I always write about the trials and tribulations at Yellingham, and a day never goes by without an incident or two…sometimes three. But this month, something different. I am an avid reader of farming books and novels, and I love reading snippets from authors who are not of my generation but who are farming people from generations past. Being one of the few farming families now in and around Payhembury who only farm 45 acres, we are often considered “uneconomic, too small to count” and, dare I use the word, “hobby farmers”. To us, farming 45 acres of beautiful Devon countryside is an absolute privilege and one of the best decisions we have ever made.
So going back to the books, I was reminded of our decision to buy Yellingham Farm when I read this written by G.A Squires in a book called The Small Farmer:
“The inherent capacity of the English country labourer for making the most of a self-occupied acreage of land ought to be encouraged in every possible way; it is a national asset of immeasurable value. What is more, the independent small cultivator of this type is potentially very much more efficient than the large farmer……the best internal security for our future lies not in the Bank Balance but in the Fertility Balance.”
In today’s world, this might not stand the test of time, but in my opinion, we play a part.
Moving on, my beautiful Jacob and Black Welsh Mountain sheep still bring me (and I hope our customers) much joy.
But there is one 4-legged friend who helps me more than anyone in making that a pleasure…. Ralph, my sheep dog, who makes my job easy. But even his expertise and skill gets heavily tested at lambing time when he is not the favourite with my ewes who have lambs at foot.
So to finish my contribution to this month’s wonderful Payhembury Parish Magazine, another quote from the “Shepherds Calendar” written by John Clare:
“As a sweet pledge of Spring the little lambs
Bleat in the varied weather round their dams…
While the old yoes bold wit paternal cares
Looses their fears and every danger dares
Who if the shepherds dog but turns his eye
And stops behind a moment passing bye
Will stamp draw back and then their threats repeat
Urging defiance wi their stamping their feet
And stung wi cares hopes cannot recconsile
They stamp and follow till he leaps a stile….”
Yes, it happens! Janet
PS The spelling above is correct – spell check hated it!
