2023 Farm Update
It’s been a chaotic year for many reasons. Going through a separation, huge infrastructure projects, on-going planning battles and then trying to run a farm and build a business at the same time has been, well, A LOT to put it mildly. I believe things happen for a reason. I believe that tough times, though hellish whilst in them, mould you as a person and come good in the end. And so here we are, in September already.
THE MARKET GARDEN AND FLOWER FARM
This year I begun my first CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) scheme. I sold 11 shares at £200 each, thereby committing to producing a veg box for 20 weeks running from the beginning of June until mid October.
It’s been a little stressful. I completely underestimated just how much food is required to fulfil these orders, and also didn't grow enough early on. This resulted in many a Saturday nervously foraging around the farm and friends’ allotment plots to get enough grub together. As the season progressed, vegetables obviously began to grow. However, impacts from weather, escaped animals and failed seedlings meant that though I have filled veg boxes, I haven’t been able to honour commitments to farmers markets as I simply haven’t had the stock.
A CSA Harvest Ready to be Packed
A Bouquet of Farm Flowers
The take home message is - GROW MUCH MORE in 2024!
The flowers on the other hand have had the opposite issue - a lot of stems and not enough customers. I’ve sold the odd bunch on the farm gate, fulfilled two small wedding orders and begun selling as part of co-operative at Beccles Farmers Market. I must admit, I get frustrated when I see people walking home from the nearby Co-Op with a bouquet of shipped in, dyed Chrystanths wrapped in vast amounts of plastic! The key is education and I suppose many people don’t realise that if they bought local they’d get better flowers that last far longer!
The first frosts are still weeks away so hopefully there’s at least another six to eight weeks of selling to be done at the farm gate, the markets and a lovely shop - The Greenhouse - in Halesworth town centre.
INFRASTRUCTURE
A number of ongoing projects this year have been continuing to improve the infrastructure on the farm. Electrics got put in last year alongside the office, but water has been desperately required. This May I finally had the funds and go-ahead to pop in a borehole. It wasn’t cheap; about £16,000 in total once all the pumps, servicing, drilling etc was completed but a far cry from the £158,000 I was quote by Anglian Water to connect to the mains!
It has been an absolute life-saver, allowing me to water the garden and the animals without stress. The novelty and gratitude of being able to turn on a hosepipe has not diminished, and I’m thankful for it every day. It has greatly reduced anxiety and this year I haven’t had to make decisions over what to water and what not too. Those days of 2022 watching crops shrivel away because I didn’t have the water to keep them alive was totally heartbreaking.
The Pump House that runs the borehole and farms’ water.
Some additional fencing work has been done, though not enough to even break the surface on the amount required for the rewilding plans.
However, by far the biggest achievement is finally receiving planning consent for the siting of a temporary agricultural workers static caravan. Over the next couple of months I’ll be moving to the farm which will improve my life no end. Financially it has literally saved me from homelessness as, due to the separation, I could no longer afford to rent. But in terms of the farm, the business, livestock, plants - it will allow the vision to soar.
ANIMALS
Overall, it’s been a pretty positive year for the animals. Lambing was stressful to say the least; a mineral deficiency I didn’t know about reared it’s head and I sadly lost quite a few lambs within days of them being born. Meanwhile, Margaret became poorly the day she was due to farrow which meant vets, medicines and how scary affair. However, she and the majority of her piglets came out the other side of it. The goats have continued to be problematic and I lost snowdrop, Angus and Gurgi through various issues.
That’s the bad stuff. I have a lovely collection of 2023 lambs - two cracking Norfolk Horn ewes, four lovely jacob ewe lambs and Susan’s twins turned out to be stonking little lambs that I’m going to keep and lamb in the future. Eve’s twin boys are still growing strong and will make great curry, and I sold all the piglets bar three gilts who will go as sausages later this year.
Susan’s twin ewe lambs
The first of my mutton and lamb went to market too. Alas, Curtains just did terribly as a mother and so I sent her off as a cull ewe - she tastes delicious!
Due to the separation, the number of birds of prey has reduced dramatically and only Oz the snowy, Silver the barn owl and Horatio the great grey remain. That’s a number I can cope with. I’ve had a good season for chicks, including silkies, norfolk greys, ixworth and more though sadly a fox attack took out most of my silkie flock. Luckily, I had some of best hens in ‘Broody Towers’ so they were safe on eggs.
So a quick overview of life at Brimwood for today. I shall try and write more in time!