What's happening this week?
January
My smallholding produce managed to feed everyone over the Xmas and New Year week - all 14 of them! I had some new gadgets for Xmas, an ice cream maker and cheese making equipment to play with.
The ducks and bantams have started laying again, and the geese are displaying, showing hope for spring.
Poor Freddie! I found our Kune Kune wrapped up in straw with his arc gone, blown away in one of the the worst storms we have had. He is now happily back in his hut in the yard.
It must have been a rough night for the pigs as Thomas, Missie & Valentine did not want to come out for breakfast, just wanted to sleep. So the the two pregnant girls got a good feed this morning. Louise & Pippi will be coming in soon so that I can feed individually to their needs and keep an eye them. They are finding the wet hard work to walk through as well. They are due end of Jan/beginning Feb.
It looks as if the female Kestrel that nests in the tree next to the house is interested in the owl box in the barn, she has been feeding in there, lots of blackbird feathers.
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December
The weather has suddenly changed to winter, from mild and dry to cold and wet. The water is 
not soaking away particularly well as it has been so dry and icy. The pigs are not impressed. Thomas does not come out for breakfast after a cold night and has breakfast in bed! He has been working hard after all, so we are expecting his litters starting in February. His autumn boars are looking fabulous and are looking for some working homes.
Been extremely busy preparing for a home grown Xmas, I think I am nearly there.
The ducks and geese don't seem to mind the change in the weather, and we have started getting duck eggs again.
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October
October also seems to have gone by!
I did lots of home produced cooking for our annual family get together, which was a great success. We managed to get everyone over this time, so managed to sleep 16 in various parts of the house.
Two of Pippi's litter have gone to their new home, so I have 8 left to go. I have chosen a super little boar for bringing on for next year, but was disappointed that the lovely little gilt was not quite up to standard.
I am so glad to see Pippi back to her usual cheerful self, as she seemed to take weaning quite hard this time. She has been using Thomas as her protector, as Louise really does not like having her around. Having said that, what usually happens is that the worst enemies turn into best friends. All 4 girls and Thomas are together in the orchard finishing off the last of the apples, every time the wind blows. It's still so dry and dusty though. The weaners are doing a spendid job clearing my veg patch at the moment.
I saw the big dog fox again in the field, so he is back. I need to keep an eye on my hens.
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September
Where did September go?!
Pippi farrowed and had 11 really lovely piglets, even though most are boars. There is a special little gilt and some lovely boars, I will have a problem choosing which to keep. Louise was weaned and put back with the other girls in the orchard, Thomas has now joined them to produce some piglets for January.
My young boar was sold at the BPA show and sale, to go to Reading to work. The prices were disappointing, but we did well and he has gone to a lovely home, which is what I had hoped for. Everywhere is stiil like a desert, and now the unseasonal heat is not helping. I would expect a second growth of grass during autumn, but it seems that we will not get that now, it will be a hard winter for the livestock.
Georgia helping me take Pippi & piglets to graze-- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
August
Mixed results from Hatfield. We didn't do as well as we had hoped on the Saturday, probably down to us not showing well, due to being too cautious in showing a boar. We did much better in the Pig of the Year final, following advice to give the little boar a bit more space to allow the judge to see him properly. So I was over the moon when we made the cut to the top six of thirteen. My little man was far more interested in sniffing out where the girls had been and seeing off the 
other boars to show himself off, so it was quite hard work. We were definately being considered for the Reserve place, however, that went to the winner of the Berkshire class which is how it should be, he was a lovely little pig. The Berkshire breed overall were of the highest quality and took alot of the top prizes, which was great to see.I am going to have to sell the little boar, as of course he is related to sows in my herd, business decisions cut in at this point. He will go to the BPA/RBST show and sale at the end of September to carry on his career in another herd - there may be a few tears, I have spent alot of time with this little pig!
I must tackle the weeds in the veg patch that have now appeared since the rain; and the fruit needs freezing, jamming and cider started ..................!
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Preparing to reshuffle the pigs, as the apples are ripening and falling and tummies are increasing! Some of Louise's piglets will be moving on to their new home leaving me with the boar and gilt chosen for bringing on for showing next year. She will need to go up with the other girls until they all run with Thomas in September. Pippi needs to come in and settle in to her sty ready for farrowing in the first week of Sepember. The last of the February pigs go to the abbatior this week.
Also preparations are being made for Hatfield show with my little boar; he is being walked out every day to tone up his muscles and get his podgy tummy reduced a bit. The reshuffle is also designed to make it easy for our house sitters, as we will be camping on site for the duration.
The young kestrel fledged from the nest beside the house, I watched entralled as the parent bird trained the young bird to fly,hover and hunt, then after a week or so let it know, in no uncertain terms, that it was now on its own and disappeared. The young one seemed to be fine with me being quite close while it quartered the fields for mice. Lovely.
My poor veg garden has not produced much this year due to the weather, and the fruit came all at once, but there is some of that in the freezer. As for my flower garden that has been abandoned, I'll try and bring that round as the seasons quieten down.
