The addition of two highland steers to our smallholding has been a challenge but always a pleasure. Dodger, who turned 2 on the 10th February, had settled into his routine with us and began amusing himself by testing our fencing. The cattle had access to about 6 acres of rough pastures but wanted to venture into the areas we didn’t want them; the drive in front of the house, gardens, poly tunnel and water collection area. Each day, Dodger would find weaknesses in the stock fencing, mainly in the lower field and we spent several days moving gates and old sheep hurdles to block up gaps in the traditional stock fencing after finding the boys outside the house on the drive on a daily basis.
One morning I found Dodger climbing the dry stonewall in front of the stables. I didn’t know cows could climb walls. I did appreciate that Highlands were happy in rugged landscapes on hillsides but just didn’t expect him to be climbing a manmade wall. Unfortunately, we didn’t catch it on camera. We used several wooden pallets to limit his access to the wall and that appears to have worked. We also put a gate in front of the chickens shed, after finding the boys happily munching on the hens pellets, and another restricting access to the poly tunnel area and water supply. We also adjusted the ‘eyes’ on a number of gates around the farm to ensure that gates hung so that the locks closed smoothly without having to lift or lower the gate.
Once we had cow-proofed the farm, we focused on gaining some practical skills. Together attending a sawhorse-making workshop where we made a sawhorse out of logs of ash using hand tools and another workshop led by Kelly Cutler from Tŷ Pren coppicing at Denmark Farm. It was hard but satisfying work. I also spent a weekend making a traditional Welsh Cyntell basket out of willow. I had never weaved a basket before and it was probably not the easiest basket to start with but it was amazingly relaxing weaving wet willow sticks around ribs pre-formed for us by Justine Burgess of West Wales Willows, our instructor. We want to build up some skills that will allow us to add value to produce grown on the farm such as creating a willow coppice and using cut willow to weave baskets and crafts and also grow fuel for the winter months. Next we will be learning to carve spoons and utensils out of wood and weaving plant supports out of willow.
We have struggled with how to manage farm gate sales as our farm gate is some distance from the main road with only the postman and our neighbour farmers venturing up the track. In the end we thought converting an old cupboard and placing it by the main road was worth trying. I covered the cupboard in roofing felt top, back and sides to protect it from the elements and painted the front doors with blackboard paint. The idea was that any surplus produce could be listed on the blackboard doors in chalk. No prices just an honesty box/money tin with a label saying Thank you and Diolch. We set the cupboard up on the verge by the main road and have had a steady stream of purchases for our farm fresh eggs. I look forward to selling more surplus produce as spring approaches.
