Land Cress and snow

Planted land cress in greenhouse and harvested some in multispan polytunnel this week. Also digging in the snow for mustard leaf and stripping leeks in the barn in sub zero temps. Got some pucca gloves for winter, Showa from Japan, fleece lined, thick and mega waterproof. Picked some sprouts which are few and far between now. Spinach is a bit shrivelled and small, some nice spring greens and endive lettuce. Rocket is popularin salads. We bought a ceramic harvester for growing bean shoots etc. It's great. Pictures to follow. Also will be growing our own wheat grass for processing. Shot a pheasant today with the 177. Hanging for a few days in garage, nice and cold in there. Delivered some wheat feed to big barn near East Grinstead on Wed. Took a few pictures of the animals.

And one of the tractor.

Here's one of snow covered sprouts.

Finished the aviary so will post some pictures of the birds who seem quite happy despite it being minus 5 out there. We tried to insulate the shed as much as poss and it is quite cosy in there. The goats got a load of barley hay and straw so they are fine. Made a new chicken run with left overs from aviary and it looks ok, will take pic tomorrow. Lots of harvesting still but also the sowing must start, life is a hectic balance on the farm still.

Pig post

Lots been happening down on the farms. After another trip to Sussex got some nice pics of the animals at Tablehurst.

                                                                            Pigsy!!

                                          And another friendly critter.

Very icy weather and spinach etc frozen and limp. Paul was saying it will be at the equinox when the growing circle starts to turn. Incidentally, I realized that my daughter Olive's birthday was not only at the start of the millenium but on the autumn equinox (22nd September) which is a bit nifty. Here's Paul on the old Massey with thin wheels ideal for going between the rows of veg without causing too much compaction.

We have been clearing the celeriac from the field as it is starting to rot. Most are ok though and gave them a good wash. We got over 250 celeriac and still more to come.

Here's a picture of part of the bountiful harvest. The celeriac were a bit small this season due to the dry conditions. Plenty of leeks though and they are getting massive. Finished of the pak choi to put in mixed salads and cut some celery and bagged it up to put in the shop. Veg is getting a bit scarce now and salads can have baby Kale in, mustard leaf and spinach. Coming to the end of the squashes too, blue squash left mostly.

                 Here's a picture of someone getting carried away by one of our squashes!

                                                 Happy pig in February sunshine