Summer 2012
Hurray – summer has finally arrived about 3 weeks ago after a prolonged spell of very wet and cold weather. The crops have suffered enormously and after taking samples from a few ears of barley and wheat before combining starts, we know that the tonnage will be way down on last years harvest.
Thankfully all the second cut of silage is in now just waiting for the maize to grow. Most of the summer cauliflowers have been cut, but again due to the wet weather the weeds grew fast and furiously so gangs of workers had to be employed to hoe and this will be the case all through the summer. Seasons are becoming more unpredictable than ever and organic systems are under a lot of pressure.
Capital works for the Higher Level Entry Scheme are well under way with scrapes and ponds being dug in many of our grass fields. Canada geese were spotted trying out one of the new ponds only two days after it was created. It has not been a good year for any young chicks as the prolonged cold and wet was just too much and many partridge etc did not survive. Even the bee keeper who keeps several hives on the farm has lost bees this year.
On a happier note our new caravan club site opened last week. We have had two families visit us and they enjoyed it so much that they stayed extra nights. The added attractions being that it is within walking distance of the village shop and the Angel pub. Do visit our New Farm Holiday – Rural Simplicity web site and tell us what you think! www.newfarmholidays.co.uk