Wednesday 27 August 2014

Our first harvest at Saddlescombe Farm - the highlights


A big thank you to Gary and Mark Lee, our neighbours, who not only planted our spring barley crop, but also managed it through the spring and last week harvested it.
The crop was ready to be harvested two weeks ago, and then hurricane Bertha decided to send some very unsettled weather our way. Anyway, the sun came out and it was all systems go. 

 
Freddie, our 18 month old boy was in his element watching the large combine and tractors roaring around the farm.
Another local farmer, Matt O'Neil came and baled all the straw which then kept Roly busy with the tractor and trailer bringing the bales back to the farm and into the barn to be kept dry ready for feed and bedding over the winter months.

"Beer o'clock" overlooking the South Downs national park
Meanwhile, Michael Lee (Mark's son) who is an agricultural contractor, also used the sun to make the last lot of hay the opposite side of the farm, which has provided us with a little more hay, including some small bales which will come in very useful during lambing time in the spring.
The last load of hay bales coming into Saddlescombe Farm
The old tythe barn stacked with wool sacks and small hay bales 
As soon as Roly had finished moving the straw bales off the field, Oliver Lee (Marks other son), then planted a forage crop (stubble turnips and forage rape) to provide grazing for the lambs later in the year when the grass stops growing. Oliver had a late night to get the field all planted ahead of the rain.
Meanwhile, Belle has been busy keeping an eye on the flock and herd during the harvest
Yesterday we sent off a sample of our spring barley to be analysed to determine the quality. We are hoping it can be used for malting.

We will keep you posted!

Camilla, Roly, Molly, Freddie, Boris and Belle