Saturday 14 March 2015

A List of Jobs

It is around eight or nine weeks before we embark on our holiday of a few days in a hotel (The White Hart) in Lincoln, followed by a whole week in Aldebrough at The White Lion.   Seems a long time yet but I know from experience that it will be here in the blink of an eye.

Before that there are so many jobs to do on the farm, and each one depends entirely upon the weather conditions.   At present, when it is fine the farmer is busy gathering up Winter's detritus of wood from our many trees.   This includes huge , smaller branches, twigs and even smaller bits.

The very small bits will go on the bonfire in the field, the twigs will be broken up and put into the stick box for lighting the wood burner; the small branches will be sawn and put into the log pile and the huge branches will be stores under cover to dry and then sawn up later in the year for next year's wood supply.  This wood is mostly ash, alder and bits of hawthorn and holly.

He already has collected one trailer full of wood and in the next few days will finish the clean up by gathering in another two or three trailer loads.   That will be one job he can tick off the list.

Then all fences and gates have to be checked to make sure they are animal-proof and if they are not, then they need a repair - this also takes a few days at least.

We hope that all fences and gates have been repaired but going round doing other jobs gives the farmer a chance to check on them all.

All the fields need lime.   This has been ordered and will arrive when the farmer decides that the state of the ground is right.   This will then be followed by commercial fertiliser , 20:10:10  and then all this lot has to be harrowed and rolled.

The farmyard manure, which at present lies rotting in a pile, is also ready for spreading when the time is right.

Animal wise, the sheep have to go home before we go away on holiday and no sheep and lambs or young cattle come until we arrive home.

It doesn't sound all that much but believe me that holiday date will be here before we know where we are - and all must be shipshape.





13 comments:

jinxxxygirl said...

I do better under a time crunch..do you? If i have too much time i tend to procrastinate...It really should be my middle name... Used to be i had 'forever' before the moving truck would arrive but i'm down to 20 days!! I have our bedroom and the kitchen to go.. getting close! I hope you have a wonderful trip Weaver incase things are too crazy on my end to tell you later. Hugs~ deb

Heather said...

When all depends on the weather conditions being right, extra time has to be allowed.
When we go away I have to clean the entire house so that whoever holds keys for us will find that all is in order should they need to take a look round!

Joanne Noragon said...

That truly is a lot of work, and we wish the farmer no problems as he sets on his rounds.

angryparsnip said...

I think that sounds like a lot of chores to be done before you go.
Who will take care of Tess and the cats ?
You always say that when the hint of spring comes the sheep are ready to go back up to the hills and the cows want to be outside. So I think they will go back home soon.

cheers, parsnip

Gwil W said...

For the information of the farmer:
Work is the most important thing. Good nourishment is the next important thing. And exercise is the third most important thing.
It's not me who says this but a 95-year old sprinter called Charles who knocked 2 seconds of the world record for his age group.
There's a new video of Charles being interviewed following his world record sprint on my Bard on the Run blog the farmer might appreciate.

Cro Magnon said...

I agree with you about wood collection; people don't realise how much work goes into keeping a wood-burner going.

Our Chestnut plantations have now all been 'limed'. I keep well clear during the process.

Virginia said...

Those 'lists' seem never-ending, don't they, but ticking the items off is a satisfying feeling.

Has Tess accepted the jacket yet, ungrateful Madam that she is! A dog with a cold/fever is not a pleasant companion, not to mention the exorbitant cost of a trip to the vet!

The Weaver of Grass said...

Gwil's comment is interesting - work, good food and exercise - well I think that on the whole farmers get all three during a normal day. Yet is is surprising how many retire and don't live all that long - so I thik perhaps it is better to keep going - as the farmer's father did.

Thanks for the comments - and good look to Jinxy girl with her move. Such a stressful time.

Rachel Phillips said...

It's all in your genes. It makes no difference work, rest or play.

MorningAJ said...

Lincoln and Aldeburgh - nice choices! We're off to Glastonbury and Watchet in a few weeks. I can't wait. But my list of jobs are all at work - things I have to finish before I can go.

Frances said...

As a city dweller, I smiled at your description of what will need to be completed before your upcoming holiday. Not Much? Not at all. It seems like quite an agenda to me, and that it will all be accomplished is a compliment to the Farmer and yourself, on your abilities and experience in getting things done.

Bravo. Please do take a pre-holiday bow, whenever you all do see a break in the schedule!

I particularly liked your description of how the wood gathering is done.

xo

The Weaver of Grass said...

Thanks to everyone.

Terry and Linda said...

It does sound like lots of work...I so understand what it takes and how much time it takes to do all of it. Still, all in all, I'm so glad farming has started!

Linda ★★
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