Monster!

We love growing our own vegetables but I'm not sure what happened here! It was hidden I'm told, no growth hormones involved. Compare the size difference between a normal Zucchini and the monster.

Bio security!

We were surprised when a packet of information arrived just before Christmas telling us we needed a Bio-security plan. It seems this became mandatory at the beginning of October 2017, particularly if we were to continue selling stock. The packet contained stuff to read and further videos to watch online. We've started to read and watch, some of the videos's go for two hours! Basically we should only have one access spot on the property where visitors arrive. There their visit can be recorded and if necessary their vehicles disinfected and the visitors footwear etc. All chemicals used need to be stored, the batch dates, withholding periods and names recorded. If any stock require a Vet this needs to be recorded. If while vaccinating the needle breaks the animal involved must be identified and recorded. All feed used must have it's source identified and recorded. All our work clothes need to be disinfected after use and so on.  Quite a bit of the above we already do and some will be easy to start. the mla/lpa will be sending Inspectors around the country to check if everyone has a Bio-security plan. We've heard two properties in the district have already been contacted, so we'd better get watching the remaining online videos!

Patterns in Nature.

Gathering the flocks.

With our summers you have to make the most of a cooler weekend. It was time to bring in the flocks to sort through them and choose which ewes could go back in with the ram. We wanted well rounded younger ewes. We also removed last years lambs, so it was rather noisy last night. The gather went really well for us. Maggie, now she's older, has decided listening helps and the sheep head in the right direction! However there's always a couple of sheep that won't go the right way. One vanished under a fence while the remaining sheep needed persuading. Counting sheep is an art which I don't have. They rushed through the gate as I counted to 60 and I lost count, so we have more than 60! A lot more than 60. We'll need to sell some lambs. Another job for a another cool weekend.