24
Mar
Hey there hope you are all well,
Lambing 2019 is drawing to a close. I have really enjoyed it this year. Last night when I was sat having my brew at 3am my blog topic became obvious……
Before I share my thoughts I will give a 🆘 ‘save our sow’ update as it has been the most FAQ.
The best part about this update is that I no longer feel sick in my stomach at the thought of incinerating the mummy pigs but a huge warm glow that social media has worked we have all pull together as a team and given the mummy pigs some value 🥰
So all positive:
Helping feed local people (see news paper article below)
Ballakelly SOS 🆘 sausages at all time high – Support our Sow Sausages (SOS)
Local butchers and sausage manufacturers have been purchasing Manx sow trim
We have been given feed so can keep the sows longer
Close Leece have been developing a new range of charcuterie for the UK market using our sows (they have taken 3 since the original blog) – great teamwork guys thanks
Meetings with the Meat Plant to discuss a positive way forward for the pig industry
Agreed purchase of wheat which will last the pig herd until our next harvest
So let’s cross our trotters that 2019 harvest is a good year!!!
Back to blog……
Education for the next generation about where your food comes from and why you should care!!!
3 weeks ago Tinky’s year 3 from (spell school Alice at!!) invited us to school with the lambs.
Stood there in front of 90 8 year olds , I realised I had to explain why I had lambs at Ballakelly!!!
So I jumped straight in and asked the question and a little girl threw her arm in the air, so I asked her….. so we can have meat!! Bingo this was easier than 90 40 yr olds
Then I asked them why should they buy local food….
More arms in the air
Green miles
Better quality
Better animal husbandry
Wow they didn’t need me!!!
Then a young lad steered the conversation by shouting he knew how lambs were made!!!
Oh no farmer al talks to 90 8 yr olds about the birds and bees …. luckily Mrs Moore stepped in to help, I told them to ask Tinky those questions she has understood these processes from about 3!
Seriously though I left the school feeling happy the next generation are educated about what they eat and why they should care.
We donated 200 sausages so they could use their ramsey bakery bread and have a sausage bap after swimming, the next day in the yard I got lots of “great sausages farm al!!!!”
The last 2 weekends Ballakelly opened the barn doors on the lambing shed. We had a great time sharing the lambing experience with everyone. I have had loads of messages asking when are we doing more, unfortunately not until 2020, however I think we will open the gates at Easter 🐣 so join the WhatsApp then you can keep an eye out for the next visit.
Time to check the sheep, keep supporting local, if you don’t know why ask an 8 yr old!!
Al
