fair trade for farmers

Fair trade begins at home - that's the message of the high profile campaign being run by Farmers Guardian, Country Living magazine and Waitrose. There will be a number of different messages and images introduced during the campaign, to highlight specific areas of farming in crisis - there are also practical steps everyone can take to show their support.

The campaign begins with milk. Dairy farmers are being paid, on average 17p per litre for milk, which costs 21p per litre to produce - and as we all know, it sells in the supermarket for around 50p. Another fact is that around three dairy farmers a day are getting out of the business. We know of at least three farmers local to us, who have announced this month they are going out of milk - it's just not viable any more.

For those who want to keep the British dairy industry, rather than simply accept cheap imports (think of the wasted food miles, if nothing else) take a look at www.countryliving.co.uk for ways to help.

the half-life of a cat

Had to take one of our cats to the vets today - she belongs to our youngest daughter and is called Tango. We have several other names for this cat, ranging from fluffball to 'poo-pants' - due to her recent cold weather habit, of going upstairs to find a bed to poo on - quite disgusting, and quite inexplicable behaviour as far as I'm concerned. As far as Henry is concerned, the cat has used up 8 and a half of its lives already, and taking it to the vet is therefore pretty academic.

I thought Tango had broken her leg, and dutifully prepared a tearful little girl for the worst news. How much emotional investment do we place in our pets, and how much of a catalyst (pun unintended) are they in our family relationships? As I'm driving to the vets with the cat miaowing next to me, I remember the day we all went to see her as a kitten, the day we brought her home, curled up and tiny in my daughter's arms, and how many special times have been shared between the two of them since. Everything vivid and sharp in my mind. I feel like I've been on an emotional journey myself by the time we get there.

The outcome of the vet visit, is a diagnosis of a very nasty bite to the leg, injections, antibiotics - and a bill for £40.00. So 'poo-pants' returns, triumphant in her remaining half-life, relishing the extra attentions that any convalescing feline deserves. I wonder how long until she becomes 'that bloody cat' again?

farmers markets

On one of our rare family outings (yes, all of us together!) we came across a brilliant market. Lots of things to taste and try - wonderful sights, sounds and variety - chat and banter from local producers. I thought we had stepped back in time. It all seemed just a bit too good to be true. When I asked one of the traders how this rich and vibrant market had managed to survive when so many have not, he told me this was a 'special' farmers food market that only happened once every month - yet another example of Farmers market syndrome, where the population is treated to its 4 weekly taste of real food. Not that I am against Farmers or markets (unsurprisingly) - but why can't every market day be a special or farmers market? If these kind of quality products were available every week, being sold by people who are passionate about what they are selling - there would be no shortage of customers and a bit more money going into the local rural economy. We came home with a couple of fresh crusty loaves, a bag of sausages and some smoked mackerel for tea, (which was excellent, and I shall be back for more - shame I have to wait until next month.)

snowy weather

Like many places in central and southern UK, the snowfall on Thursday was not as much as forecast, while the snowfall on Friday was much more!
That meant difficult and tiring journeys for our guests arriving on Friday evening, but a beautiful 'Christmas card' scene to wake up to on Saturday morning.
Snow doesn't interfere with farming activities as much as freezing cold weather. We have been lucky so far this winter, and were reminded sharply of that at the end of last week, when everything was frozen up, for 2 or 3 days. Outside jobs take all day, as engines refuse to start, and endless buckets of water have to be carried here and there. It's on days like these, that you realise just how much water a cow can drink!
Fortunately, the thaw is already in full swing, with rivers full to bursting and holiday guests scraping off 'extreme mud' from their walking boots!

new kid on the block

a new male joined the alpacas at dove farm this week. He is called Flame - totally unused to being handled in any way, so things will be pretty interesting in the alpaca pen for the next couple of weeks! We have just let him settle in to his new home for a day or two - then tomorrow, I will start on getting him used to human contact.

We hope that Flame will be one of our 'walking' alpacas by summer time. I am frequently asked why we will not be using our females for alpaca walking. In principle, there is no reason why the girls shouldn't or wouldn't enjoy going out for a walk, but practicalities cancel out the training efforts required.
For a large part of the year, the females are either in early pregnancy, and should not be stressed, or in later pregnancy, where the same applies, or we don't know if they are pregnant or not! - or they have a baby (cria) at foot. We might reconsider, but for now we are aiming for an all-male walking team!