Well what a change in the weather we have seen this week! We actually had a little snow in the village, quite rare for this time of year. We don’t normally see any until the new year. All the puddles and the drinking butts for the animals have been frozen over in the mornings for last few days. going around and breaking the ice so the animals can drink is just another job to add to an already long list!

Here is a view of Lee's brand new(!) digger.

We are currently digging trenches to border our fields. this is part of our long term plan to improve the quality of our heavy clay soil. The trenches should help drainage and make the soil lighter. We will eventually dig a grid of channels accross the fields, to improve water and air circulation. these will drain into our stream, which in turn feeds our pond.

At this time of year, much of our time on the farm is spent preparing for next year. Anything that doesn’t move needs to be painted, and anything that does needs to be greased.
We have been putting beds into the walled garden, mixing in compost to improve the soil, and mulching to suppress weeds, ready for planting in the spring.

I’m sure you’ll all be pleased to know that Rufus, the Labrador who injured himself on the new fences, has now made a full recovery, and is ready to injure himself again as soon as he gets the chance! Hopefully he will resist the temptation, even though we know he loved all the attention it got him, as the vet’s costs are astronomical!

We are looking to put the Tup in with our ewes next week. This should give us lambs in April of next year. We will keep you up to date on their progress each week in the newsletter.

Oh, and don’t forget to get your Christmas order in on the website, as the deadline is December 1st. It may seem a long way off, but it will be upon you before you know it!

Great news: Tree planting has well and truly begun and the fencer has arrived.

New fencing is in process of being installed, this is a great investment in the farm and should hopefully last 15 to 20 years. We have warned May that her days will be numbered if she decides to smash her way through these new fences just to take herself off for a little walk and a sleep in the depleted courgette bed! The picture belows shows the new fencing, both strong wire fencing, and an electric fence too.


So smiles all round at home this week.

Another 650 Christmas trees were planted on Tuesday with more plum, pear and apple trees arriving next month.


The walled garden is marked out and taking shape, although we desperately need weed suppressing materials (old carpets and dust sheets are ideal, if anyone has an of these type of things going spare, please get in touch: info@gandsorganics.com).
I think I may even have glimpsed the sun at the weekend.
The shooting season is well under way and to take advantage of this we have been eating a bit of the Duke of Northumberlands game, and very nice it was too. We hope to put some of Northumberland estate’s game in the boxes in the coming weeks and months, with lots of recipes and ideas on how to cook and use it. For those who haven’t eaten game before, don’t be nervous, we haven't met anyone yet who hasn’t really enjoyed it once they have all the “how to” information.
If anyone is really set against the whole game idea, please let us know and we will make sure you don’t get any nasty surprises in your box. However, there is nothing to stop you giving it a go before making up your mind.
Northumberland estate game is all reared and shot on the hills, heather and woodland around the market town of Alnwick, wild and free range. It is not organic.