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For general Strickley news (but really what I write) and the weather follow @StrickleyFarm

And for an alternative - and younger view on farm life and life in general - follow James on @JRfromStrickley

First cut may be in, but we're still busy

Grass is in the pit and muck is on the fields and they're gradually changing from brown back to green. It's quite amazing how much more silage we have this year - maybe 20% more. I'm not sure where the next cuts are going to go. We keep some fields for hay (depending on the weather) and rough estimates of the number of small bales that we'll get is quite alarming. Maybe we had better plan to be on holiday that week!
We had our Soil Association inspection yesterday, so now all the files and stacks of paper can go back in the relevant files and boxes in the office. I sometimes think the practical farming side of Organic is the easy bit, it's the paper trail that can wear you out. But if we couldn't prove what we've done (or not done), what would be the point?

On a sudden whim last week (well not too sudden, it's been long in the pipeline) Henry and James knocked down an old shed (known here as the Sawdust Shed - though it hasn't held sawdust for some time). It was full of a lot of "stuff" - all useful (so I'm told). This is now in the winter calf pens, so whatever we decide to do, there is a deadline. The plan is to build a new workshop, but now that we've got this lovely wide open space in the yard, the powers that be are wondering if they really want a workshop there.

And finally Henry and I did something last night we've never done - went to see a group at The Brewery that we had never heard of. I usually plan nights out well in advance, buying tickets as soon as they're available. But see this girl group advertised on the Brewery website, I clicked and bought tickets on a whim. Maybe it was the name that swayed me - The Henry Girls. And a good time was had by all. If they come your way, go an see them. There next appearance is on the Accoustic Stage at Glastonbury. Click here for their website.And on Twitter - @TheHenryGirls.

Ten days later

It's been a long ten days since we mowed out first fields, but by lunch time today the first cut was in the pit. It's a very good crop and the grass in the pit is getting nearer and nearer the roof. It will settle a bit, but for the moment we have decided to big bale the last 5 acres we cut. So the contractor and carters have been fed and watered and have moved on to the neighbouring farm. The weekend weather looks not bad, so maybe they'll be lucky and get it all in one go.

For the moment the fields look a pale strawy green colour - but be prepared - next week they'll be brown!

The mower's out again . .

. . . but the forecast isn't brilliant, so we'll just be snatching a few acres before it rains.

Silage update

Well, the weather wasn't quite as bad as we feared, and by Wednesday night we had 25 acres in the pit. We're now back to weather forecast watching, and looking for the next opportunity.

It seems we got it wrong.

The sky has gone black and it is raining.

Oh dear (or similar words)

Now that's what I call a Birthday Cake!

Hasn't he got a clever Mum!