Farming & Environment

32 New Stour & Avon, October 8, 2021 Farming & Environment A Day at the Farm...

with Tiffany Fleming

Columnist Tiffany Fleming is a volunteer at High Mead

Farm in Longham, Ferndown

High Mead Farm is a working farm run to promote the benefits of engaging with animals, soil, and nature. They ‘create purposeful roles for our co-farmers, young people and adults alike, to help bring about a sense of well-being and self-worth that many have never experienced before’. The high from the High Mead Harvest Fayre has inevitably resulted in a bit of a post-party downer. The fun has been had but there are still jobs to be done. The rhythm of the farm has returned to a slower, less exhilarating pace. We are all thankful that the event was such a success. Much like harvest itself, the ability to maintain the farm through the quieter months relies heavily on the amount gathered in during autumn. With fewer Co-Farmers and visitors in wintertime, shorter days and an increase in the amount of animal feed required, the outgoings, like the workload, escalate. Lockdown limited the farm’s usual fundraising efforts, so we are extremely mindful that the winter months are likely to prove challenging and a little lean. Farm Fact We Plough the Fields and Scatter, a hymn commonly associated with harvest festival, was written by Matthias Claudius in German, and published in 1782. It was translated into English by Jane Montgomery Campbell in 1861. It transpires that during September I was unable to plant anything at the farm without it playing on a continuous loop in my head!

Whilst I have not yet experienced a winter at High Mead, it is already clear to me that the staying power of the farm’s staff and hardcore volunteers will be essential to its success. The more we can squirrel away in terms of goodwill and hard cash to see us through the winter months, the better. With regards to produce, we still have tonnes of tomatoes, and good pickings of peppers and chillies. The pumpkins are ripening and the leeks are just coming into their own. My job for the day was planting carrots –“carrots?” I hear you cry… well, yes! The beauty of the poly tunnel is that we can defy the usual laws of nature and extend the growing season, giving us a wider spread of seasonal veg. We don’t claim to be able to rival the supermarkets in terms of variety but as our produce is picked and placed within our farm shop within just a few minutes, we certainly don’t have any delivery issues to worry about! I cannot imagine how tough it is for those farmers who have not enjoyed the best of harvests, to then be struck by supply or transport issues, or worse still, both. Farming can be a lottery and although we can improve our hand by working hard and conscientiously, there are many outside influences and factors that are beyond our control. Perhaps that element of gamble is also its appeal, the knowledge that putting our faith into doing something really well, will give us the best chance to beat the odds and reap the rewards. Fingers crossed! n highmeadfarm.org.uk

Urgently wanted COWS COWS COWS

To receive top price for all barren cows. Brookfield Livestock Marketing Limited. Payment on the day of purchase. Haulage arranged 07811 381 159

STAYING POWER: The team at High Mead Farm are getting ready for the winter

WANTED

Yard for beef cattle. Autumn start. 120/150 head with feed + straw + labour On headage payment basis. 07811 381 159

ETS Truck & Van are pleased to announce their appointment as a Mercedes-Benz Unimog Dealer at their Blandford Branch. Extensive parts stock and full tool and equipment inventory ensures that we can provide a first class service for the No 1 all-terrain vehicle available today.