4 star rating

We had our environmental health check on our kitchen on Wednesday for our preserve-making microbusiness. I'm chuffed to report that we got a 4 star rating! The certificate will be proudly displayed on our stall tomorrow at the Kells Lane Fair in Low Fell, Gateshead.

Using the back garden - the mini greenhouse

For the first time, we have made the back garden of our house earn its keep. The patio is now full of pots and bags growing vegetables. The lawn has been turned over to a polytunnel. We have also installed a mini greenhouse on the patio which is currently full.

More quail eggs

The quail chicks we hatched in March have now matured. True to their productive form, they have started laying. We are now getting between 16 and 24 eggs a day. Looks like we will be having more quail egg salads.

Dehorning Whinnie

Whinnie, the goat kid we have been raising by hand, has been dehorned as we have decided to keep him. He was bred for meat but we have put so much effort into keeping him alive that we can't bring ourselves to have him slaughtered. He will of course need to earn his keep but we aren't sure yet how he will. We had already selected a billy kid to service the nannies. Whinnie is so used to being with people that he could have a role going to shows and fairs. There's plenty of time yet to decide. However, his days as a house goat are about to end. Tonight he will be staying overnight on the livestock allotment for the first time.

More chicks

The gold top hen that went broody last month abandoned her eggs after a few days. We think the problem was the weather. We had some heavy rain and it leaked into the nest box. The positive news is that she adopted 4 chicks we hatched in the incubator. Mother and chicks are doing well.

Willow herb

The willow herb has been growing well but until recently we have resisted picking it to feed to the goats. Last week, this very common weed had grown sufficiently for us to start picking it. The goats love it and they eat both leaves and stalk.

Cropping the weeds

Our Farside allotment still had patches of weeds, mainly goose grass, brambles and nettles. They are an ideal fodder crop for the goats and are now part of their daily diet.