Marchweeke Farm,

Each month we provide an update on the activities and events that have taken place at Marchweeke Farm as we develop our own beef, lamb, pork and poultry enterprises.

Three things are certain; death, taxes and rain in Devon! The dry weather came to an abrupt end and was followed by gales and heavy rain. The rainwater splashing over the gutters reminded me of the maintenance jobs that I intended to complete during the long summer months. We did get to replace a wobbly drainage grate that had been threatening to consume the post vans front wheels but a couple of down pipes are still sending cascades of water over the yard which requires nimble footwork while opening the gate to avoid an impromptu cold shower.

With limited daylight hours available for maintenance most of our time has been consumed by repairs to building damage caused by vandalising pigs. Our boar, Jean Paul, was keen to join his girlfriends in the adjoining pen. I attempted to close the gate on him but he was not taking no for an answer. A quarter of a ton of randy pig was not going to be stopped by a heavy-duty gate and a four-inch block wall; off came the gate and down came the wall. Still it was an ideal opportunity for young, apprentice Richard to practice his block laying skills.

Due to a temporary overflow from the piggery we housed the two new gilts Hatti and Hannah in the middle stable. (The gilts are named after two of Rebecca’s school friends. They must be very good friends to be able to get away with that!) Like many of the old stables the walls are made of stone and cob. To help while away the hours, Hatti and Hannah had discovered that once they had removed one stone they could soon wiggle the next one loose with their snouts; the cob is quite crumbly and by the evening feed we discovered that they were well on their way to escaping through the back wall. Two wheel barrows of mortar and two hours later the hole was filled but the rainwater continues to cascade from the gutter.

As the year draws to an end we look back on one of the more difficult farming years we have encountered during our time at Marchweeke. The summer; or lack of it; meant that hay -making was “a challenge” to say the least. While foot and mouth disease has been limited to the South East of the country, the national movement restrictions added to the difficulties. The bird flu outbreaks in East Anglia have provided another source of anxiety and if that wasn’t enough the Belgian midges have brought blue tongue disease across the Channel. Like most businesses, we have a steady flow of new regulations and legislation to conform with. Administration isn’t my forte and earlier in the year I inadvertently moved some cull ewes to market during the “seven day standstill period” when livestock movement is not permitted. After I had issued a profuse apology Trading Standards issued me with a written warning rather than add me to the prison queue! Moving animals has now become akin to flying an aircraft! Ear tags – check; movement licence- check; bio security procedures- check; movement records- check; more regulations – cheque!

We will remember 2007 for the triumphs as well as the difficulties. This was the first year we grew our own cereals. Growing a crop from seed and nurturing it during the year is an experience that many of you will have shared in your allotments. When the success or failure of a crop influences the feeding and growing of livestock that is our livelihood you may get a sense of the nervous anxiety that accompanied us when we rode upon the combine at harvest. As the combine storage tank filled with bright grain and the yield monitor indicated a successful crop it was impossible to conceal a grin of satisfaction. Being a farmer has its’ ups and downs but what else to be when the sun warms your back; bumble bees hum in the hedgerows, sky larks trill and the ewes need dagging….!

Thank you for your custom and support in 2007 and we wish you all a very merry Christmas Simon, Julie and Rebecca