Oink!

Well, in 3 - 5 weeks it looks like this will actually be happening, a couple of little weaners heading our way. Need to get on researching the fencing options and finding a pig ark, though initially we'll keep them in the barn to get used to us, and get them bucket trained.

I say 'we'. This is kind of mostly my idea, and will be my big project for the year (as well as the brewery, but then that's already built). For Mel it'll be the first polytunnel we hope to order next month as well.

Cute as they are, this IS for the freezer after 8 months or so fattening up. We eat bacon and pork, and pigs are one of those animals that are often treated badly on the commercial scale (like chickens, one of the reasons we keep our own for eggs). So at least this way we know they will have been cared for, fed well, given a good life while they're here.

Actually there's a dual purpose. Pigs are excellent for clearing ground, and we've got dense layers of grass, as well as things like dock and nettle, spread across our 12 acre field. The area around the very young orchard (and we'll keep moving their paddock to give them fresh areas, and also clear as much as possible) will then be workable for planting wildflowers, which will bring pollinators, which will in turn help the orchard.

The pigs are at Solsgirth Home Farm, which is only 2-3 miles from us, and Jan and Leigh were so nice, and so patient showing us round and answering daft questions. They also introduced us to their emus and rheas (they have a business called Big Bird Produce, though it's so much more than just that now), their cattle and sheep, a couple of llamas, an array of astonishingly handsome cockerels, peacocks, and utterly enormous turkeys (now there's an idea for future years).

They also run a monthly farmers market, so I got to talk to them about the brewery as well - see if it helps getting a foot in the door for a stall.

In that excited / anxious state of mind that comes from consideration of trying something completely and utterly new for the first time...