‘Solo’ the piglet

As you can probably guess from the name – we had just one piglet!
Not sure why we only had one, the mother ‘Bubbles’ was healthy, possibly a little overweight and it was her first time, but a surprise. ‘Solo’, named for obvious reasons, had to come into our house as she was literally freezing the night she was born and hadn’t got the hang of feeding and then Bubbles’ milk didn’t come in so we’ve ended up bottle-feeding little Solo. She is very cute and very friendly. She lives with her Mum but is still fed by me. 

‘Max’ the boar, is coming back today so we can have another go with Bubbles.

As Solo obviously isn’t going to keep us and our campers in bacon and sausages (and we’re possibly too attached to her now anyway), we bought some weaners to fatten up.

In the media…

So far 2019 has been an amazing year for media publicity. First, I (sarah) appeared on ‘Escape to the Country’ where a couple were looking to move to Somerset and keep a few goats. Shortly after that, I was the ‘meet the farmer’ slot on BBC radio somerset – a week of interviews in their evening show. I was then featured in Cornish Mutual’s Real Food Heroes campaign

https://www.somersetlive.co.uk/special-features/couple-realise-dream-owning-goat-2708166

 

 

 

which was featured on Somerset Live and in the Wells Journal. So obviously by this time its just all going to my head and I’m wondering if I need to contact an agent! But then the biggest is yet to come…. we have just had our first filming block for a new family farming series for channel 5. Probably not out til late 2019 or 2020 but watch this space…

Summer farm activity days

Holiday activity club – Summer holidays – we’re back with more dates

Help milk the goats, feed the goats, learn about taking care of farm animals, nature walks, outdoor art and crafts, games

“Farm and Outdoor activity days”

Date: August dates – 6th (spaces), 7th (spaces), 8th (full), 29th (full), 30th (spaces)

Time: 8.30am – 3pm

Where: Wookey Farm, Wookey, BA5 1DT

Cost: £25

Ages: most suited to 5 – 9 year olds (although up to 12 years is fine)

Notes: Please bring welly boots, old clothes, waterproofs and a PACKED LUNCH

Places are limited!

Leaders: Tasha Isaac (Sarah’s sister) who has 20 years’ experience working with children in sports, as an LSA and on forest school activities, and Lucy Neeve, art teacher and founder of BigArt.

Book 3 or more days for a 15% discount

Location: Wookey Farm, Monks Ford, Wookey BA5 1DT – 01749 671859 / 07779 145441 Info: email [email protected].

    Days to attend

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    By checking the box below I confirm I am aware that the staff accept no liability for any loss, damage to property or injury arising as a result of my child's participation. I know of no medical reason why my child should not participate. I consent to any emergency medical treatment necessary during the course of the activity session. Completion of this form does not guarantee a place on the course as spaces are limited.

    Please note your booking won't be finalised until payment has been made.

    Farm and Forest School

    Holiday activity club – fully booked. More to follow in the summer.

    Help milk the goats, feed the goats and ‘kids’, learn about taking care of farm animals, nature walks, outdoor crafts, games

    “Farm and Forest School”

    Date: Friday 6th April 2018

    Time: 8.30am – 3pm

    Where: Wookey Farm, Wookey, BA5 1DT

    Cost: £25

    Ages: 5 – 11

    Notes: Please bring welly boots, old clothes, waterproofs and a PACKED LUNCH

    Places are limited!

    Leader: Tasha Isaac (Sarah’s sister) who has 20 years’ experience working with children in sports, as an LSA and on forest school activities

    INTRODUCTORY OFFER: Siblings half price

    Location: Wookey Farm, Monks Ford, Wookey BA5 1DT – 01749 671859 / 07779 145441 Info: email [email protected].

     

    How to become a pig farmer?

    …. have a friend who needs to re-home some pigs!

    2017 has seen us take on a new venture as pig farmers. Just 2 sows, which I think will be plenty on top of all the other animals. We are delighted to have re-homed Blossom and Bramley from New McDonalds Farm in Wiltshire. They were looking for a different breed but couldn’t bear the thought of these lovely, and still young, sows going for the chop.

    They are both Gloucester Old Spots and have a lovely docile temperament, although don’t get in the way of Bramley and her food! We are borrowing a boar to do the business and then hopefully have our first piglets in summer 2017.  

    Meanwhile as we have pretty much run out of pork and sausages, we have done our usual thing of buying a couple of weaners to fatten up for meat. 

     

     

     

     

    Christmas Experience 2016

    Following on from last year’s hugely successful Christmas Experience, its back! Come and join us on Tuesday 20th December at 4pm on a journey to Bethlehem, to a stable with a very special baby. And a few goats too! And hopefuly Mr Pickles if he’s behaving.

       

    Followed by some warming mulled cider and mince pies – undercover this year so no one need get wet.

     

    Building a house

    Have realised I haven’t updated the earlier post of “hoping to build a house”…. all good news –  We were given our full outline planning permission this summer. We’ve recently appointed an architect and are working with him on the design. This will then get submitted to the council for approval and then we can start building! 

    New packaging

    We have new packaging – look out for it in all the farm shops and delis across Somerset. Big thank you to our wonderful graphic designer Catherine Hornsby-Smith. We’ve named our cheeses after various local places such as Burcott, Ebbor Gorge and Yarley.

    Group_DSC02935_ret

     

    Hoping to build a house…

    We have been at Wookey Farm now for five and a half years and are fast out growing the mobile home. Ali and Edward are growing and so is their stuff!

    We feel the time has come to apply for a house, as the process from applying to having a roof over our heads could easily take another couple of years.

    Our application was registered into Mendip’s system on Wed 16th March and should be decided within 8 weeks (This is just for outline planning permission to see if we can have a house. No drawings/plans submitted at this stage) Planning Reference – 2016/0459/OTS

    If you would like to write a letter of support, that would be fantastic and much appreciated. Deadline – 28th April 2016. Please send direct to:
    Miss Lynsey Bradshaw, Planning Department, Mendip District Council, Cannards Grave Road, Shepton Mallet, BA4 5BT

    You can see the full application on the Mendip Planning Portal but here’s a summary:
    – We’ve been here for 5 ½ years, building up our dairy goat farm
    – We process all milk on site, making a range of cheese, bottled milk, cream, yoghurt
    – Have made a successful, profitable business from the dairy goats which is supplemented by income from campsite and meat
    – Currently employ 6 locals who work part time helping with goats, processing, markets and general building and maintenance
    – Benefit the local economy through campers going to local pubs and café and through providing jobs for local people
    – Benefit the village by getting more people into the countryside, finding out about farming and cuddling baby goats!
    – Open the farm for ‘Open Farm Sunday’ and to school visits, including very successful Christmas Experience
    Thanks,
    Ian and Sarah

    2016 kids…

    We’ve had a busy February with the first batch of goats kidding. An attentive mum licking her new born kid. A heap of kids keeping warm under a heat lamp on that hideously wild and windy day last Monday. And 3 kids feeding from our multi-feeder. It can take a couple of goes to get the hang of it, but these 3 have sussed it out.

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