes. The remaining four have now been moved to the stables so that Maggie has been dried off and today has been speyed - so no more kittens! Some nights in the past few weeks have been quite cold again so we have brought the kittens in at night and shut Maggie in another room. Last night they did sleep in the stables for the first time as it was mild, although they had a hot water bottle in their snug box. The kittens seem very happy and are integrating well with the other farm cats. Poor Maggie is not taking kindly to wearing a bonnet and not being allowed out, but the village tom cat had been visiting again recently and she really shouldn't have any more kittens. as you can see from the photograph, feeding eight kittens was becoming a bit much for her. The house is strangely empty now without marauding kittens climbing curtains, legs etc!
13th March 2009
Pigs back on the Downs
Today we brought the first lot of weaner pigs from Crooked Soley to their new home on the Downs at West End Farm. It has been about 17 years since we had pigs on the Downs so it feels a bit of a landmark. We have put up signs reminding people not to go into the fields with the pigs. Obviously farms are dangerous - even our small tractors are plenty big enough to hurt someone. Soon we will have sows and boars outside too. Sows with piglets are particularly dangerous and aggresive so it is essential people keep away. Finally there are a number of diseases which can be inadvertently spread on shoes, litter or dogs feet. I'm sure everyone can remember the devastation wrought by foot and mouth disease. Fortunately most people respect notices is they understand the reasons.
19th March 2009
Cows out
In this beautiful weather we have turned the cows out to grass during the day but bring them in at night. The grass is growing strongly now so they might as well enjoy it.
Email: Naughton@Farming.co.uk