We held our first Introductory Scythe Course of the season on Saturday. With such good grass growth this spring, the course was full with a waiting list as well! Here is a nice summery of the day by one of the course participants, Bill Smith of “Growing Ruabon”. Course participants
Our first Introductory Scythe Course of the season is coming up on Saturday May 24th. While it is perfectly possible to become a good mower without going on a course, I thought I would let you know what we think can be gained by attending a course. Some people are
Yesterday we ran our second Apple Tree Grafting Workshop. The day started off with Phil looking at the reasons we choose to graft apple trees onto different root stocks. He went on to look at the principles of grafting, including sourcing root stock and grafting material, the grafting processes it’s
Yesterday was International Peening Day. For our part, we held a Peening and Sharpening Workshop. The rain came in steady waves all day, so I was very glad that the day was mainly spent in the comfort of the Red Barn, where Phil described and demonstrated the process of [popup
Sunday 6th April is International Peening Day. For our part, we are holding a Peening and Sharpening Workshop at the Dyfed Permaculture Farm Trust. Perhaps your blade is not cutting as well as it used to or it has picked up a few nicks and dents? Or maybe you want
Following on from last years grafting course at the Dyfed Permaculture Farm Trust, we have a small number of bare root apple trees for sale. All are on MM106 semi-vigorous rootstock and are varieties that have been selected to grow well in West Wales. Trees are £12 each, see below
The New Year is here and we have started putting together our 2014 course programme. There are our popular Introductory Scythe Courses and a Peening Workshop as usual, and another Apple Tree Grafting Workshop following on from the sucess of our first one last year. This year we are also
Right- windrows mown in the morning, Centre- Phil spreading hay mown the day before, Left-Hay racks Since our last Introductory Scythe Course on 18th August we have been hay making again, although in a different fashion to earlier in the season. The weather has not been classic settled hay making
Racks in Cae Mari Jones, some with canvas “hats” tied on Yesterday we finished putting the drier grass cut on the mowing day up onto racks, making 12 in the field in all. Today, I added some canvas “hats” to 5 of the racks, made from some bits of old
Mowing in Cae Mari Jones during the Social Mow We had a great time on our Social Mow and Hand Hay Making Day on Sunday. Eight people joined us mowing in Cae Mari Jones, ranging from experienced mowers to complete beginners. People were able to exchange mowing tips, and a
Deciding if the hay mowed on the course on Wednesday is ready to cart This morning we spread the “mini-windrows” from yesterday to ensure there were no green bits tucked in the middle. By this evening, it was ready to cart. We have left some on the field to use
“Mini-windrows” on Cae Mari Jones The hay from the Top Field is all in the barn and we are now working on Cae Mari Jones. The weather is still set fair, and we have been using a a different technique with rows to make it easier to fit the hay