The Shepherd's Calendar comes to a final end

Like everyone else this Summer we have been battling with the heat and more particularly the protracted lack of rain. Suffolk and Norfolk have been especially affected by drought resulting in field, heathland  and woodland fires. Yet another heatwave of plus 35 degrees centigrade is on the way later this week and no rain forecast for the forseeable future.

On the smallholding there have been ways around the drought with the vegetable plots, but with the hosepipe ban it involves more back and forth with the watering can. I have a small submersible pump which I have dropped into the dyke that forms one of our boundaries and can extract water from it. The flow is not powerful enough to activate a sprinkler so the hose end has to be moved around at intervals. 

The poultry do not seem to mind as they have plenty of shade, although the heat does reduce their egg laying. The ducks have a decent-sized pond to swim in. The pigs have shade and an all-important wallow. Filling livestock drinking troughs with a hose is a permissible exception to the hose pipe ban, as is topping up ponds. Our sow has just had another litter of piglets. They are in a concrete block farrowing house which stays relatively cool.

The biggest challenge has been the sheep. There has been no re-growth of grass at all since the early Spring and their grazing has been depleted. We have been feeding them hay since early July. Hay is scarce and increasingly costly. This is a big problem, too, for those with commercial-sized flocks and cattle herds. Added to which grain harvests, which go into livestock feeds, are significantly lower as a result of the drought conditions.

Bear in mind that, in East Anglia at least, we experienced a problematic drought last year with no Spring rain for almost three continuous months. In fact this is the third drought we have had in the last five years. Although we have a relatively small flock of sheep, the four acres we have and the  extra two acres a friendly farmer lends us each year, is proving increasingly insufficient to sustain a flock of around just ten breeding ewes. This is directly the result of the weather and consequently of global heating. Seemingly gone are the days when I have had to top the grass because it was growing too long for the sheep.

Alas, we made the difficult decision to disperse our flock of sheep. The ewes, pedigree Wiltshire Horns, were all home bred and we have their lineage going back several generations. We selectively bred them for their maternal instincts so that they are all proven excellent lambers and mothers. We had already sold this year's lambs (except three ram lambs which we will grow on for home consumption). The same buyer has also come back and taken our ewes too. He is growing his flock and has the land to do so. Alongside their commercial farming operation they run a care farm so our sheep should make a great contribution to the lives of others.

The saddness of their departure will likely soon dissipate but their absence will create a gap. For the first time in many years there will be no lambing in the Spring and the grounding effects on our lives of keeping to the shepherd's calendar will be no more.

There is, however, still much to do to keep us busy. And the fine weather has had its benefits. We continue to enjoy or rural setting and the surrounding countryside, entertaining friends and extended family outdoors, celibrating family birthdays, and in June we hosted our youngest daughter's wedding celebration in one of our fields in rustic style. We have much to be grateful for.

Scenes we will miss:-

Sheep on the move

I am familiar with two poems entitled 'The Shepherd's Calander'. The more allegorical one by Edmund Spenser (1579) and that of John Clare's (1824) rural realism. The annual sequencing of sheep-keeping tasks remains much the same. 

This year's lambs are about four week's old now so it was time to move our small flock of nine ewes and ten lambs a short distance to some grazing a nearby farmer friend lends to us each year in return for one of our Norfolk Black turkey's at Christmas time. The sheep will be there for about 6-8 weeks before returning home again and some fresh grass. It is hoped that last year's drought in this part of the country won't be repeated.

The sheep are in their family groups but the ewe in the centre 
did not get pregnant, so no lambs for her this year.

In fact, nearly all of our smallholding activities come around in a regular annual cycle. Now I am busy sowing, pricking out, potting on and planting. We have quail and turkey eggs in incubators. (One of the latter will be the farmer's Christmas offering by which time it should be about 4-5 kilograms oven-ready weight). The last of the latest litter of piglets have recently departed to a new home. Twenty day old meat-variety chicks arrived for growing on, and egg production from hens and ducks is now at full throttle.

The regular cyclical routine which we live by suits us very well. It keeps us grounded whatever else is happening in the world.

Spice: a final goodbye

Yesterday morning we had to say a final goodbye to Spice at the vet. We knew since last Summer this day would come after some diagnostic tests then, but the initial symptoms abated and she maintained her lively disposition over the Winter. But some symptoms recently returned and her ever-present vitality began to ebb away.  

