Daydream thread continues.....

Itismehonest

Davesnave wrote: »

I'm still learning about sheep. Today I put an extra strand of wire above the sheep netting on the far side of the orchard which divides our two fields. I've now confined the sheep to the lower field so that we can grow hay on the upper one. I'm hoping that if they jump into the orchard again they'll not jump out the other side! We'll see.

Also took a sack along the roadside to pick up any rubbish along our boundary hedge. Although it didn't look too bad out there, I almost filled it in 250m. :mad:

It's aggravating when it's one sheep, Dave ......
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=68zVPGNwj8M

.......... a real pain if it's a few
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2E46KM0JcU

but if you're really unlucky & they're all watching the first one
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SzM3pflhOu8

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

lucielle

Hugs for tomorrow LIR.

Well DS1 has decided to go off shearing. Had a chat with his boss and he said go for it. 1 happy chappy. Hoping his shearing machine arrives before the weekend.
L

Itismehonest

lucielle wrote: »

Hugs for tomorrow LIR.

Well DS1 has decided to go off shearing. Had a chat with his boss and he said go for it. 1 happy chappy. Hoping his shearing machine arrives before the weekend.
L

:T
Some of the local lads here would go shearing down under & back here for our shearing season. Tough life but a good one (particularly if fast & accurate) if they're so inclined.

Alexelisey

So sorry that old girl is going, LIR, but it sounds like the right time. Sending you love and strength! :grouphug:

Davesnave

Itismehonest wrote: »

It's aggravating when it's one sheep, Dave ......
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=68zVPGNwj8M

.......... a real pain if it's a few
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2E46KM0JcU

but if you're really unlucky & they're all watching the first one
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SzM3pflhOu8

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

Looking at the Lakeland sheep reminded me, Pete said some of these came from "up north." I don't think he meant Gloucestershire.

Not sure what breed they are. Pete just calls them "They woolly ones..." Not a man for technical details, Pete! :rotfl:

rozeepozee

My best wishes for you and old girl, LIR. What a tough decision.

I hope you lot haven't scared agreenmess off with your culling talk :cool: My attitude to animal welfare has evolved dramatically since I've been involved with this thread and learned more - even though I've yet to get my own livestock. I'm pretty sure I've not got the stomach to do it myself - yet - but I'd far rather keep and cull my own animals in high welfare, organic or low chemical conditions than buy from the supermarket. I have bought less and less processed foods over the years and although I doubt I'll ever be self sufficient, I tread far more lightly on the earth these days.

Are any of you Soil Association members? We had the farmer who looked after our field before we bought the property come over last week. He proposed spreading two types of chemicals to reinvigorate the soil and make it less acidic (can't remember what - possibly phosphate but not lime). I'm return, he'd harvest the hay in July. What would you guys do in our position? We'll be busy with the house build this year so have no plans for the field. We'd prefer it to be chemical free though and be improving it with a view to using it next year. As you may recall, at the moment it's got it's fair share of rushes and creeping buttercup. In my fantasy it's restored to a glorious organic wildflower meadow....

The description of your broody turkey makes me giggle, CTC.

rhiwfield

rozeepozee wrote: »

Are any of you Soil Association members? We had the farmer who looked after our field before we bought the property come over last week. He proposed spreading two types of chemicals to reinvigorate the soil and make it less acidic (can't remember what - possibly phosphate but not lime). I'm return, he'd harvest the hay in July. What would you guys do in our position? We'll be busy with the house build this year so have no plans for the field. We'd prefer it to be chemical free though and be improving it with a view to using it next year. As you may recall, at the moment it's got it's fair share of rushes and creeping buttercup. In my fantasy it's restored to a glorious organic wildflower meadow....

The description of your broody turkey makes me giggle, CTC.

Rozee, improving the field is at odds with it being wildflower meadow as I'm sure you know. Most of the traditional wildflower meadows had just a light annual dressing of organic manure to replace nutrients lost to grazing. Nutrient rich grassland will be replete with weeds like docks, nettles and grasses at the expense of traditional wildflowers.

Rummer

rozeepozee wrote: »

creeping buttercup.

shudder.....

alfie_1

rozeepozee wrote: »

My best wishes for you and old girl, LIR. What a tough decision.

I hope you lot haven't scared agreenmess off with your culling talk :cool: My attitude to animal welfare has evolved dramatically since I've been involved with this thread and learned more - even though I've yet to get my own livestock. I'm pretty sure I've not got the stomach to do it myself - yet - but I'd far rather keep and cull my own animals in high welfare, organic or low chemical conditions than buy from the supermarket. I have bought less and less processed foods over the years and although I doubt I'll ever be self sufficient, I tread far more lightly on the earth these days.

Are any of you Soil Association members? We had the farmer who looked after our field before we bought the property come over last week. He proposed spreading two types of chemicals to reinvigorate the soil and make it less acidic (can't remember what - possibly phosphate but not lime). I'm return, he'd harvest the hay in July. What would you guys do in our position? We'll be busy with the house build this year so have no plans for the field. We'd prefer it to be chemical free though and be improving it with a view to using it next year. As you may recall, at the moment it's got it's fair share of rushes and creeping buttercup. In my fantasy it's restored to a glorious organic wildflower meadow....

The description of your broody turkey makes me giggle, CTC.

i must admit we have always had eu-naturale fields but last early spring we had 11 acres sprayed for weeds and the hay was amazing. still smells as fresh now. it seems a bit late to spray it now ? we were told it had to be before real growth started. when weeds were JUST starting [they always seem to have a head start on the grass]
i think you need to ask exactly what chemicals he intends to use.... and also remember although it gets rid of weeds etc, they are gaining hay [ours produced 400+ bales ].. worth finding out how much it would cost to get it sprayed yourself ?
the advantage of cutting it gives the chance for you to seed with wild flowers. does he expect to hay cut EVERY year ? in which case flowering wont work...

i may have all this totally wrong tho.....:o :rotfl:

p.s. i know im talking weeds but "improving the soil" is same time scale we were told, in fact the year before it was cut and left to lay as that helps the soil too.

alfie_1

CTC... my turkey , called TURK, sat and hatched 8 ducklings for me !! funny as **** when they went into water. poor turk nearly had a breakdown ....:rotfl::rotfl: