What's New

16th January 2012

A beautiful sunny day again. Frosty to start and then brightening up. Fantastic!

6th January 2012

Dolly has just finished farrowing with her first litter. 7 lovely looking piglets!!!

1st January 2012

Happy New Year!!!!

We've had a wonderful Christmas time, with family and friends visiting. I hope you have too.

Here's looking forward to an exciting New Year - Dolly is due to farrow in the next few days.

26th December 2011

A very Merry Christmas to you all. Have a wonderful time.

19th December 2011

More pictures on our Facebook page.....Ford Mill Farm.

15th December 2011

GOS Pork Boxes will be ready to leave here next Wednesday, for delivery on Thursday 22nd December. At least 10kg of beautiful GOS pork products.....You choose what you would like, or let me know what kind of joints/cuts/sausages/bacon you like and I'll make up a box for you. Only £65, which includes FREE delivery to mainland UK.

9th December 2011

Ellen farrowed last night. 13 piglets! What a litter.

She is doing very well and the piglets are feeding well and even ventured outside today - in the short time it wasn't raining!

We've had a lot of rain recently and the ground is very muddy. Hoping for a dry day tomorrow.

Still time to put your orders in for Christmas pork.

22nd November 2011

Ellen is now in a farrowing area ready for her due date on 5th December. She does like to have a little time to herself before the big day. She is looking really well.

We are taking orders for pork, hams, sausages, chipolatas, sausagemeat. bacon etc for the week beginning 19th December.

There is still free delivery to Mainland UK. Let us know your requirements before 17th December please.

5th November 2011

Orders now being taken for delivery on Friday 18th November. Sausages, chipolatas, bacon and sausagemeat. As well as all the usual flavours, our special this month is Port and Cranberry.

Free UK delivery for orders over £45.00.

24th October 2011

It's very wet here today. The roads are flooding and the pigs are staying in their arks.....It must be wet!

Spent some time today working on our website.....What do you think of the 'new look'?

Pork boxes are available this week....Free delivery to Mainland UK, they will be leaving here on Thursday and will arrive with you on Friday. Please email, or call, with your requirements.

15th October 2011

It was a chilly night last night, but the sunrise this morning was beautiful. There are pictures on our Facebook page if you would like to take a look. Ford Mill Farm.

14th October 2011

Dottie had an adventure last night. She managed to get her gate off it's hinges and go on a walkabout. There were trotter prints in the mud everywhere!!! When I called her she followed me back to her pen, none the worse for her adventure.

Primrose, who was in the same pen, was fast asleep and missed the whole thing.

Some different fixings on the gate today and all should be well. We have a new escape artist!!!

All is well with the pigs and chickens. It's been really wet here so lots of mud for them to play in.

We're hoping for some dry weather soon so that we can get the arks moved into their new places before the winter comes.

3rd October 2011

We all had a wonderful time at Mum and Dad's Party on Saturday. The weather was fantastic and we were joined by lots of family and friends from all over the country and further afield too.

Spent the last 2 days clearing up and tidying away. The pigs, chickens and dogs all enjoyed the extra attention on Saturday and it seems very quiet here today now that we are back to 'normal'.

It's time to wean the litters, so Primrose, Dottie and Poppy will move into a pen together for a few weeks before joining Jerry.

I'm never in any rush to get the girls back into pig. It's nice to give them a little time, and TLC.

Worming time again, so will get that done this afternoon.

27th September 2011

Preparations are well under way for Mum and Dad's Golden Wedding Anniversary party on Saturday. Over 70 family and friends will be joining us here at Ford Mill Farm for the celebrations. The marquee will be in the yard, with a hog roast and live music. It should be a wonderful day - the weather looks as though it's going to be good too!!

We will also be celebrating James, Chris and Rob's 21st and 18th which are all in the next couple of weeks.

10th September 2011

A very sad day here at Ford Mill Farm. Bluebell went off her feet last week, for no apparent reason. Just her front legs to start with, followed by her back legs too. Several different medicines didn't make any difference. The vets and fellow breeders were unable to help with any ideas of what it was.

I kept turning her every few hours and massaged her legs twice a day trying to get things going. In herself she was fine. Eating and drinking well and of course telling everyone else off....as only Bluebell knew how to.

We even lifted her in a sling a few times to see if we could get her legs working, but unfortunately this morning the time came to make the difficult decision to get the fallen stock man in.

So Bluebell is no longer with us. Those of you who have visited will know that Bluebell was my favourite (don't tell the others!). She was my first breeding girl and will always have a special place in my heart.

31st August 2011

We've had a busy few weeks. Lots of Helpx people here to help with work outside and with the gardens. It is all looking really lovely.

Most of the piglets are doing really well. One of the girls in Dottie's litter wasn't doing very well, but after a couple of courses of antibiotics she is back on her feet and running around with the rest of her litter. What a relief!

I picked up some new chickens today. I've decided to get some rare breed hens to add to the collection. They are Marsh Daisys. Wheaten, Brown and White and there are some Scots Greys too. They are settling in well.

Bluebell is now in a pen on her own. When she gets to a certain stage of her pregancy she likes to be on her own......and being Bluebell she will do anything at all to make sure she is on her own. This time she managed to take out a large gatepost to make her escape!

She didn't venture too far and when she found me she was content with a cuddle and belly rub before following me into her new pen.

She's happy there and we look forward to her litter which is due around 25th October.

9th August 2011

Poppy farrowed last night. She was a real star, and everything went very smoothly. She had an amazing 12 in her litter. Unfortunately we lost the last born. He gulped in some fluid with his first breath and even though I tried everything I could we lost him.

The remaining 11 are doing very well. Poppy is a natural Mum!

Lots of pictures on Facebook. You can find us on Ford Mill Farm - gos@fordmillfarm.co.uk.

7th August 2011

No sign of Poppy's litter yet. She's definitely ready!

We went to Clovelly on Friday evening, what a wonderful place. Well worth a visit.

4th August 2011

Well Dottie hasn't taken to 'mothering' as well as I might have hoped. Unfortunately we lost 3 of her litter over the first couple of days. She managed to squash them. She's settling down a bit now, and the remaining 7 are doing really well.

The new farrowing areas are finished and Poppy is in one of them now awaiting her first litter. I wonder how many she will have? Hope all goes well, she is due any day now.

27th July 2011

More piglets! Dottie had her piglets last night. They are a week early, but doing well. 10 lovely little spotties happy and healthy. Dottie is doing so well.

Primrose and her litter are doing well too. She was exhausted after her farrrowing, but is getting over it now.

The weather is fantastic this week. The hay is now cut and being turned every day. Should be ready to bale on Saturday.

25th July 2011

Primrose farrowed last night/this morning. A very long time and I had to call the vet at midnight. But Mum and Piglets all OK now. 4 in the litter, at a quick glance it looks like 2 gilts and 2 boars.

It's been a very long night!

16th July 2011

Primrose and Mary had a good journey and arrived safely last Sunday. Unfortunately Primrose was covered in lice! So she's had a few injections this week to get rid of them and to help with her breathing. She is a lot better now and looking ready to have piglets soon.

Both of them are really friendly, lovely pigs. They will fit in well here. I'm keeping them in isolation for 3 weeks just to make sure they don't pass anything onto the other pigs.

Dave is going to start work on the farrowing areas this week. It will be good to have all 3 ready for next weekend, when it will be time to move Dotty and Poppy into them.

10th July 2011

Primrose and Princess Mary are arriving today. Dave has gone to Wisbech to pick them up. A long journey, but will be worth it.

Primrose is due to farrow soon, so some more piglets on their way.

Dotty and Poppy are due to farrow at the beginning of August too. An exciting time ahead.

3rd July 2011

Thank you to everyone who sent me birthday wishes yesterday, I had a wonderful day.

The sun is shining and it is a beautiful day here today. The forecast is good for tomorrow too, so I think haymaking will start this week.

Some of Bluebell's weaners are off to their new homes this week too. We are going to keep 2 gilts.

Dave picked our new (well new to us!) digger up on Friday. It will be really useful for the upkeep of the pens and land. We are going to put concrete 'aprons' in each of the pigs pens over the summer, so that by the time winter comes there will be nice dry areas for the pigs to be on. They will be good places to feed on too, and much easier to walk to the arks when the weather is not good.

26th June 2011

After some very wet and misty weather recently we've had a beautiful sunny day today. Clear blue skies - fantastic!

I took the opportunity to get into the pigs' pens for some belly rubs and cuddles.....and to freshen up the arks and put new straw in them.

Bluebell was ready to leave her piglets, so I got everything ready to move her in with Jerry. She ran down the lane to him so fast I couldn't keep up with her! So she's settled in with him this evening and her piglets are happily cuddled up together in their ark. Another successful weaning!

We had more brown trout delivered yesterday for the lake. It is such a beautiful evening we are going to take a drink down there and watch the sun go down. Will be nice to see the fish jumping and enjoy the peace and quiet.

19th June 2011

A lovely day today. More showers forecast for the week, so managed to get lots of outside jobs done today.

I've ordered my smoker. Really looking forward to experimenting with hot and cold smoking.

I'm trying out a new recipe for gammons. I've put 6 into the brine. Just 15 days to wait to find out how they turn out!

14th June 2011

Well Sunday was a wash out, it didn't stop raining all day! The weather is a lot better today, the sun is shining and things are drying out a bit now.

I've been busy packing the sausages we made yesterday. They are all in our new display freezer in The Shippen. It looks fantastic.

11th June 2011

The Shippen is nearly finished! The freezer was put in place this morning and the granite work surfaces arrive on Tuesday.

To celebrate that....and Open Farm Sunday tomorrow we are going to have a Sausage Sale!!

If you are in the area pop in this week to see us. Visit the pigs and see what special offers we have.

Look forward to seeing you.

7th June 2011

Had a great day at the Bath and West Show last Friday. I will get the feedback soon from the Sausage Tasting. Initial results are really encouraging. Everyone loved the flavours. It really does make a difference that we blend our own seasonings. Only the best pork and ingredients go into our sausages.

2nd June 2011

Getting everything ready to take to the Bath and West Show tomorrow. It should be a great day.

More pork available the week beginning 13th June - Special offer of free delivery to Mainland UK.

The Shippen is coming along. The units are now in and floor tiles down. It's going to be lovely when it's all finished.

27th May 2011

We will be at the Bath and West Show next Friday, 3rd June, doing a Sausage Tasting. If you are at the show on that day please say hello.

Pork will be available for delivery or collection next week. We are running a 'Special Offer'.....Free delivery to Mainland UK for 1/2 pig, Sausage Taster Box or GOS Taster Box.

Please let me know if you would like more details.

22nd May 2011

Bluebell's piglets are growing really well. She is a fantastic Mum.

The Canada Goose goslings are growing strong too.

The two Muriel gilts, Poppy and Muriel, are in-pig. So more piglets due at the beginning of August.

10th May 2011

Bluebell has had her piglets!!! She began farrowing on Sunday evening and by 4am yesterday morning had produced 9 lovely spotty piglets.

Mum and babies doing really well.

6th May 2011

We had a huge storm here last weekend. Lots of thunder and lightning struck close by.

The last week has brought some new lives at Ford Mill Farm.

The Canada Goose goslings hatched last weekend, just in time to be on the water before the boys built a bridge across to the island.

We got a new puppy too this week. Hector, the basset hound. He really is a sweet little man. Phoebe wasn't too sure to start with, but they were cuddled up together sleeping last night.

Bluebell's piglets are due at any time. She's looking ready to burst! They should make an appearance over the weekend.

14th April 2011

I've been looking after a young dove, who fell out of his/her nest at a neighbours farm. Always willing to look after waifs and strays I've spent some time bring him on and this week put his box outside so that he could try flying. The first day he spent wandering about the garden and came back to his box at night, then the second day he took his first flight. How amazing!

We've been busy in the butchery this week. We needed to replenish our stocks in the freezer, so lots of sausages and some new flavours too.

We're now taking orders for delivery 25th April.

Nearly time for Bluebell to move into a farrowing area. She's looking very round, but hasn't slowed down too much yet....but then she never really slows down! Not long to wait for those piglets.

Jerry has been busy with his new Muriel girlfriends. So possibly the sound of tiny trotters again at the beginning of August.......We'll find out in around 21 days time when they would be due in season again. If Jerry isn't interested then it's a good sign that there will be piglets.

5th April 2011

We've had a move around in all of the pens. Everyone has new paddocks to enjoy and explore while we rest the other pens.

Bluebell is enjoying being in pig and I'm looking forward to seeing how many piglets are in her litter. She is looking very round! She is due around the 4th May, so not long to wait now.

A pair of Canada Geese have set up home on the island. Mrs Canada Goose has got a lovely nest that she is sitting on. I'm trying to be about when they change over duties, to see how many eggs are there, but I haven't managed to see yet.

I wonder if they are the same pair from last year?

The mallard ducks are nesting around the smaller pond, so goslings and ducklings in the next few weeks.

25th March 2011

We've had some fantastic weather over the last few weeks. Everything is drying out and Spring is definitely in the air.

This week started with sad news. Unfortunately Rosie had a stroke on Monday, I called the vet in but unfortunately there was nothing we could do to help her. So I'm sorry to say that Rosie is no longer with us.

We've had some ups and downs with Rosie since she came here at the beginning of last year, but with the arrival of her litter we thought that we were at the beginning of the best times with her. So, so sorry to see her go. All very sudden, but at least she didn't suffer.

All the other pigs are doing very well and enjoying the sunshine. We have two new arrivals - gilts from the Muriel line. Gerry is very pleased with his new girlfriends and didn't waste any time in getting to know them.

14th March 2011

Ellen and her piglets are doing really well.

A few showers this week, and a couple of frosts, but during the day the sunshine has been beautiful.

The Roe deer are about, they are enjoying running and playing in the bottom fields.

There is a real feeling of Spring in the air.

8th March 2011

Ellen has had her piglets!!!!!! Ellen and her litter are doing very well.

All the pigs are enjoying the beautiful sunshine today. Digging holes and laying in the sun.

The land is drying out nicely and still nice and soft for the pigs to enjoy running around and playing together.

Rosie has got a little fed up of her piglets. They are 6 weeks old tomorrow, so we'll move Rosie out tomorrow. The piglets are getting most of their nutrients from Rosie's food, and their creep feed now. Lovely chunky piglets ready for weaning.

They will be ready to go to their new homes in 2 weeks time.

23rd February 2011

The first pork of the year will be ready the week beginning 21st March. Orders can be collected from here, or delivered locally.

If you live further afield we can arrange overnight delivery to you, this is free for orders over 100.00.

Joints, sausages, dry cured bacon, sausagemeat, mince, burgers all available.

2nd February 2011

Rosie has had her piglets!!! Which is fantastic news considering all the ups and down we have had with Rosie in the last year. So at only just 2 years old Rosie has become a Mum for the first time.

Four lovely, healthy, happy piglets. Mum and babies doing very well.

It looks as though Bluebell is in pig again, so more piglets due at the beginning of May.

18th January 2011

It's been a lovely dry, sunny day here today. Hooray!!! The first for such a long time. All the pigs' paddocks are very muddy in places.......Lots of muddy pigs here. I fill all the arks with lovely dry straw in the afternoons and the pigs snuggle up for the night muddy from head to foot, by the morning the mud has dried and rubbed off of them. They appear in the morning very clean and ready for another day playing in the mud.

Hopefully the dry weather is here to stay for a few days, so everything should dry up a bit.

Bluebell went on a bit of a wander yesterday evening. She managed to squeeze under one of fences....I suspect she was rooting around near the fence and got a bit carried away and found herself the other side.

She had a lovely wander about, visiting the other pigs and saying hello. When she'd had enough she followed me back to her paddock. I opened the gate and she meandered back in with Gerry. He was still rooting around in the mud and hadn't even noticed she had gone!

2nd January 2011

Happy New Year!!

Lots of time spent today with the pigs. Moving some, and filling all the arks with
lovely clean, fresh straw.

Bluebell has now moved in with Gerry. Her piglets have grown really well. They are lovely, stocky girls and two of them look good enough to register. They are 12 weeks old now.

I took delivery of some new Registered stock today too. 2 Countesses and a Dolly. Really looking forward to seeing how they come on. It will be a few months before they are ready to visit Gerry.

All the snow has gone now and we're getting back to normal. Looking forward to some drier weather so that we can get started with some work on the paddocks.

27th December 2010

A very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you all.

We've had a wonderful Christmas. Very cold, snowy and white everywhere. Very pretty to look at, but very hard work.

The pigs are really enjoying the snow. Much easier for them to walk in than on the icy ground.

A little bit of a thaw this morning, so hopefully the taps outside will unfreeze (is that a word???) and make the rounds a lot easier this afternoon. Having to fill buckets indoors and tthen take them to each pig has become a bit of a chore.

All the piglets are growing well and looking great. Bluebell's litter are the next to be weaned sometime in the next couple of days, then just Lulu's to be weaned at the weekend. It really is amazing how quickly they grow and how they form they own personalities. Quite a few are looking good, we'll see how they look in a couple of months time. If they continue looking great then I will register them.

All the chickens are doing well, although with all this snow and ice about it has brought the fox around. He was sniffing around the chicken pen yesterday. I ran out side shouting, which scared him off. Phoebe, the basset hound, was of no use at all. She took a few steps down the garden and then decided it was a bit chilly and headed back indoors again!

5th December 2010

A cold and wet week here. All the pigs are doing well, although the very icy ground doesn't suit them. We've spent a lot of time clearing the ice to make sure it's safe and easy for them to walk on. They don't mind the cold and enjoy snuggling up in fresh straw every night in their arks. With their raised floors the arks are very cosy in the winter, and lovely and cool in the summer.....The ideal home for my pampered pigs!

The starlings are well and truly here now. When you see how many there are around here it's difficult to believe that they are a protected species.

We're looking at ways of covering the chicken run to stop the starlings getting in. They eat so much of the ladies food, and of course you never know what diseases they might carry. We're going to try the netting left from the fruit cage and see how that goes.

The piglets are all growing so quickly. Some have gone to their new homes and we still have Lulu's and Bluebell's to wean. I'm never in a rush to wean litters, I prefer to wait until Mum and piglets are ready. I find that usually between 8 and 10 weeks is about right.

No eggs yet from the new chickens. They aren't old enough yet. We're still getting a few eggs from the older ladies, but not enough to rely on at the moment.

14th November 2010

It's been a very, very wet week! Who thought it would rain as much as this in North Devon.

The new chickens are settling in well. 10 POL hybrids to join the other ladies. At this time of year chickens moult, and along with the shorter days this means less eggs being laid. So the new girls will help with the egg production when they start laying over the next couple of months. They have their own house in the chicken run and to start with didn't venture far from there. Now they have made themselves at home.

6th November 2010

Bluebell's piglets arrived. Unfortunately a very difficult farrowing and only 3 piglets survived. Bluebell had a tough time. She is now very well and her 3 little girls are doing very well too. They are feeding lots and growing strong. They are lovely looking girls.

Princess's piglets are nearly ready to be weaned. Keeping an eye on them and as soon as they are ready I will move Princess into the paddock at the other end of the field. I'm not keen on weaning too early, preferring to wait until they are all ready and then it is a less stressful time for all of them.

There is one boar and 3 gilts that are worth keeping an eye on to be Registered. I'm very choosy about stock which I Register. Only the very best will do.

24th October 2010

All the piglets are doing well. They are enjoying running around and playing in the mud. Then all huddle together for a big feed and a sleep....then back to playing again. They are so much fun to watch.

More piglets arrived last weekend. Lulu produced 7 piglets. They are from Buster and are very, very spotty. Absolutely gorgeous. Lulu is a very protective Mum and isn't too keen on many people taking a look. They are out and about in the sunshine now though, so plenty of opportunity to watch.

Bluebell is due to farrow again. Her milk looks as though it's coming in and she is busy making a nest, so I expect we'll have some more piglets in the next few hours.

8th October 2010

We moved Princess and her litter of 7 into a new paddock last night. To prevent anyone going for a run around we decided to move them in the trailer. No problem at all getting Princess in there....a bucket of food with some chopped up bananas did the trick! But the 7 mischievious piglets weren't quite so easy. I foolishly thought that getting Princess in there would be the challenge and then I thought the piglets would follow! Not that easy!!

We got there in the end and they are all exploring their new home. A bigger ark with lots of lovely fresh straw and beautful fresh green grass. Bliss!! Me? Well I ended up covered in mud from head to toe!!!!

2nd October 2010

Star farrowed last night. 12 beautiful, healthy, spotty piglets. They all look well and Star was fantastic.

Star's first litter earlier in the year wasn't very strong and Star wasn't well afterwards either. So after lots of TLC and getting her into good condition I decided to give her a chance at another litter.

I'm so glad I did. She is doing so well.....and 12 too!

20th September 2010

Pork will be available next week. Orders by 29th September please.

6th September 2010

Good news at last!!!! More piglets at here at Ford Mill. Princess has produced her first litter. 7 in total. 3 boars and 4 gilts. Gerry, our wonderful boar, is the proud father. His first litter too. More to follow over the next few weeks too

22nd June 2010

Wow, I can't believe it's been so long since I've updated this. Apologies if you have been looking to find out what's been happening.

We have had a few ups and downs since I last wrote. Best to concentrate on the ups!!!

The weather has been beautiful for a long time now. We've been making the most of the dry weather and the lovely sunshine. Lots of jobs outside. The new pig paddock is now ready. The grass is long and lucious, the new pig ark is built and ready so all prepared for Princess, Star and Bluebell to move there now they are in pig.

We are still waiting for Rosie's piglets! I bought her 'in pig', so it is difficult to know her exact dates. She is getting bigger by the day, and still very happy and comfortable. So it's just a case of waiting....and waiting! I was asking a local pig farmer what he thought and he, quite rightly, said....."They'll come when they are ready". So extra hugs and belly rubs for Rosie while we are waiting.

The runner beans and tomatoes are doing well. They love all this sunshine and lots of watering.

11th May 2010

Where is the time going? Must be a sign of my age!! We've had some wonderful weather recently. So lots of jobs have been done outside.

The butchery is now finished and the Environmental Health man came to give us the OK.

We took 3 girls to the abattoir last week and we have prepared all the joint orders ready for collection. Sausage and bacon making for the next couple of days.

The mallard ducklings on the lake have hatched. Only 3 of them and they are doing well. Although one of them is a very bright yellow colour, so very easy to spot.

The pigs are all well. Star has made a complete recovery and I will be moving her in with Jerry in the next couple of days.

Rosie still isn't looking very 'in pig', although another few weeks to go. Not unusual in a gilt, sometimes they keep it well hidden. I will be moving her into the farrowing pen during this week so that she has a bit of time to herself and plenty of rest before the big day.

21st April 2010

Another beautiful sunny week! Lots of outside jobs done. All the arks have had a spring clean and the pigs all moved into new paddocks.

The butchery will be finished this week and is being inspected next week. So our next lot of girls going off will be coming back here. Really nice to know that we can take the same care with the pork produce that we do with the livestock.

We will find out at the end of this week whether Daisy and Lulu are in pig. It will be very exciting if they are.

Rosie is looking very well, only just over a month now until the next pigets.

The pair of Canada Geese have made a home for themselves here. The lady has made her nest on the island on the lake and Mr Goose is wandering around and looking after her.

16th April 2010

Well Bluebell and Ellen came into season again, so Samson was hard at work again this week. Let's hope he's done the business this time!

The new boar, Buster, was also busy with Daisy and Lulu, so we might be having lots of piglets being born in August!

Star's two remaining piglets were 8 weeks old last Saturday, and were ready to be weaned, so we've had a move around of some of the pigs. The two little ones now have a pen to themselves and Bluebell's 5 girls are in a much bigger pen.

Buster, Daisy, Lulu and Rosie have really made themselves at home very quickly. They have settled in nicely to the bottom paddock. So a lovely big area and cosy ark for the four of them.

Rob is very excited to have found his ideal job for when he leaves school this year. He's been working at an Agricultural Contractors this week, and they have offered him a full time job when he finisheds school. Well done Rob!!!

A beautiful sunny week again this week, so making the most of it and getting lots of outside jobs done. The pens are drying out nicely, I even had to get the hosepipe out to create a few wallows!

8th April 2010

We had a wonderful Easter with our parents staying. A card from Buckingham Palace arrived for Jackie and Peter to celebrate their 60th Wedding Anniversary. We all had a great time.

I heard about a breeder who needed to sell his small collection quickly. So I've been on a couple of trips to pick up some new girls and a boy. They look wonderful and are really friendly. One of the girls is in pig, so all being well we will have piglets at the end of May.

The bloodlines are Princess, Dahlia and Patrick. So a great addition to our collection here. They are settling in really well.

It's lovely to see some sunshine again. The land was getting very wet and muddy from the rain we've been having.

The forecast is looking great for the next week, so we will make the most of it and get lots of outside jobs underway.

The butchery is coming along well. Dave will have all the tiling finished by this evening. So time to put the cold room together then and get everything ready for the next pork will be available from the 11th May. We will be able to make all orders up ourselves now so that we can offer our customers a very special, personal service.

30th March 2010

A much better week! Everyone is happy and healthy. We'll find out this week if Bluebell and Ellen come into season. If not, then Samson will have done his job and piglets will be due at the beginning of July.

I've found another 3 gilts to join the collection here. A Princess, who is in pig and due at the end of May, and 2 Dahlia's who are a year old. So will be excellent companions for Jerry, when he is ready.

So that will bring our breeding girls and boys up to a good number. I'm looking forward to meeting them and bringing them home on Sunday.

It's been a busy week outside. I've even started a bit of gardening too. Clearing the flower beds at the front to make it nice and tidy, and a nice welcome to visitors. Going to start on the new veggie patch too. I've never really done any gardening before, so a new adventure for me!

We've got our Mum's and Dad's visiting as it's Dave's parents Diamond Wedding Anniversary on Thursday (1st). 60 years!! I've arranged for a message from the Queen, which will be delivered on the day.

Congratulations Mum and Dad x

21st March 2010

Unfortunately the runt from Star's piglets passed away this week. He had been doing quite well with the supplement botlle feeds, but this week the two stronger piglets started picking on him and I knew that his only chance was to take him out and hand feed him. I stayed up with him, but he peacefully slipped away around 3am.

So only two piglets left from the litter now. They are looking strong and healthy. They are feeding well from Star and with the creep feed. Let's hope that there aren't any more losses.....It doesn't get any easier.

I'm helping out at the farm opposite this weekend. The farmers are having a well earned few days away.... Something that doesn't happen very often. I was very flattered to be asked if I would look after the young calves and lambs. Some are bottle fed, others have milk feeders.

It's a sunny day here today after a few days of rain, so I'm going to take the opportunity to clean out all the arcs and put in some lovely fresh straw. It will be good to get the chickens cleaned out too before the rain that's forecast for the next few days.

13th March 2010

A much better week! The sun has been shining, which has dried out the land so that we can get on with rolling the empty pens and completing the fencing.

All the pigs are doing well. Bluebell and Ellen came into season, so Samson has been very busy.

The piglets are growing well. There are a couple of gilts from Bluebell's litter that are looking very promising. If they continue like this they are likely to be good enough to register and to breed from.

Star's piglets are all well, even the smallest one is making progress. I've been supplementing his feeding with a bottle of Faramate. It's definitely making a difference.

Phoebe went to the vets yesterday for her 'pedicure'. Before moving here she was such a drama queen about having her nails cut that the vets used to have to give her a general anaesthetic! We have some wonderful vets down here though and the last two times they have managed to do them with a few treats and lots of fuss!! They certainly understand basset hounds.

The butchery is coming along well. The floor is now concreted and the cold room was delivered in the week.

8th March 2010

It's been a week of ups and downs.

The sausage and bacon making went really well! For our first attempt it's been fantastic.

All the orders were carefully vac packed and put into the insulated boxes ready for collection and delivery. The feedback has been great.

So next time we'll be able to prepare everything here.

The downside to the week has been that we lost one of Star's piglets. A very sad time. It wasn't the runt, which I had half expected, but one of the stronger piglets. It hadn't shown any signs of not being well, so I got the vets to take a look.

There weren't any obvious signs of cause, so we have to put it down to 'one of those things'. Not an easy time.

I picked up a new addition to the pigs on Sunday.....Samson! He's 4 1/2 and a very big and handsome chap. The livestock trailer looked small with him in there! He travelled well, but was very keen to get out and meet the ladies when we arrived back. Bluebell and Ellen were a little wary to start with. He's definitely in charge! By the time the evening came they all snuggled down together in the ark.

So if all goes well we will have piglets again in July.

28th February 2010

Rob came with me to pick our first breeding boar yesterday. We travelled to Yeovil and have brought home, Gerry. He's a stunning looking chap. 6 months old, so a few months before he's ready to 'work'.

He is settling in very well. I'm going to put the boar weaners in with him to keep him company for now. They will get on well until the weaners go off, then Gerry will be ready for his first ladies.

An even busier day than normal today. We're making our first sausages and bacon!

24th February 2010

Star's piglets are coming along very nicely. The little girl that was a bit unsteady on her feet seems to be getting stronger every day. She's feeding well and is even running about playing with her brothers and sister now. Still not completely right yet, but doing well.

There has been a bit of a delay for the weaners going to their new home. They are going next Saturday instead now. There are 4 from one litter and 6 from the other. They are all together now getting to know one another and playing in the mud. Piglets look so cute running and playing together, I could watch them for hours!

We've had a busy few days getting together the machines so that we can produce our own sausages and bacon now.

We took the three girls off yesterday. That never gets any easier! They were very relaxed in the trailer. Fast asleep when we left here and stayed that way until I shook the food bucket to get them out.

We are lucky that the abbatoir isn't too far from here. So a short journey and no waiting around at the other end. So very stress free.

I'm going to collect a lovely Gerald boar on Sunday. He's nearly 6 months old, and looks a lovely chap. Can't wait to meet him.

19th February 2010

Rob passed his tractor driving test today! I'm very proud of him.

The piglets are doing well, although I think the Mum has been a bit clumsy with one of them. She is not walking well on one of her back legs. Shee's feeding well and looks OK at the moment. So will keep an eye on him over the weekend.

Some of the weaners are off to their new home on Sunday. It will be a little strange to have 8 less of them about.

We had a slight flurry of snow earlier, but the sun is out now and it's a very nice afternoon.

15th February 2010

The new piglets are doing very well. There is a photo of them on the pictures page now for you to see.

14th February 2010

Happy Valentines Day!

Star's piglets have arrived!!! After a difficult time she has 4 beautiful piglets feeding well and snuggled up with her.

This week seems have been taken up with checking on Star every couple of hours and trying to stay awake. All worth it when you see those lovely piglets.

The ground is getting a lot drier now. Rob managed to get some grass cutting done this week. The pigs and chickens love the cuttings!

Will have to start thinking about the runner bean trenches soon. I've planned a new area for this year.

It feels like the moles are taking over the garden. Lots of mole hills appearing around the place. Any ideas of how to stop them would be appreciated!!!!