Spice spent all of her eleven plus years almost entirely on the smallholding and the surrounding fields - an idyllic life for her. A gentle soul who rarely barked and who adored, and was adored by, visitors.

Her close comapnion of the last two years has been little Zelda who, for the moment, appears mystified by Spice's absence and has searched everywhere for her and has been looking out for her.

It was a sombre start to Ash Wednesday.

Planting garlic

I'm a little bit later than usual in planting out garlic. This should be okay as I have a soft-necked variety this year, Ashmoor White. Unlike the hardier hard-necked varieties, which benefit from a period of cold and so are ideal for planting in November to over-winter, soft-necked varieties of garlic prefer a milder climates. They also keep longer.

I bought three bulbs of Ashmoor White which, when split into individual cloves, was more than enough for a twenty foot row.

We regularly use garlic in our cooking all year round so for us it is more or less a staple. 

Planting for the future

As a sign of our commitment to the future I planted three new fruit trees today, each barely three feet tall above the ground. A fair old wait before we are able to enjoy any fruit. The feeling of optimism was encouraged by the bright sunshine on an albeit cold day. A change from the gloomy, grey and rainy days of late.

The trees were planted on a patch of ground where some fallen tree trunks had for some time been piled up. These have now been used as an edging at the back and reclaimed telegraph poles used at the front. 

Two of the trees are apples: Spartan and Pixie. They are both pollinators for each other. The third tree is a self-fertile Conference pear. We have not had much success with pear trees that we have planted elsewhere on the smallholding. So we decided against any fancy varieties and chose an established variety which is usually relaible.

I used some lengths of gutter downpipes cut long ways as rabbit guards.

Some years hence I will report back on the quality of the fruit from these trees!

Oak tree in winter

My attempt during 2025 at making a regular post 'Following a tree' lost momentum, overtaken by life events. I had chosen a willow tree which looks good in different ways throughout the year. Anyhow, here is a, possibly one-off, post on another impressive tree.

I took some photographs of our recently re-freshed driveway to share with our daughters. When I looked at one of the photos it captured the large oak tree by our main gate and it effectively became the unintended prinicipal subject of the photograph. Its leafless branches form an evenly arrayed crown and it looks quite majestic.

The cable detracts a bit from the image. That is our electricity supply.

 

Life and Tradition in Suffolk

I recently came across this book by Norman Smedly: Life and Tradition in SUFFOLK and NORTH-EAST ESSEX. It was published in 1976. 

Norman Smedley was an archaeologist and museum director, notably of the Abbotts Hall Museum aka Museum of East Anglian Life in Stowmarket, Suffolk (now the Food Museum). He established a large collection of farm implements and was particularly interested in Suffolk's rural heritage.

In this book a range of rural crafts and practices are detailed with reference to the tools that were used. Farming practices in pre-mechanisation days are described as well as the work of  the farrier, cooper, thatcher, saddler, cobbler, brick maker, basket maker, flint knapper, wheelwright, a number domestic tasks, and many more. The chapter on buildings and building materials was very interesting given the absence of stone sources in Suffolk. Written in the 1970s it was possible to interview and, in many instances, often observe prractitoners of these trades at work.

Here are a few photos copied from the book.

Mechanisation, mass production, socio-economc imperatives and convenience have overtaken many of these skills but some still exist. Now they are often specialist service providers rather than being an essential presence in virtually every village.

New litter

We had a new litter of Saddleback piglets yesterday evening. Ten born and they seem to be doing well. In the photo below you can make out a straw barrier mum had built to keep her babies close. Picture was taken when they are about one hour old. One of the piglets already took advantage of the upper deck.

The resilience of Winter Aconites

The first Winter Aconites are a beacon of woodland beauty even in a gloomy January. They are in a small wooded area; and some daffodil shoots are showing through too. The long-term presence of this independent-minded flower is something to admire and respect.   

But their dominating neighbour is a large poplar tree. The poplars along here are continually threatening to expand their territory and colonise the area. Its a threat that the aconites, daffodils snow drops and other peace-loving plants have to regularly contend with. The poplars send out thuggish suckers to intimidate the surrounding plants even though ultimately they share the same ecosystem. 

However, the poplars' behaviour has long been bounded by established management routines that oversee the area and aspire to promote balance and harmony so that all get along together in partnership. Even if these rules ever get over-ridden by the poplars the aconites are resilient enough to survive one way or another.

