Turner TopAdrienne Farm Kerr
This book follows the day to day life of Richard Greenwood, the owner of Turner Top Farm, who is joined by John Greenwood, his father, and George Greenwood, Richards 13 year old son. He runs the farm with John, and Richards children are always there to help out too. Even the youngest at 7, Richards daughter Mary has been taken up to the farm since she could walk. I have a lot of respect for Richard, especially since spending time with him and experiencing his life first hand, because he is so passionately dedicated to his work and he has such a drive to keep his farm in top condition and the animals expertly cared for. It’s not so much work for him, but a way of life. Farming isn’t for the faint hearted though, as Richard explains he never takes a day off and very rarely goes on holidays. Christmas is an exception but he’ll still take time out to do his daily duties. The mornings are always early and the days are long but it all seems nothing to Richard as he loves his job and you can see that the second you start talking to him. I wanted to capture that love and determination through pictures and hopefully this book lets it shine through.
Many thanks to Richard, John and George.
While the average teenage boys would have been going out with their friends or sat in their room trying to level up on a game, George, now 13, spent time teaching himself how to drive. ‘I’m more of a practical person’, he explains. As I sat in the quad buggy trying to get to grips with the fact a 13 year old is at the wheel, he drives us confidently along the fields and practices tricky manoeuvres through narrow fences and muddy ditches to get to the sheep. ‘I’ve always wanted to be a farmer when I grow up’ he says. ‘What about the early starts?’ I question. ‘I don’t mind them’, he pauses a second to change gear, ‘I’m used to it and I’d much rather do this than be stuck behind a desk for the rest of my life.’ Can’t argue with that.
A sheep stands on the wall just before jumping down onto the road. Others follow in a line and walk to the farm seemingly unfazed by the cars piling up behind them.
‘I noticed there aren’t any other animals apart from sheep, are you planning on getting any cows or pigs?’ ‘No, we used to have cows but I got rid of them.’ ‘Why, were they too expensive to keep?’ ‘No, I just don’t like them. Mary my granddaughter keeps asking for a horse. Don’t think it’s going to happen. We’ll think about it.’
Its half 7 in the morning and I
Richard. ‘I don’t blame them,’
join Richard as he’s mixing the
he laughs whilst swirling the
solution in preparation for the
water to make sure they’re
sheep dipping happening later.
fully saturated. ‘I wouldn’t like
I look around at the sheep and
to be in there, It’s freezing but
they seem relaxed, for now.
their coat keeps the cold out.’
Richard finishes up with his
Sheep dipping is a necessary
mix and crouches down to
part of the sheep’s life as it
pour it into the water. The
washes away any parasites
white liquid slowly disperses
which keeps the sheep in
and dilutes which means it’s
good health. ‘Right, they’re
time to get the sheep. The
done now’ he says and then
sheep seem to know what’s
opens the gate at the side
coming as they all rush to hide
of the bath and guides the
in the corner. Grabbing the
sheep towards it with a pole.
back of the sheep and carefully
They see the opening and
guiding its head, Richard leads
bound out, shaking the excess
them to the pool , helps it in
water off. Richard repeats
and follows with the second
this process until all sheep
sheep who seems less willing
are bathed and parasite free.
to go quietly. I notice they don’t seem comfortable with being forced into the much needed bath and point this out to
The sheep are collected in a pen and then selected two at a time to be given an early morning dip, which is used to get rid of harmful parasites.