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This is the most productive month on the horticulture side with many different vegetables cropping. Apples and plums begin to ripen and autumn and winter vegetables are planted outside. The first heavy geese are now ready for the traditional Michelmas Goose Fair. Green manures such as mustard, rye grass and vetches are sown on bare patches where no winter crops are being grown. These plants supress weeds and produce a lot of leaf which is then chopped up and turned into the soil. On bigger areas we put either the sheep or the pigs to graze on the green manures as this is a really good use of the area. The pigs even do a certain amount of ground preparation in their natural rooting behaviour which turns over the soil and encorporates plants and manure into it. The pigs also help to control perennial weeds such as docks and thistles by grubbing up and eating the roots. We continue to weigh lambs and ewes are "flushed" (put onto good pasture and given a little extra feed). This prepares them for tupping (mating) next month. All sheep receive foot trimming and dagging (clipping of wool from the rear end) if required, and the tup (ram) is checked over to ensure he's the best possible shape for tupping next month. See what's happening in |
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Rising Sun Farm,
King's Road North, Wallsend, Tyne & Wear, NE28 9JL |
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