The poplars undoubtedly cause a lot of havoc, often in unexpected places. Of course, they are not all bad but just because the they provide some summer shade you'd think they expect a prize for this one thing whatever else they do. 

The Solar Year

In one of my recent thrice-weekly video calls to a 'conversation partner' (but now friends) in China - part of my arduous endeavour to learn mandarin Chinese - they had been busy preparing food for Dong Zhi or Winter Soltice. This is an important celebration in China. 

In the UK I think there is a general awareness of the Winter Soltice as a turning point in the year, after which daylight hours ever so slowly start to increase. I know this is a relief to many and for farmers, smallholders and gardeners it is also a time to look forward to the new growing season. But the Winter Soltice is not widely celebrated here as perhaps it might have been in the past, apart from those who descend on Stone Henge and rightly marvel at the stones' alignment with the rising sun. For a few there is a more spiritual dimension.

China, which holds on to its ancient cultural traditions despite the Mao years and its economic transformation of recent decades, retains many seasonal and agricultural-based festivals and celebrations, including Dong Zhi. The UK was once the same when it too was a largely agricultural society and we are regularly reminded of many of these cultural tradtions and beliefs by Sue in her My Quiet Life in Suffolk blog. 

Here we remain pretty much full on smallholders and the seasonal cycle remains an important influence on how we organise our time. In China they go beyond the four season and, from ancient times, structure the year into 24 solar periods. I think it makes interesting reading.

China's 24 Solar Terms

The 24 Solar Terms divides a whole year (365 or 366 days) into 24 equal parts, with one solar term every 15 days or so. It runs through the four seasons of spring, summer, autumn and winter, and each season includes 6 solar terms. It reflects the natural changes like temperature, rainfall and plant growth, and provides guidance for the traditional farming year. It has a history of thousands of years, was listed as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2016, and is still closely linked to Chinese people’s daily life and agricultural activities nowadays.

Spring

1. Lìchūn (立春) – Start of Spring

Beginning of the agricultural year; soil begins to thaw, plowing preparation starts.

2. Yǔshuǐ (雨水) – Rain Water

Rainfall increases; farmers prepare fields and begin early sowing in warmer regions.

3. Jīngzhé (惊蛰) – Awakening of Insects

Insects emerge; pest control begins; spring plowing accelerates.

4. Chūnfēn (春分) – Spring Equinox

Day and night equal; peak time for planting spring crops.

5. Qīngmíng (清明) – Qingming Festival

Important for tomb-sweeping; continued sowing; warmer and clearer weather.

6. Gǔyǔ (谷雨) – Grain Rain

Last key rain before summer; vital for grain crops like rice and wheat.

Summer

7. Lìxià (立夏) – Start of Summer

Crops grow rapidly; attention shifts to irrigation and weeding.

8. Xiǎomǎn (小满) – Grain Buds

Grains begin filling but are not ripe; flood control becomes important.

9. Mángzhòng (芒种) – Grain in Ear

Busy farming season; planting of rice and harvesting of early grains.

10. Xiàzhì (夏至) – Summer Solstice

Longest day; crops grow vigorously; water management is critical.

11. Xiǎoshǔ (小暑) – Minor Heat

Hot weather begins; pests increase; continued field maintenance.

12. Dàshǔ (大暑) – Major Heat

Hottest period; crops near maturity; protect against drought and heat.

Autumn

13. Lìqiū (立秋) – Start of Autumn

Beginning of harvest season; heat slowly declines.

14. Chǔshǔ (处暑) – End of Heat

Cooling begins; main harvests approach; autumn crops mature.

15. Báilù (白露) – White Dew

Cool nights; dew forms; rice and fruits ripen.

16. Qiūfēn (秋分) – Autumn Equinox

Day and night equal; peak harvest time.

17. Hánlù (寒露) – Cold Dew

Colder temperatures; late harvests; prepare winter storage.

18. Shuāngjiàng (霜降) – Frost’s Descent

First frost appears; end of most farming activities.

Winter

19. Lìdōng (立冬) – Start of Winter

Farming pauses; animals sheltered; food preserved.

20. Xiǎoxuě (小雪) – Minor Snow

Light snow begins; soil hardens; winter storage continues.

21. Dàxuě (大雪) – Major Snow

Heavy snow possible; fields rest; tools repaired.

22. Dōngzhì (冬至) – Winter Solstice

Shortest day; important ritual time; yin reaches peak.

