The Field, Part 3 - Looking Good.

There was no way that we were going to be able to use all the field this year, especially with having already planted pototoes else where, so the tactic that we decided upon was limited planting under plastic and to harrow the unused ground often enough to keep the worst of the weeds away.

As you can see, the plan has worked pretty well. I've driven over the the harrow about every 2 weeks. Not only has this kept the weeds done, it's also broken up the cow muck, improving the look of the soil.


Growing under plastic looks to be an excellent idea, and will most likely become a regular feature in the field. Here you can see, a pumpkin, a courgette (which we are now enjoying) and Sweetcorn, which looks promising.

I'm very pleased with the results, it's a big change for the pile of rubble that was there 3 years ago, and it's given me the possibility to really use my tractors! Mechanised farming is the future.

Mint Garden, Part 2 - The Mint Steps

So, the mint garden has been taking shape, in a hap-hazard bit here, bit there sort of way. As it's expanded a plan has started to form and being on a bank, it will needs some steps.


The plan is to build some steps down the gap between the Mint and the Red Currant and then a path longways along the bank with mint on both sides, above and below. I've been watching the neighbour preparing the area for his new cow shed and eyeing up some of the more step like stones.

A couple of weeks back, the real farmer was up there with his digger and I had the oppurtunity to fecth a couple of fine specimens. FBS got his first ride in a tractor, I was looking after him and life must go on, projects must continue!


So, two fine steps, I'll need a good few more, and the David brown to help put them in place (so they'll stay where they are until the Potatoes are havested). The real farmers going to start blasting rock soon, hopefully a few more like these will turn up.

Taking to the Bottle.

I've had complaints, that there's too much Garden and not enough Baby on here. Apologies, I've got the whole summer to catch up on.

We started our first week of 50% leave each this week, Mrs VL went back to work on Monday, leaving me and FBS up to our own devices. Today, after three days at home this week, I'm writing this from the KLM lounge in Amsterdam, on my way towards 2 weeks in the middle eastern heat. So much for 50%, we'll make up for it when I get back.

An important part of keeping the little guy in good form is, oddly enough, getting the right amount of food in at the right times. Not having food on tap, this provides a certain challenge! Almost since birth, we have applied a policy of not letting more than a day go by without giving him a feed from the bottle. Mrs Vl has pumped dedicatedly and we have a stash in the freezer.

Not long before D-Day, our first day alone, FBS became increasing and worryingly difficult with the bottle. Fortunately, we've found the problem. It seems he's as determined and decided as his Mum and Dad put together. The answer was simple, he was going to "feed himself" from now on. He needs a fair bit of guidance, but he holds the bottle, often manages to position the teat in his mouth, and if he's hungry manages to hold it in one position once he gets milk out.

We've had no problems since, as long as he feels he's in control, everything is well.

The Field, Part 2 - Ploughing and Harrowing

With the tree chopped down, that left us with a tree stump to move and the area to level out.

After fruitless hours of hard digging and root cutting and broken chains whilst trying to pull the stump out, the real farmer came up with a suggestion. Why not wait until he was passing in his digger and he'd whip the stump out in a jiffy.

It pays to have friends with equipment, within a few weeks the tree root was up, over 40 tons of soil and 20 cubic meters of cow muck had been added and the area was more or less levelled.

So, suddenly we had a big flat area ready for the next phase. Preparing the soil.



As you can see from the videos, the first efforts of Ploughing and Harrowing were not straight forward, the ground was far from flat and also quite soft in places. The tractor ended up at worrying angles all too often and the large quantities of fresh cow muck we're more inclined to build up on the plough and harrow than be broken up into bits.



By the end of these first attempts, things looked somewhat better, the area was close to acceptbly level and looked something like a prepared field.

The "Field", Part 1 - April/May 2008

Big (little) Sis came to visit a couple of weeks after the birth of FBS. As well as support us, giving us lots of valuable experienced mother tips and help with FBS, she was also put to good use outside.

The field concept started when I began to see the advantages and neccesity of mechanised farming. It has become clear that a minimasation of pyhsical effort is a must if we are to succeed with the production of "bulk" vegetables needed, such as spuds.

Naturally enough, if one is to drive a tractor one needs an open, flat(ish) area to do so on. The area I had chosen, happened not to be flat and had a tree in the middle of it! What better job for b(l)s than aiding with the removal of said tree


With a quick zip from the chainsaw and a helping shove from the tractor, the tree was down in no time.


The tree was quickly dealt with, chopped up into 40cm long logs and split as required,


giving b(l)s the oppurtunity to see the advantages of hydraulic, reather than axe, powered wood splitting.


B(L)S also had a chance to try out the DB, a step up from their Fergie 20, dare I say, whilst we worked on splitting and stacking some more wood. An excellent weekend, many thanks to b(l)s for the help. A big step forward.