OCTOBER 2010

CROPS

Well, it has been a funny old summer. Much rain followed by much sun and heat, followed by much cloud, followed by much heat and now as I
write..... much rain. This has caused mixed fortunes for our veg. The
beans have generally been a disaster but crops such as swede, parsnips and spinach have done well. We also had some lettuce that was planted with the help of volunteers from The Cambridge Transition Food Group that have cropped over a remarkably long time . The winter squashes are at last ripening and as you know are now starting to appear in your veg bags . The sweetcorn which we expected to be harvesting in late August is now in full flow. Winter cabbages and caulis are growing well . We are now harvesting the potatoes by machine, which, up to now has been done by hand. The cucumbers and tomatoes are coming to an end and will soon be replaced by mizuma, rocket and other greenery. The winter celery and celeriac, which again was weeded by the Cambridge Transition group in early August is showing promise.

WILDLIFE

The goldfinches are now showing in profusion. The Little Owls that were
born in the Summer can be heard among the willow trees. The roe deer come and go and the weasels continue to mug the rabbits. Occasionally Buzzards can be seen riding the thermals as they hunt over the farm. One of the most joyful moments I have had this year is laying on my back on a late summers afternoon watching half a dozen of them just circling round and round to get higher on the rising warm air.