Update on the new arrivals

Just thought I'd update you on the new arrivals.

Today was scorchingly, stupidly hot, 34 degrees centigrade at lunchtime.  When I let the laying hens out, they all ran straight under my horse trailer to dust bath and chill.  Now the new ones, apart from Colin the Buff Orpington cockerel who's in with the laying hens, are in temporary accommodation in a large shed until their new hut is built.  Now this shed has an openable window, but that's all for ventilation, so on welfare terms I opened the door and left it open.

Three hours later they still hadn't come out!

'I'm not looking.  If I ignore it, it will go away'

'Don't look Elsie'

'Maybe you're right Mavis'

He's getting braver

'Hey Ladies, look out here'

'Now, how do I use this again?'

'On second thoughts'

'Right, come on, follow me'

'Look Mavis, I did it'

'Thats enough for one day'

He is darn handsome

Bless them, I am so impressed with them, really glad we bought them, AND, they all went back in the shed for bed, what clever little chickens they are.

Stats today -

Eggs produced = 14, including one from the Exchequer Leghorns girlies

Sales -

1 & 1/2 dozen eggs £2.70

2 x bags Tomatoes £2.00

Expenses -

Nil

Just had a fabulous day at the Waveney Smallholders Festival at Blacksmith's Cottage Nursery, Langmere, near Diss, Norfolk.

      

It was the first year they had opened for such an event and are planning to expand next year. They are a plant nursery primarily, but are expanding into all things smallholding, including vegetable and fruit growing.

The owner Ben, is passionate about plants and poultry, this was self evident in his talks, his exuberance made his talks on his prized chickens, ducks and especially pigeons come alive.  It was wonderful to listen to his enthusiasm, made us all want to go out and buy the assorted breeds.

Ben holding a Frill Back Pigeon

                                                 Tom holding an Olde English Game Cockerel

Tom who runs the smallholding side of things, director of Black Duck Farm and an ex elephant keeper, (thankfully he hadn't brought any of them with him to Norfolk), is expert in all things alpaca's; their nature, characteristics, his obvious love of the animals shone through.  Relatively new to gardening, soaking up advice from any older gardeners he comes across, he has decided to concentrate on heritage varieties and can't wait for his apples to ripen.

Upcycling at its best - mattress bed springs for plants to climb up

It was great to listen to such enthusiasm for all things smallholding.  His Cayuga ducks were a delight, (see pic below); I am currently convincing Michael that we 'need' some!

Both Ben and Tom were disappointed in the lack of turnout of stallholders that had been invited.  Most sent produce to be sold in the shop - cards, local beers and apple juice, jewellery, books and mugs.  I don't think they should have been too down hearted, I thought they got the day just right, with guided talks on the all the various departments - poultry, gardens and plants; plus with them being so approachable, it was easy to ask many questions, I could have stayed an awful lot longer.

Cafe, Shop and Gallery

The one stallholder who did turn up, admittedly he only had to come from the next village was Angus Paterson.  He sells secondhand, quality garden and smallholder tools from his self-built shepherd's hut.

He let me have a wander around it (after he'd tidied up!), and it was a delight to behold, I never knew there was so much room in them.

I was stunned with the quality and vast array of livestock there was, the poultry especially, I had never seen so many breeds in one place; the crane's were magnificent, see pic below.

Bourbon Red Turkeys

Naked Neck Chicken (stood on one leg)

Thanks must go to all at Blacksmith's Cottage Nursery and Black Duck Farm, it was a great day out; the lemon cake was also a real treat.  Looking forward to next year already.

Stats today -

Eggs produced = 13

Sales -
1/2 dozen eggs £0.90

Expenses -
Nil

98% Home grown dinner

Tonight's dinner was a huge success.  Not only was it the first dinner I've cooked in my new oven, (thanks must go to hubby for installing it over the weekend), but it was about 95% home produced.

First course - Toad in the hole

Sausages, home grown by a fellow smallholder, produced not far away
Eggs from my own hens
Milk and flour - Tesco's
Gravy granules - Tesco's
New potatoes, curly kale, french beans, and calabrese all came straight out of the garden.  Just look at the colours.  Yippee!

Then for afters, picked five minutes before serving -

Unfortunately the ice cream we had to go with them was Tesco's.

So all in all, not a bad dinner I'd say.  The veg all tasted wonderful.  I just love curly kale, it's the one vegetable that if I only had room for one winter veg it's the one I would grow.  It tasted OF something this evening, not of a plastic bag that it had been wrapped in for a fortnight.  It tasted like it was doing you good.  The french beans were melt in the mouth sweet and tender and the calabrese, took minutes to cook just lightly steamed.  And then I always use the veg water for making the gravy, so keeping the goodness.  Just delicious, one of the best meals my husband reckoned he'd had in ages.  Compliments indeed.

Stats today -

Eggs produced = 11

Sales -
1 dozen eggs £2.00
Can't believe nobody bought the first cucumber picked out of my polytunnel this morning, and it was only 60p!  These people aren't right in the head!!

Expenses -
Nil