Fair Weather Farmer?

I am often asked what I do on bad weather days, well the answer is the same as I do on good weather days, there are some jobs on the farm that have to be done regardless of rain, snow, hail and heat waves.  In fact, extremes of weather can cause more work. For example, if the weather is really bad my goats have to stay in the grange (they hate getting wet), if this is the case then I have to cart hay down to the grange for them to eat and I have to ensure they have access to fresh water, which means carrying buckets of it from the stream.  My usual routine in the winter is to go down to the grange in the morning and let the goats out and then tether a couple of them where I want them to eat the brambles. I then go and check on the sheep, again in snowy weather they need hay too and I can't carry enough hay down for both sets of animals, so it means two hikes up and down the hill.  Once I have sorted out the sheep and the goats I then hike back up the hill, collect the pig food and go and feed them, again ensuring they have fresh water.  In the evening I do the whole routine again, this time un-tethering the goats and putting them back in the grange.  The whole routine takes between one and one-and-a-half hours because of the distance between the animal enclosures.  Our lower grange is only accessible on foot. I could drive up to the pig pen but I would only do that in very bad weather, because of the condition of our track it is usually easier to walk up even in bad weather.

On a good weather day, I will often continue with outside work such as moving the sheep fencing, clearing remains of bramble thickets that the goats have already eaten so that new grass will grow there and this will then become pasture.  I will clean out the animal housing, clip hooves, carry out routine medical treatments, erect new fencing or shelters, move the animals to new pasture, dig my vegetable patches...the list is endless!

When the weather is so bad that I can't do any of the usual outside jobs I can usually be found in the house making large batches of soup which I pressure can for the store cupboard, or I will bake bread, cake and biscuits.  I will often write my blog when the weather is not so good. 

Summer brings different weather related problems, it gets too hot to do a lot of really physical jobs, so I try to get up early and do a couple of hours work before the sun gets too high in the sky.  The animals also drink a lot more water when it is hot so I have to cart large amounts of water about the place.

Extremes of weather are also the times when animals are more likely to become ill and need extra care. In the summer there is an increase in ticks, flies and other parasites that cause animals to become ill and if not treated quickly die.  In wet, humid weather there is a danger from liver fluke, our animals are very prone to this because our land is marshy in some areas. Pigs have to have shelter from the sun as they can become dehydrated very quickly.  Our goats with white hair often need sun cream on their ears otherwise they get sun burnt.  I have to be very vigilant in extreme weather conditions and watch my animals carefully for any signs of illness.

Since starting the farm I have become almost obsessive about the weather forecast, planning is done on a weekly basis based on the forecast, my plans often have to change at the last minute if the weather isn't quite what I was expecting.  Some times when we have bad weather for more than a day or two I do get a bit frustrated because I can't get on with things that need to be done, but on the plus side it means I get a bit of a rest, a chance to recharge my batteries.

Certainly life is never dull on the farm, I can never say I am bored and I enjoy the challenge of never knowing what is going to happen next. I also get a great sense of achievement when I have accomplished something I have been planning for a while, often having to wait for just the right weather or season to be able to complete it.

I would advise anyone that is feeling a bit fed-up or depressed to get out on a farm or do something physical such as going for a walk on a regular basis, try to walk in the countryside where you can appreciate nature.  Before I had the farm I would try to take regular exercise, the only problem was when the weather was bad I wouldn't bother going out, now because I have the animals I have to go out and I find I don't mind at all.