
For the last decade or so we have lambed in March, however you want to plan your lambing so you have grass for the lambs to eat as having to buy in feed puts a big dent in the bottom line. The tups then went out 6 weeks later than usual and we started lambing on the 8th April. In case anyone has forgotten this was the wettest April for a long time. It was not just wet it was torrential day after day after day. Temperatures were in extremes, warm (ish) one day and in the minus the next. For most sheep farmers in Scotland it was a season best not remembered as we lost more lambs than ever before and all down to the weather. Lambs can cope with wet or cold but not both for an extended period. The aga was in overdrive drying out these youngsters and keeping many alive. March on the other hand was mainly dry!
This year we had three pregnant nanny goats who had two sets of twins and a single. All doing well and so entertaining! We love the video of Violet asking for her food which you can find up on our Facebook page! The Shetland cattle also produced well with several calves, one who will be joining the main herd and the boys will be sold on.
The weather has continued to be challenging. Summer seems to have been just the occasional warm day. The bees have been confused too. The drones (male bees) are ejected from the hive in autumn but this has been happening in July!
Jelly Legs Gin produced her second label in May. A London Dry type gin named the ‘Helensburgh Dry’. At 42% ABV this is a delicious dry with some interesting botanicals: Bramble, Angelica, Juniper, Coriander, Pink Peppercorn, Lime and Orange Peel. The exciting news is it is now available either from ourselves, The Bottle Shop on Sinclair St or the Rosneath Caravan Park Shop.
We have pigs heading to Callaghan butchers this week where Gary will be turning them into tasty sausages, burgers plus the usual leg steaks, chops and Roasts. There will be a few pork packs available priced at £40 which will contain a roasting joint and a selection of cuts to include sausages/burgers. We know there will be popular and will be on a first come first serve basis.
We will be holding a pop up shop at the farm on Sunday 11th August from 10am to 5pm where the pork can be collected and visitors are welcome to meet the new additions and come and find out what we do.
The veg garden has produced a huge crop of strawberries this summer, and great pea crop. The greenhouse has all been slow with insufficient heat/light to ripen the tomatoes. Wool has been used again to mulch in the greenhouse and round some of the crops with success. There is plenty of wool still available.Â
A new canine member arrived at Townhead over the winter, another Norwegian Buhund pup and a great granddaughter of Caspar our previous Best of breed at Crufts winner. Quinn as she is known has been quite challenging and seems to think her name is ‘no’. After several months of training she has decided that sheep, goat and cattle are best avoided as they can be very scary! She has however tempted Debbie back to the show ring.
A new flock of hens arrived here mid June and are now laying well and giving us lots of smaller eggs. These are available for this week only at £4 per tray of 30. Great for baking or filling up hungry youngsters, they are delicious. You can order yours here.
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