It is an incredibly busy time on the farm at the moment particularly because everything has coincided. Firstly we have the normal routine job of egg collecting and packing the eggs from 32 thousand hens. Secondly lambing is full on. Thirdly the current Covid 19 crisis has changed people's shopping habits. We sell eggs and potatoes (when in season) from the farm. We have a regular group of customers but this has changed recently. Everyone has been buying more just in case. This meant that the potatoes which we had already nearly sold out of for this winter went very quickly. A lot of people are coming for trays of eggs because they can't get them elsewhere. We have also had to develop a self service system wherever possible to achieve social distancing. Fourthly the change to dry weather has meant a flurry of field work.
The potato ground is being prepared. Firstly it has been ploughed.
Meanwhile Spring barley has been planted and the winter crops have been rolled and also sprayed.
Preparing the potato ground for planting is a lengthy job. Ridges are made, then a bed formed.
The stones are removed with a stone separator.
Hopefully tomorrow planting will start to get ready for a new crop in late summer, all being well.
... and we give thanks for our farmers every where. I have seen some amazing self serve systems set up - people can be so creative when needs arise. The short supply of eggs locally has evened out, it's yeast that cannot be found. I am looking forward to when our farmer behind us gets his field ready - last year it was corn so this year it will be soy beans.
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