23. Xiǎohán (小寒) – Minor Cold

Cold intensifies; final preparations before deep winter.

24. Dàhán (大寒) – Major Cold

Coldest period; end of agricultural cycle before renewal.

Stepping into a river

The well-known quote from the Greek philosoper Heraclitus to the effect that no person steps into the same river twice for it is not the same river nor the same person, and that everything is in flux, is (as I understand it) not exactly what he said, nor that the usual interpretation attributed to it is what he intended. Rather, that things change but also remain the same. The river continuously flows but it remains a river. Life still has its constants despite the swirl of events.

Its been a bit like that here on the smallholding. The Summer has in part been characterised by disablement, surgeries and recovery, and their concomitant need for close attendance. But at the same time we have problem-solved our way through and managed to maintain the regular cycle of smallholding activities: sowing, growing, harvesting and preserving; farrowing, lambing, hatching and general livestock husbandry; fencing, pruning, weeding, building and repairing. These have been among our constants amidst the general flux, and for us a source of stability.

Where are we now? Our ewes have been with the ram and seem content enough. They are now on hay as there is not much by way of grass at this time of the year. Hay, of course, is relatively scarce and more expensive after the Summer drought. All of this year's lambs we sold in one lot. Our ram is currently out on hire to someome we regularly supply a ram to.

We also sold our June-born piglets from a litter of twelve, except for two which we are growing on for ourselves.

We are currently experiencing another visitation of the pestilential avian flu. As there was an outbreak not too far from us we are within a 'Surveillance Zone' which requires additional biosecurity measures for poultry keepers. The whole of the England and Wales is subject to a housing order now. Fortunately, because of past experience and some prior precautionary measures, it has been relatively easy to implement and manage this. The Animal and Plant Health Agency (part of DEFRA) have been in telephone contact and appear to be more closely monitoring poultry keepers (or at least those with fifty birds plus) this time around.

We have fruit and vegetables stored up but there is not much left in the plots, except some good-looking leeks. Alas, the brussel sprouts did not make it through the Summer.

   

Plum halves

Our old Victoria Plum tree rarely fails and we have another good harvest this year. However, when we had a day of strong winds last week a sizeable limb snapped off. This won't have much impact on furture crops but does give the tree a lop-sided appearence. It will probably grow out of it in due course. 

It was time to start picking. Interestingly, I did not come across any wasps and hardly any plum had a wasp hole. This was a little surprising as, largely due to the warm Spring and Summer, it has been a bad year for wasps as many have noted. (From an alternative perspective, you could say it has actually been a good year for wasps). 

The greengages (so sweet) have done well too, so all-in-all a notable year for stone fruit. We will be dehydrating some of the plum crop and also storing some in the freezer. Frozen plums are fine for future crumbles or if there is an urge to make jam during the winter. Our favourite is plum and ginger jam. 

Plum halves ready for freezing

Aubergine

The greenhouse crops have done well this year, as they usually do. It is easier to manage the environment in the greenhouse, or polytunnel if you have one. Unlike the main vegetable plots that have suffered with drought conditions and successive heatwaves this year. Still, some crops have done well. The most recent to be ready for harvesting, sweetcorn of which we sampled the first today, looks laden with cobs. 

Back to the greenhouse. The highlight this year is aubergines. I've picked quite a few already and there are more to come. Planting them into the border rather than pots appears to consistently be the better method if you have the space.

We both like aubergines very much and are surprised how many people we come across who aren't too keen on them. They do have the drawback of not being very preservable for later use. But visitors partial to aubergine don't go home empty handed.

Apricot and gooseberry tart

I mentioned we have a bumper crop of apricots this year. Very tasty fresh off the tree of course. We have put apricot halves in the dehydrator and now have kilner jars of dried apricots for snacking or adding to breakfast porridge. Janet has also made an apricot and gooseberry tart using some of the red variety of gooseberries we grow. Delicious with some vanilla icecream to balance out the sharpness of the gooseberries. 

A note on the weather

I think a note about the weather is overdue. We are expecting a third heatwave over the next few days and into next week. I gather the Met Office defnition of a heatwave is three consecutive days above 28 degrees centigrade. We have had a number of days above 30 degrees so far and a high of 32 expected again this weekend. But the real problem is the record breaking dry Spring. We had barely a drop of rain for more than three months where we are. During March, April and May we had a total of 22mm (less than one inch) and relatively little either side of this period. 

