I really can't believe it's been 11 days since I last updated the blog! So much has changed on the farm over that time.
The weather has actually been really kind to us. That rain we all experienced may have held up the ploughing but once that did eventually happen it meant that the plants and seeds went into lovely damp soil. This coupled with the glorious sunshine we've had has been a dream scenario for plants.

We've had cucumber germinating within days, Squash who can be a bit temperamental practically purring with pleasure at the delightful conditions.

We started off marking the beds out last week the day after the last post.

 Three days a week I have our youngest daughter with me so as we were at the farm she mucked in too.

 

Plants waiting to go in.

 

Plants in.

 Little lettuces getting to know their drip line.

 Very late potatoes going in.

360 degrees of farm.

Moving forward

After a longer than anticipated wait we have finally started getting the barley turned in.

We had thought to get the lot done in one go but the contractors tractor sank in the still damp earth!

But the most important thing is that the plots for this year have been ploughed and made ready for planting. The rest of the ploughed land yesterday had a clover and rye grass seed sown which should help build fertility to the soil.

 Tomorrow we start to plant these beauties out!

This will be a long job so if anyone fancies lending a hand this week you'd be most welcome. Email info@bennisonfarm.co.uk for more details.

Spring

Been meaning to get some photos of farm now that that very springy green colour is peeping out and about. The sky was a bit grey and the light not great but I did get some to serve up for the blog.

This is the winter Barley that was on the land when we bought it although it was a lot shorter then.

Introducing Danny from between the Barley (I was sitting in it, it's not over my head when I stand up even though I am rather short).

 The sky was rather grey this afternoon but our line of Oak trees are all just about getting their bright green leaves out.

I thought I would do some introductions starting with *Drum roll please*...... The tractor!!

These are my Chickens, Dorrit, Ziggy, Clara and Hephzibah. And I also have Maude who is a Bantam and is currently raising her brood of  six Maran X Bantam chicks.

Maude was re homed to me after a dog caught the Maran cockerel who is the Dad of the chicks and it was decided that Maude and the chicks would be better away from the dog.


We are keeping our fingers crossed that we get a window of dry weather very soon so we can turn over the first two acres of this booming barley. We currently 6 thousand Leek seedlings going great guns in our bedroom! Plus we have a delivery from Delphland, who have been doing our bringing this season for us, arriving on the 14th of May.

Does anyone know the reverse rain dance??

First Steering group meeting

Thanks to all interested parties who took part in the first steering group meeting yesterday evening.
Many thanks to Bob and Sarah for allowing us the use of 'Your Space', it was a beautiful place in which to have our first meet.

The minutes from yesterday will be written up over the next week, also so will a clear outline of the model me and Danny were thinking the CSA could operate on. This will give the steering group a good opportunity to examine it rigorously to decide if the model suits the needs of the farm and the group.

We have just started a window of no rain and are wondering if our luck will hold and whether or not we will be about to start turning over the first two acres on Monday. Fingers crossed.