We are later than other parts of New Zealand as we are closer to the mountains, but finally we have evidence that the warmer weather is coming to us.
The farm work is increasing and the flock are growing their wool at a good rate. It will soon be time for them to be shorn, then my work will start: skirting (cleaning up the fleece), bagging and listing each fleece and marketing what I intend to sell.
Since the last post I have started spinning with a local group from Christchurch and completed an online shepherding course. Both have added to my knowledge on farming sheep and especially how to market the produces from the sheep. This will influence the running of the farm in the future.
The other part of farming is looking after the land as I believe we are only custodians during our time here. So, with that in mind, we are having our main paddock re-sown in grass for the future. This requires spraying the ground, waiting for the old grass to die off, then turning over the earth and resowing with new grass compounds, (well that’s the process) but I’m sure there is much more to it than that.
Now that the grass in that field has been sprayed ready for resowing, the flock are not suppose to be going into that field, but … as you probably know, teenagers do not necessarily respect boundaries put up for them.
Yesterday, all six teenage sheep decided the grass was greener on the ‘forbidden’ side of the fence, so they all climbed through the 7 strand fence to go and eat in Two Acre Field. The mammas, being responsible sheep after all, stayed in their paddock, where they were meant to be. It was very funny, if not a bit annoying, that the others decided to make a break for it. Just a note that the grass was not poisoned -that was not the issue – it was more the case that if the sheep eat the grass before it dies off, then the roots won’t die off.
Principal ringleaders of the ‘break out’ were Bob the sheep (in front), and four other chocolate coloured teens. They are all as big as their mammas now, and it’s hard to tell them apart. Pepper is the ewe on the right (the grey), and Suzie is at the back (lighter grey), with the two teen girls (her progeny).
silva kurls 