Looking at the surrounding wheat fields the crop looks stunted and the stalks not very dense. Nearby, the combines have already started to harvest. The grass for hay and silage for feeding livestock over Winter has also been affected and I doubt the usual three cuts during the Summer will be achieved. I expect their will be lots of knock-on impacts on food prices when these weather effects work their way through the system.

Our grazing has been quite depleted as a result. We need some serious and prolonged rain to turn things around. 

Aside from this, some things have been doing well. After a several years of an apricot crop in single figures, this year (they are not quite ready yet) it looks like we will have something considerly more substantial. The grrenhouse plants, too, are flourishing. We have had plenty of cucumbers, the beginnings of the tomato crop and high expectations for aubergines and peppers not too far off. 

This year's lambs in the shade of a plum tree

 

Following a tree: June

Here is the birch tree I have been following in it's full Summer attire. It rises close to our boundary. I like it's weeping habit which nearly reaches the ground. It will remain much the same until in late Summer the leaves become pale and then start to turn to yellow. In the meantime, it provides an attractive back drop and a shady spot for when the sheep are moved into this field. 

Herb stand

During the Winter I made a herb stand from bits of wood left over from another project. The herbs had been clustered in pots in a corner of the patio but I thought something more functional right by the house would be a good idea. 

When I looked at flower stands for sale they frequently had what I considered was a fundamental design fault. This was that the shelving overlapped one another too much. The problem with this is that when you water the plants the surplus water will drip onto the plants below. This is especially problematic for herbs, at least of Mediterranean origin (that is most of the ones we use), as they do not like being over watered or having their leaves splashed. Making my own stand for herbs avoided this issue. 

The herbs we use most are fairly bog standard but using fresh herbs where you can does make a difference in the kitchen. In the picture there is sage (including a fancy tricolor variety), thyme, oregano, mint, rosemary and lemon verbena. The latter is used to add extra lemon flavour cakes. 

Even if not used for cooking, rubbing your fingers along them to capture their scent is satisfying enough in itself. Lemon verbena is my favourite for this.

Release for the ducks

Over the Autumn and Winter I carried out a number of small construction jobs, one of which was to build a duck pond and extend the duck enclosure. These are pekin ducks which we keep for their eggs, but they are also nice to have around too. 

But avian flu meant that the pond and new run have lain unused for since last Autumn. Suffolk, along with Norfolk and Essex, as well as parts of East Lincolnshire, East Yorkshire and the West Country have had a housing order in place over and above a range of national biosecurity measures. Confining ducks has been a particular challenge. 

However, it was announced at last that from Thursday 15th the housing order has been lifted so we were able to release the ducks to enjoy their new set up and relative freedom. A great relief all round, especially in view of the warm weather we have been having.

Like many who keep a few ducks for their produce rather than soley for ornamental reasons we made do with a children's plastic sandpit for a pool - big enough for a quick dip and to get their heads under water but not really ideal. Ducks can be quite messy and the sandpit pond muddied up very quickly requiring it to be emptied and re-filled every day.  

The new pond is 8' x 8'. I made it into a raised pond partly so I did not have to dig a big hole and find somewhere to deposit the spoil, but also because I am working on the theory that being raised there is less chance of soil being drawn into the pond as the ducks go in and out. Time will tell. Being raised I used some pallets to create a ramp and platform up to the pond and another ramp in the pond to make it easy for the ducks to clamber out.

A big challenge for us at present is the continuing record-breaking dry spell. We have had no rain for many weeks now. But for the ducks it shouldn't be a problem.

Agnus Dei

We had a total of 11 lambs this year, 3 ram lambs and 8 ewe lambs. The ewes this year were mostly first time mums but by and large took to the experience very well. Three births needed some assistance for successful delivery. The ewes are all proving to be good, attentive mothers. The lambs, along with their mothers, are enjoying being on grass out in the sun and each afternnon we enjoy watching them frolic together in the way lambs do.

The two photos below were taken at the same time.

Following a tree: April

Alas, March sped by and I missed posting a photo of the silver birch tree. It was in its catkin stage too. Never mind, here is April and fresh green leaves are on display helped along no doubt by the mild sunny daytime weather. 

We have had no rain since February, and it is apparently the driest Spring since 1962. The grass is slow to grow and it is problematic for farmers sowing their Spring crops which need the rain for the seeds to germinate. The birch tree seems happy enough at the moment though.