Blue Tongue to Tomatoes

We have found ourselves slap bang in the middle of the bluetongue outbreak that exploded a few weeks ago.

Vaccine was scarce but we managed to get enough to do a first run through the herd except for five cria that were under a month old.

A week ago we got a couple more bottles of 100 doses from the vet so next week is second dose time for everyone. Alpacas and cattle appear to be less affected by the virus but sheep get very ill. Whilst some survive with appropriate care, many die. None of us have any real idea whether existing pregnancies will be lost. It has been a very difficult summer.


Weirdly our alpacas went on eating the brown crunchy remains of the grass in our fields ignoring the hay. But then it rained – a lot. Amazing how quickly one starts moaning about too much rain as the grass gets a real wiggle on and everything is green again.


I have loads of fleece to grade in the barn but have managed to freeze raspberries, blackberries and sloes (still haven’t bought the gin). A deer has eaten off the only survivor in my vegetable garden, the perpetual spinach but the tomatoes in the greenhouse have been amazing and still are. We are into ‘waste not, want not’ with the Bramley. How many cookers can Chas peel in front of the telly and how much apple sauce will fit in the freezers?

And now there is no sun, the sunflower is flowering!