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July
Louise produced 7 lovely piglets, 6 gilts and a boar, at the beginning of July. Four are already sold and I would like to keep the boar and a gilt for the show season next year to
see how they turn out. This Thomas's first litter, and I am really pleased with the quality. Pippi is due to farrow in September having been covered by Thomas. That litter will be available at the end of October. Plenty of rain now, I hope it leaves enough time for vegetables to grow. The fruit in the orchard is beginning to develop, and the plums are ripening, it looks as if the rain arrived in time to fill out the fruit.
We brouhgt in another 10 rescued brown hens. They settled in really quickly, and are such characters.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------June
It has also softened the ground enough for the pigs to be able to dig, which they are enjoying. I have Pippi and Louise running together, but Louise is a grumpy old sow, probably as she is due to farrow soon, so 
I will bring her down and give Pippi some peace before her second big day at Norfolk show. I am also taking one of her sons from the February litter. I think I have managed to thwart the crows and magpies from stealing my eggs by putting some netting in front of the chicken shed, as magpies will not walk under it, and by keeping the ducks in a bit longer to finish laying before letting them out.
My new little helper!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------May
RJ has has been added to our flock, a chinese cross gander, from a fellow smallholder. My girls are slowly getting used to the idea of having him around, rather than welcoming him. He is a bit wary of the open spaces and would prefer to sit in the run and shout, rather than go out into the paddocks with the everyone else. Encouragingly he has started to protect the nesting area, even though the girls do not like him being too close to that.
Hey, look at me!
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Still no rain! I have been putting some fertilizer on the grazing in hopes of promised rain - albeit rather late. I have veg. in pots waiting to go in, but it is so dry.
My ducks are laying really well, very pleased. Thinking about getting some more 'brown' hens, the rescued hens I have now have such character.
All weaners gone! Just a couple for ourselves, suddenly very quiet. There were so many orders that I decided not to keep any for showing, as I am not sure I would have the time yet. However, I am taking Pippi to South Suffolk show for the experience. Everyone else is up in the orchard where there is shade on hot days, and shelter from the cold winds.
The bees are active now; we are trying to split the hives to increase the population of hives. There is likely to be a fairly early crop of honey, looking forward to that.
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April
It has been a hectic couple of weeks. I am now a full time smallholder. There still does not seem to have enough time!
I spent last week at the Raptor Foundation doing my Lantra course, it left me with alot to think about before I think about getting my own hawk, but I really enjoyed the week. Definately to be recommended for anyone interested in raptors, lots of hands-on stuff.
Many of the piglets have now moved on. I still have not decided on that special one to show this year, and entries close for most of the summer shows this week!
In a quiet moment in the orchard we saw a stoat carrying a small mammal of some sort into the hedge, I suspect that she has a family there.
It looks as if Thomas (young boar) has already covered Louise, so I am looking for June piglets, a touch early, but never mind.
All three hives have come through the winter in good order, and the bees are busy when the sun comes out. Early honey may be on the cards.
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March
This month I become a full time Smallholder! I am looking forward to be able to tackle my garden before it takes control.
Those wee piglets have almost reached weaning, and have grown really well. The sows are looking for more peace and quiet now that their families are becoming more self sufficient. I now have to choose which to keep to show this year, there are a good number that I can choose from.
I have chosen a Freight Train boar out of the batch of young boars, so when the rest went to the butcher, Thomas was put in with Louise. I hope to have some July piglets, even if that is a bit later as he is still quite young, they can keep each other company.
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FebruaryWe had another litter of 13 piglets arrive the weekend after the first two! This is rather a large litter for a Berkshire, I hope Valentine copes with so many. She seems very laid back about this one, and does not worry about me checking on them all - there are a couple of little chaps that may not get too much of a look in a feed time, and need keeping a eye on.
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I had waited all weekend for either or both Missy & Pippi to farrow. They were both showing all the right signs, but it wasn't til Monday night that something started to happen. The wind had 
dropped at last but there was a distinct chill. As the night progressed first Missy began to produce her piglets then Pippi began. They were both happy for me to assist whenever necessary, until by 3am all 17 were born and suckling - 10 for Missy and 7 for Pippi.I was fascinated to watch each piglet make its determined way to the teat. Also, listening to the different tones mum used to protect the little group from being laid on when moving about. Wonderful. I had missed out on all that last time as it was all over when I got back from work. Valentine is next. I hope it will be another relaxed affair.
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January
2011Moving from frozen solid to boggy and wet is not much fun for us but the pigs cope better. The rush for breakfast when your wellies are stuck in the mud can be interesting! I have let the boys into my veg patch for them to clear it out and turn it over for me, they are doing a splendid job.
The first signs of spring - bulbs are appearing in the garden and in my pots, so it is time to order my veg seeds and tidy the garden.
I was given two owl boxes as a Xmas present which will need to be put up soon, as the little owls are already laying out their territories and the barn owls have been hunting in the barn during the bad weather.
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