The Soul of the Farm

Stein & Nor will get married on Saturday, at Brambletye, in the barn (concrete floor laid last week, chestnut panelling the week before). Stein's brother Tom is working at the orchard along with Thomas and Daniel (from Holland). Regine (german agriculture student) and Joanne (from South Africa) have just left after a 6 week stay. Max II (german schoolboy) has just joined us for his 6 week draught. Terry, Clive and Stuart have been enthusiastic mucker outters (which I for one am grateful) and are all currently at their respective homes, making mealtimes very quiet affairs. Peter is taking all three of them to France in September for a week. David has committed to the farm and is very excited that the new minimum tillage system he has been enthusing about, the farm now has on order. Max I has collected 3 swarms and is becoming quite the resident apiarist; lectures for 2nd year BD students perhaps? Richard has taken a job in Devon and so we are looking for a new butcher to work with Barry. Duncan left for Sturts Farm in March and so when Peter finishes the new rooms we should have space for another apprentice. Gaia is 18 next month and is hoping to be allowed back into all the pubs in the village from which she is currently barred. Jors has bought himself a new landrover and is as happy as his pigs in sh*t. It was Raf's birthday today (31) so Steffi put out flowers for breakfast and we broke with our muesli & toast routine to have celebratory croissants. Nor cooked lunch, she takes it turns with Sandia and Lucy. We have started to eat lunch in the garden. Charlotte has yet to get into full swing in the cafe but is making chicken pies and doing a BBQ outside the shop on Saturdays. Gaye stopped by for a couple of weeks in her camper van and will be back for the barn dance. Mark is progressing with the accommodation and vegetables, ably aided by Rainer and Tom. The children, Hannah, Noah, Jacob, Jors & Birik are all really enjoying the sunshine, each other and exploring the mucked out barns.

Last week I visited an arable/suckler herd 1,500 acre farm in Hampshire. £1.5m worth of machinery and 2 men (both divorced). They were very proud of their gross margins but the conversation was short and a bit dull in comparison.