Cow Horns and Apple Harvests

Before we begin, we would just like to remember Farmer Adrian, who passed away three years ago today, and who (amongst many other things) started the Rush Farm 'blog' many years ago. You would never know which new topic would arise in Adrian's notes, but along with happenings on the farm we would be sure to be treated to an exploration of his latest ideas and readings. We will always miss his wit, intelligence and guidance.

On the farm we're starting to wind down a little for the autumn and winter months, but there's still plenty going on around the farm. The animals are all doing well, enjoying the autumn flush of grass, with the sheep starting to look positively rotund as a result! We want them to be in really good condition prior to tupping, which begins next week. The rams as well are also looking well and are becoming increasingly smelly. We're sure that it is very appealing to the ewes, but it is rather challenging to walk past as mere humans... 

Another new calf - they are coming thick and fast now!

We've been quite busy on a biodynamic front as well. Firstly, we finally found a weekend to do our final 500 spray of the year. This well help fortify the fields ahead of winter, and give them a head start in the spring. We also spent a very pleasant morning filling the cow horns and then burying them for the winter. They'll sit under ground until around April, when we'll dig them up and empty them ready to make the next batch of 500. So the wheel of the year turns.

Our latest volunteer Toshi helps to arrange the filled horns before they are buried.

Alongside this, we have also attended three courses run by Homeopathy at Wellie Level, which is a beginners crash course in how to utilise homeopathic treatments with our animals. This provides us with another tool in our belt for whenever our animals may fall ill and it was particularly interesting to develop our observation and stockman-ship skills.

Apples harvested from around the farm ready to be pressed into juice

Alongside all of this, we were also joined by another wwoofer, our final one for the year, this time from Japan! We have had volunteers from all over, but never Japan so it was very exciting to meet Toshimitsu, and we learnt a lot more about life on the other side of the world, and hopefully he was able to learn a little bit about our small corner of England. His visit coincided with the apple harvest, BD preparations as well as animal and garden chores, so we were able to fit a lot into the week he was with us!

Toshi's last day

The garden is mostly bedded down now for winter, with cover crops keeping the soil protected and bringing more nutrition into the soil microbes, and just a few vegetables in the ground covered with fleece to protect them from frost. The polytunnel has been completely "flipped", thanks to the help of Toshimitsu. This means that all the tomatoes have been cut and their roots pulled up, allowing space underneath for winter crops such as claytonia, winter lettuces, spring onions, and spinach. Meanwhile, the last few trusses of tomatoes are hanging from overhead wires so that they can continue to ripen. Amazingly, we are still harvesting several kilos of tomatoes each week, which is incredible considering how late in the year it is. We also spent some time with Toshimitsu harvesting apples from around the farm, and then sent them off to be pressed into juice. We can't wait for them to come back so we can see what this year's "vintage" tastes like in comparison to last year's. 

The tomatoes continue to ripen even though they aren't even connected to the ground!

There aren't very many events lined up between now and Christmas, which in many ways is no bad thing. The farming year is full-on, so it's nice to have some time to relax, focus on moving the animals, harvesting lettuces, and not much more than that. Certainly, unexpected things will pop up to keep us on our toes, but fingers crossed the next few months can be gentle.

Until next time,

The Rush Farm team