The last few days have been divine. Tons of sun. Not too hot. And very little wind. Just wonderful. Gorgeous weather and no need to leave the property at all. So we gardened and farmed, We picked and ate, Our John worked on his pool, The Matriarch worked in the flower beds and generally we had a lovely productive time. Don’t you love it when by midday you have achieved almost everything on your mentally challenging list. 
I finished the shelter for the plonkers in the small Salad Bar field and the two black and white pigs were moved quietly across. They are very prone to anxiety this breed. The little field is high with clover and grass and even a few thistles. I set the hose to running in the thistle patch and told them to start making their wallow and while they were at it dig those thistles out. No problem at all. They were thrilled to oblige. 
This meant that the Red Plonker could move into the vacated pig pen on the east with access to his own little field with a private wallow. He still has Poppy and Sheila wandering in and out next door as company however he seems deeply calm and is definitely the biggest of all the pigs. This one is destined for The Matriarchs freezer so she brings containers of special treats out for him.
My half ton of specially mixed summer feed is going down very well. Mixed for me at a local mill exactly to my specifications. It is 1/4 local corn (I do not trust organic feed corn as most of it is imported from Brazil or China and the I am dubious about the regulations.) However the corn I buy is locally grown which is the best I can do, so it is 1/4 corn, 1/4 barley, 1/4 rolled oats and 1/4 whole oats. And I add wheat germ to the pig’s servings. I like having a feed I can feed to everyone. The pigs also get milk and eggs daily. 
And now they are eating clover and grass. Perfect feed. Sheila and Poppy eat so much grass that they do not need very much grain at all.
I took apart an old wheelbarrow (keeping the undercarriage with the broken handles just in case – you never know when you may need a wheelbarrow undercarriage) and dug it into the ground as a little pond for the ducks. Tima thinks it is wonderful. The ducks? – well they are still thinking about it. They do prefer their roasting dish.
I have cut a small hole in their fence so they can escape to the miniature pond within Tima’s enclosure. But Tima the fatty cannot get into the ducks yard. It will take a few days for them to get brave enough I imagine.
Tima spends most of the day in the garden with me and the dogs or sleeping with the dogs so they have her run to themselves.
The Black Mariah has been pushed into Daisy’s Field as extra shade. One of the jobs I hope farm stay visitors will help me with is planting a long row of willow cuttings along the side of this field. Willows are great feed for animals when there is a drought. Plus they grow very fast. Shade and feed! Perfect.
Well I hope you have a lovely day lined up.
I do.
Lots of love from your friend on the farm,
celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
42 responses to “We’re back!”
I believe Tima must think she is a dog. 🙂 Glad to see the farmy looking so green!
Lovely photos today, Celi. I don’t imagine I could get one of your to-do lists done in a week! I am struggling with aphids on the bean plants just as we get our first tiny beans (too small to eat) and an unknown infestation in the red cabbages. We have been eating little cherry tomatoes since the 18th at the rate of a few a day though.