There was some excitement this week (from me anyway) as I managed to do a deal to rent out some fields next door to our homestead.
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| The top patch. The oak trees in the middle mark where an old hedge used to be and I'll probably run an electric fence up there to divide it up again. |
It's about 8 acres split into two fields although they'd be easily split into three. We're renting it as grass keep so have to be off the land for two months a year and although it's only eight acres it should help in producing more food for us and more to sell.
It literally couldn't be any nearer to us as they were once part of the same estate, the fields are much better drained than ours and slope south rather than north. .
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| Looking up from the bottom of the top patch. |
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| the bottom patch, really lush grass here. |
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| Road access is poor to the bottom field but most tractors can fit through. |
I also made a call to a shepherd that I used to help as a child/teenager and he's going to hopefully purchase us some ewes with lambs at foot to put on to the fields. It'll be quite an investment but hopefully it should pay off in the long run. It'll be nice to put my knowledge of sheep back into practice - so long as I haven't forgotten it all!
If we don't get sheep soon then I might have to make hay on the bottom patch as it's so lush.
I'll do more information on the fields in another post.
I'm really excited about this - should be a lot of work but a lot of fun as well.
Nice fields, Kev, eight acres is a nice parcel of land, and so nearby to you as well. We could do with some more acres ourselves because of winter flooding, but the nearby fields are under contract to another farmer who makes hay from them, but we live in hope that things might change in the future.
ReplyDeleteWhen this came up it was too good to turn down and I didn't know when it would come up again. One step closer to where I want to be!
DeleteIsn't your dad a farmer Kev? Why don't you get some calves in his herd number and they will graze some of the land. Horsey people will always buy small square bales of hay and this will pay the rent. Good on you for taking on more land.
ReplyDeleteYel he's a farmer but I've got my own holding number. No calves though, it's sheep for me. I'll stick to what I know.!
DeleteHow exciting!!! The land looks good, you'll need to move with those sheep before the grass gets too long. Looks like good mixed hedging with mature trees too.
ReplyDeleteReally it needed sheep about three weeks ago but we'll have to see how they do. Some or the fences need a bit of work but otherwise its all in good shape.
DeleteExciting times for you, can't wait to their progress.
ReplyDeleteIt's all go at the moment!
DeleteLooks great Kev, can't wait for the tour!
ReplyDeleteYes you'll have to come for a visit soon.
DeleteThose fields are so lush and green, looks very idyllic :)
ReplyDeleteIt's all like that around here! A very green land
DeleteWow, that's a major move. How exiting! Kev the farmer.... Beautiful spot.
ReplyDeleteLong way from being a farmer Yet!
DeleteOur main field is about 13 acres and it gives me enough hay to keep about 50 head of sheep in hay and have a few extra bales usually. Mostly Fescue and Clover but the Blue Stem is creeping in slowly and I have to constantly cut it back although Blue stem makes decent hay it tends to take over if allowed to go unchecked.
ReplyDeleteHas that parcel been idle for a while or will you need to fertilize it?
The bottom patch was reseeded a few years ago so grows really good grass, it's not had too much on it, just sheep but they've really kept o top of the rubbish a d it all looks good.
DeleteLooks like you're turning into a farmer....isn't that where you started? Great news anyway, as if you haven't got enough to do already!
ReplyDeleteI'm a farmers son but dads land is rented as well. A farmer co.e carpenter would be nice but I'm a long way from it!
Deletethis is soooo exciting Kev! i can't wait to see what you eventually do with it but it looks incredibly lush! congrats!
ReplyDeleteyour friend,
kymber
Got some wooly things turning up soon! Keep watching this space!
DeleteYour children will benefit from the experience, even if the profit is low.
ReplyDeleteI'll probably have to explain what profit is!
DeleteI'm a bit jealous of that field : )
ReplyDeletePlease explain about the grass keep. What will you do with the sheep if you have to come off the land for two months in the year...?
Our homestead has got five acres so I'll move them on to our land. Grass keep is set up like that so it gives the land time to recover between renting again in that twelve months.
DeleteWe were complete novices when we took on our first three sheep, 13 years ago. Still love having them, having lamb for the freezer, and having the grass cut!
ReplyDeleteI grew up on a farm with 250 sheep so I'm hoping I can remember it all! Glad you still enjoy it after 13 years, I still remember the lambing depressions when things weren't going right on the farm!
DeleteWe were complete novices when we took on our first three sheep, 13 years ago. Still love having them, having lamb for the freezer, and having the grass cut!
ReplyDeleteI'd quite like to acquire some lambs for our field, but I've been put off by tales of disease, ticks, dipping, etc. Maybe I should look into it more.
ReplyDeleteI'm not going to lie to you cro, sheep have one purpose in life and that is to die in the most awkward and public way possible! There's a lot of work involved as well but as I'm here with the kids anyway it makes sense for me to do it with them. It can be a lot of fun as well and I love to look after contented Animals.
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