It’s been a little while since we visited the farm in our series, life sure is busy. But we have still been extremely active on the farm and as we are now well into show season, there’s plenty going on - there is never a dull day here! So share our journey with us and discover our ‘farming life’ this July as we take 5 on the farm…
#1 The Royal Isle of Wight County Show
We are fresh from the county show and still riding high. We were thrilled to be nominated (as Duxmore Botanics) for the RIWAS and CLA Countryside Small Business of The Year Award 2024. The winner was announced on the Saturday afternoon in the member's pavilion.
And guess what? We won! I feel so honoured to receive this award. We have grown a huge amount in the last 12 months, and this growth has enabled us to expand. Sometimes, taking a leap of faith is a big gamble, but it is fair to say that trusting my gut and opening our flagship store has given us the growth we needed.
As well as this amazing surprise, we were also busy showing some of our sheep with our two youngest achieving 3rd & 4th and Matt scooping the Reserve Supreme Champion with his Shearling Ewe!
#2 A brand new addition
After the sad passing of Frankie, our working collie a couple of months ago, we definitely needed a boost and it has come in the gorgeously cute and fluffy package of Wren, our brand-new pup! We picked her up a few weeks ago from Brecon after visiting family for a massive party. She’s fitted in beautifully and is already right at home here on the farm. Training is well and truly underway so we will keep you updated on her progress.
#3 Our hardworking pigs
Each year, our pigs do an amazing job in our woodland area. Some sections, in particular, are quite poor soil, with little growth, and whilst I can do a lot to clear the pervasive weeds, the benefits of pigs grazing the area, putting back vital nutrients and aerating the soil are very valuable. This year, with the help of our pigs, we are seeing some amazing benefits including the nitrogen-fixing Goats Rue - Galega Officinalis. Goat’s rue, like other legumes, forms a symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacteria (rhizobia) in its root nodules. This process converts atmospheric nitrogen into a form that plants can use, enriching the soil with nitrogen and reducing the need for synthetic fertilizers. Once the flowering phase is complete, the pigs will soon be back to carry out their great work. This is all beneficial to improving the soil, ready for tree planting in this area.
#4 Make Hay!
The old adage, make hay whilst the sun shines, couldn't be more apt at the moment! Since hay can be ruined easily if it gets too wet, farmers have always had to take advantage of hot, dry and sunny weather to cut and gather hay. Thus, “make hay while the sun shines" is just a matter of common sense to us farming folk.
Hay making basically involves four steps: Mowing (or cutting), tedding, raking, and baling. Our farm has about 125 acres of hayfields. You can store hay as round bales or square bales depending on a farm's needs and resources. We make a mix of the two, with the addition of some smaller bales for the showing season.
#5 Bedding…will there be any?
Our bedding is made from straw, the stalks of the cereal crops, such as wheat. The stalks are the by-products of the cereal and once the grain has been harvested, the remaining stalks are cut, dried, and baled into straw, which can then be used as bedding for livestock and other animals. Straw is favoured for bedding because it is relatively inexpensive, absorbent, and provides insulation and comfort for animals. The problem we have this year is that the harvest is in short supply. A very wet summer, autumn and winter of 2023, has meant that the crops were late going in the ground and some washed away. With less being available, it has meant that where there is availability, the price has increased.
These combined factors have resulted in a tight supply and increased prices for straw in 2024, prompting farmers to explore alternative materials for livestock bedding. I could write a whole piece on the pros and cons of the alternatives and I am yet to see anything that matches the benefits of straw - it’s a bit touch and go as to what we will have as bedding for our cows come the winter.
The other issue we face is that more and more crops are being grown for the anaerobic digester, in place of cereal crops. The anaerobic digester is a system designed to decompose organic material in the absence of oxygen, producing biogas (a mixture of methane and carbon dioxide) and digestate (a nutrient-rich residue). This does leave us to consider the future availability of certain crops and to think longer term for alternatives.