7th February 2010

The AI went well, we will wait for 21 days now to see if Bluebell comes into season.

Star's piglets haven't arrived yet. She had a good night's sleep...I checked on her every couple of hours. It's very exciting waiting for more piglets!

3rd February 2010

I shouldn't have written that we had been having lovely weather! It's been raining heavily ever since. Lots of mud and puddles everywhere. You can imagine how much the pigs are enjoying it! The piglets are covered from head to toe and loving every minute.

Star's piglets are due today.

Bluebell has come into season so going to try my hand at AI this afternoon....Wish me luck!!!!

1st February 2010

We've been very lucky with the weather recently. Lots of nice dry days. Chilly, but lovely to be working outside.

All the pigs and piglets are doing well. Bluebell was showing signs of getting fed up with her, now very big, piglets. So we moved her out and she is settling in well in her new paddock. The piglets are enjoying their new paddock too. A few of them even managed to escape today...out of the tiniest gap. Managed to get them back in again and reinforced the fencing.

The holiday cottage is newly decorated and almost ready for the next visitors. They arrive on Saturday. I hope the weather stays this nice for them.

New piglets are due on Friday!

23rd January 2010

What a beautiful sunny day today. A lovely sunrise and even saw the otters playing this morning. I've seen signs of them being around ever since we moved here, but never seen them before.

Spent the day outside today, starting the tidy up the gardens.

Cleaned out all the pig arks and put in lovely new straw. The pigs then spent the afternoon taking the new straw out and rearranging it all! Very funny to watch them.

The piglets are all growing well and beginning to show their individual personalities now.

The in pig gilts that are due in February are looking good.

Looking forward to another nice sunny day again tomorrow.

17th January 2010

At last all the snow and ice has disappeared! Rob finally got back to school on Wednesday.

We've been busy catching up on all the jobs outside that we couldn't do in the snow.

The pigs are enjoying playing in all the mud now. Covered from head to foot! The piglets weren't sure what to make of the mud to start with, but soon discovered how good it is to play in.

The hens are much happier now they can peck around in the grass, they have continued to lay around 10 eggs a day all through the cold weather.

Nearly time to wean Bluebell's piglets. She's just about ready to leave them and they are feeding really well on the creep feed. So a change around of paddocks for everyone in the next few days.

5th January 2010

We've had snow again in the night. Very chilly here today. When I went to open the henhouse this morning the chickens took one look outside and decided to stay in the warm. The pigs aren't too keen on the hard ground. They much prefer it softer and muddier to walk about. All the piglets are enjoying playing in the snow. They are all looking so cute.

We sexed the first litter yesterday. 7 girls and 2 boys! I will contact the BPA later to birth notify them. There are a few that might be good enough to register too. They are Bluebell x Rufus.

30th December 2009

The piglets are all doing well. The older ones are full of fun and even started eating a little 'proper' food with their Mum yesterday. Will start creep feeding them today. I wonder whether the younger ones will venture outside for the first time today? Ellen is settling into motherhood now, it's taken a few days! She is much more relaxed now.

24th December 2009

Christmas Eve! An exciting time here at Ford Mill Farm. Snow and frost around and 12 new piglets born this evening. Have a wonderful Christmas everyone!

19th December 2009

It's snowing here in North Devon! A beautiful sunrise followed a little later by some wonderful snow. Some of the pigs don't seem too impressed, but the other are out and about enjoying it.

17th December 2009

The piglets are now 4 1/2 days old and have been outside enjoying the sunshine this morning. They are growing bigger and stronger every day. More pictures in the pictures section.

Looking forward to Christmas now. Guests arriving on Saturday into the holiday cottage, so getting everything ready for them.

15th December 2009

The piglets ventured out into the sunshine briefly yesterday. They are all doing very well. It's amazing how much time I spend just watching them....They are amazing!

I've put a couple of pictures of Bluebell and piglets on here, take a look at the 'pictures' section.

13th December 2009

The first litter to be born here at Ford Mill Farm arrived last night. Bluebell had 9 beautiful little piglets!!!!

9th December 2009

A beautiful day here today. Bluebell is due to farrow any day now. She's been resting quite a bit over the last few days, but today seems more restless. Could this be a sign that the piglets will soon be here? We'll have to wait and see.

All the Christmas decorations are now up. The trees look wonderful and it's feeling very festive here. We're really looking forward to our first Christmas in Devon, with our family and friends.

Christmas cards are now all written, will get them in the post next time I go out.

8th December 2009

Had a great afternoon learning how to make sausages! Very exciting to think we will be making our own very soon.