We’re still trying hard to maintain the socially distancing idea!
With many active workshops around the place, deliveries and comings and goings, it is important to keep the proverbial guard up!
Security gates and combination locks handled by others demand a good supply of gloves, gel or access to soap and water – what a pain.
There will be an end to all of this and we’re very, very lucky working in the countryside with wide open spaces and plenty of fresh air. Small wonder those not so fortunate need to escape elsewhere for a change of scenery and, indeed, for their mental well-being.
Farming continues inexorably with the seasonal wheel of agriculture constantly turning. We cannot stop crop development or halt progress in any way!
Our crops need a good watering, especially the spring planted barley and beans. Surprisingly they continue to grow, doubtless benefitting from moisture in the lower soil which is still available from that almost forgotten winter waterlogging. We’ve missed the annual Rogationtide gathering on the farm this year when our Vicar blesses the crops and seeks good growing conditions. Last year we were asking for rain but forgot to tell Rev Kev to stop praying and look what happened over the winter period!
Current harvest estimates must be revised downwards yet again, the winter wheat and barley that was planted roughly on time looks OK despite growing in seemingly concrete conditions, but the spring stuff will realistically range somewhere below average at best!
Hey, Ho! Thank goodness we have a mixed farming economy and a diversification enterprise which is not weather related! Did anyone say anything about pandemic economics though? That will be a new subject in the risk related management lectures at universities and colleges!
On the bright side of things, there has been a significant upsurge of interest for our small workshops and storage facilities. This is clearly Covid-19 related, with many people examining their objectives, activities and reviewing alternatives.
All our workshops are now let, although I would urge anyone interested to keep in touch as we may be bringing forward plans for expansion.
On the wildlife front it is brilliant to see the increase in brown hare numbers and our swallows returning to the farm en masse! Even the cuckoo has been persistently vocal and our local ‘birder’s’ have reported the siting of a grasshopper warbler which I’m told is unusual. Marvellous stuff!
Hopefully, with further easing of lock-down advice we can look forward to seeing our grandchildren playing in the garden again. It would be good to have a holiday and like so many other people, we’ve been working at something pretty much seven days a week! No socialising, apart from regular Zoom family sessions and drinks parties with friends (just to keep our hand in) which means no bench marking of events on the calendar.
Does anyone know what day of the week it is!
DG
