New Year, New Farm
New year, new farm. Well, not exactly. But with 2021 being the ‘test’ year, 2020 is the time when the farm actually starts to generate some cash. I hope.
There are LOADS of projects to continue this year. We’ve got loads of March lambs due. The campsite should be up and running come spring May half-term. And once June hits, it’ll be farmers market and CSA sales galore! More veggies, more cut flowers and more events than ever before. But … one thing at a time.
January 1st’s gorgeous weather
This week the weather here has been unseasonably warm. One day it even got up to 16°C. In January. Surely that’s unheard of. At the farm it’s been wonderful of course. Though there is some trepidation that what comes hand in hand with this balmy January is some god-forsaken weather later in the year. A drought? Snow in May? Or some other perilous meteorological incident to affect the year. Maybe I’ve been watching too many disaster movies on these long dark nights.
There is a sense of excitement though. It’s been a lifelong dream to return to this land and set up a profitable farming business. I know from the test year that I’m capable of selling - we’ve had some farmers market in addition to the farm gate stand. Earlier in the season, the pheasant hatching eggs sold really well, as did the rare breed Ixworth chickens. In 2020, of course, we’ll hopefully have the addition of lamb and pork meat boxes. Income from our wildlife tourism. And an expansion of the market garden with more markets, more on-farm sales and some bouquet bars.
Excited to have far more products this year, including these early spring wallflowers
The one thing that hinders plans is the winter. Technically it’s only just begun, on December 21st to be exact. I’m having to tie my hands together when it comes to wanting to sow seeds. All I want to do is pull out the seed trays, sort through the packets and begin to grow tiny wonderful life. That will just end up with thousands of plants I can’t put out for fear of frost, however, so I must continue to be disciplined. There are things I can do though.
The anemones and ranunculus are in the shed sprouting in shallow trays. Once they get to a decent size, I’ll need to split and plant them out under a low tunnel.
The majority of last year’s chard and kale are way past it. I’m going to start off some younger seedlings in the polytunnel to plant out; the same goes for lettuces which are a popular seller both on the farm gate and at markets.
I’ve got loads of biennial hesperis and sweet williams seedlings. Instead of potting up and growing these on, I’m going to plant them into the cutting garden and cover them over - because you know there will be a freeze if I don’t!
Apart from these garden measures, in just six weeks the pregnant ewes will be moving into the barn. There’s loads of pond clearance still to do before the growing season starts and JJ, my Anglo Nubian billy, will be returning to the farm soon so we can try again with the nannies.
So despite it being winter, and the very beginning in fact, there is loads going on! And with more beautiful weather like we had today, plenty of sunshine and blue skies to enjoy whilst I’m at it.
The aviaries this evening