Categories: From the Farm This Week
      Date: Jan 11, 2012
     Title: 11 January 2012
Well what a week... the first few days were a horse and donkey time. We have had 2 new donkey foals and we have sorted the donkeys onto weed control moving them onto the weediest places and doing some hoof work as they move thru the yards. I have been putting a bit of time into gate smashing Timothy. He has had to face up to the facts we are the boss and running off and smashing a gate is not on. I now have the upper hand - im the bad cop and Ilas the good cop.

Wally came out and we loaded his pony we swapped for the blue rocket. Now that is going to be a fantastic mount for someone so even tempered like all by that gipsy stallion.

I was really stuck getting processing done as everyone was on holiday and the abattoirs were closed. After much ringing and rushing around i managed to get a butcher to press for me late Friday night so i had something to sell at the weekend.

The farmers market on Sunday was terrible.  The wind was the worst we have had, matched the money take as who wants to go out in that. The whole market had to pack up early as canopies were getting damaged. Its hard for stall holders as its not a hobby its our living and how we pay our bills.

But Sunday ended up good as we went to a lunch at Janine and Rods with others to celebrate Christmas, New Year, Janine's Birthday and Rods new job.  And is it a great job.
It was really great to get together with like minded friends and have a home grown meal.

The rain was very unseasonable this week but has kept the grass flying. The last season sabbatical fallow areas are a mass of red and white clover, plantain, dandelions and many other herbs - the livestock are just glowing feeding on it. This seasons fallow is well in seed and getting ready for next year. Great the power of seven.
The back new food forest is away, the artichokes are about 3 foot high and the first fruit trees have taken. We will get lots more in this year.

The Austin Gipsy is fixed .....yep i hav me wheels back Fantastic ... Now i can catch up on things as its my tractor, ute, bike everything ........It was only the head gasket.  Both myself and the mechanic were sure the knock was a main big end bearing but it had blown a whole chunk of the head gasket between one and two and it must have been sitting in the chamber.

Have been putting time into the Shepherd wagon not to much to go now and we can hitch her onto the gipsy and get her sited over the way.

I have trapped another ferret and Ila ran over a large stoat on the road outside the woolshed driving the mule that would do 15 km an hour tops. Now i have a dead female stoat for bait to catch more.

The blue pigs are doing very well. Beate has taken over as godmother she is good mates with Stellar.

Ruth and Beate have been going on walks over the farm, Ruth with Frill her Beardy bitch and Beate with Beatrice her mini kuni kuni sow. Not short walks either and not on the flat, to the top of the highest hill on the farm most days.

Samuel is at the beach with Natalie and her family for two weeks.

So See ya at the market Sunday .

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