I have been meeting so many of our dedicated readers, learning so much more about the industry, and further developing my passion for educating the public about the importance of where our food comes from.
I’ve been to protests, test driven combines, attended shows of all shapes and sizes, and sometimes I even got to swap my wellies for high heels and don a cocktail dress. Agriculture really is such a diverse and exciting industry and one that I am so proud to be a part of.
May also marks the month we’ve all been waiting for – or dreading in Dave’s case – with the general election. I have been really disheartened by the number of young people who have not registered to vote and young people I know who seem to have no interest in the future of our country. As my brother described it: “It’s like being made to choose a meal which you know will kill you, but you have to eat!”
Lambing my own flock of sheep for the first time has been stressful to say the least. Perhaps I should have considered that working full time and expecting sheep to do as I ask was a bit optimistic. We’ll just call all those sleepless nights character building.
However, I’m feeling quite accomplished after a very successful lambing with no problems. Despite having countless lambing jobs in the past, it has been a massive learning curve and I found that seeing the ewes through from tupping to post lambing was an invaluable experience.
Farming without much land is challenging but after much perseverance I have acquired 40 acres more grazing on a site of special scientific interest on the North Downs, just ten minutes from home. Locals have already exclaimed their delight at seeing sheep up there again for the first time in years and a local farm shop has jumped at the chance to stock my lamb.
It’s amazing how a few extra hours of sunlight can make such a difference. I have even found the time to restock the greenhouse in the hope I will actually remember to water my plants this year. At least livestock shout when they’re hungry.
