Came home to find pigs roaming around on the lawn and electric fencing had packed up... So with a torch in hand I got some food out to help get them all in. Once I'd got them down by the arks I went about some emergency patching on the fence where they had got out.
Next morning I was still waiting for a replacement Energiser to come in the post but the clever little ones had got out again! So I sorted them out once more and got on the phone to my fencing supplier and he sorted out my problem by the means of me going to the local suppliers by Luton to collect an Energiser free of charge to sort out my pig problem. This made me much happier than waiting for the postman.... Whew!
Wednesday, 20 October 2010
Saturday, 16 October 2010
GOS move back home
So I've moved 8 pedigree Gloucester Old Spots back home into the back garden and moved the chooks as well... The pigs have already done a good job clearing the nettles and the veg patch. There are still damsons on the tree for them to munch on. Spent the morning cleaning out all the pig arcs as we do on a weekly basis as new bedding is a must... Jane was busy rustling up some lovely chutney made from our marrow, pumpkin and tomatoes which was a treat. Inspired no doubt by her Mum's famous tomato relish - So just to keep you all updated the Good Life posse is at 2 dogs, 29 pigs, 12 chooks lots of wild rabbits (which are rodents if you ask me) and a wise owl which we hear most nights but is yet to be seen...
The breed originated around the Berkeley Vale on the southern shores of the river Severn in south west England. It was usually kept in the cider and perry pear orchards of the area and on the dairy farms. Windfall fruit and waste from the dairies supplemented its grazing habit. Local folklore says that the spots on its back are bruises from the falling fruit. Besides its correct title and variations such as Gloster Spot or just Old Spot, the breed is also known as The Orchard Pig and The Cottager's Pig.
Bee's on the move!
I've moved the two bee hives we had in our garden to my bee buddy's house - Thanks Margaret! This is to make way for the pigs who will be moving back in soon...
getting ready to open up hive entace
winer feed going in
grass over entance so bee oriantat on way out
bee setting in
second hive moving in
Thursday, 14 October 2010
Fencing for Gisele and babes
Gisele gets a new outdoor pen as she bull-dosed the other gates - one of the piglets managed to push through the bottom of the netting, luckily we heard the squeals and arrived to the rescue - little Houdini! They'll stay in here with Mum until they're 8 weeks old and we'll wean them off and into a bigger paddock...
Saturday, 9 October 2010
Today's Visitors...
Lovely Jo and Mia came to visit us today - hanging out with the Gloucester Old Spots...
Friday, 8 October 2010
Our new blog!
Follow us on our journey through the seasons on our smallholding - we'll share the successes, antics and sometimes disasters of our rural pursuits... We hope you enjoy and look forward to your feedback.
Andre, Jane and Santiago x
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