We have been very active at Glenkilrie with a busy summer schedule including navigating varying phases of Covid restrictions. Even with all social events and summer shows cancelled, Andrew and I look back over our summer and often wonder how we would have managed everything in a “normal” year.
We are fortunate to have isolated as a unit on the farm and due to the Larder have been on the road, seeing lots of people even though from a social distance. The signage for our fridge box arrived and now you can’t miss us on the road!
Finally, we have planning permission to change the access where Glenkilrie Larder is situated. Once this is done and access is safe we will be able to work more like a shop!
Picking up from the last newsletter, the silage was eventually cut, albeit 3 weeks later than usual. Potentially a blessing as it gave the men plenty time to finish the new drainage system prior to commencing two other projects.
The first, was to concrete the cattle pens. Initially the intention had been to patch the worst bits, however it was calculated more effective to rip up and start again. Andrew was in his element as he loves any chance to use the digger.
The second was to construct a deer handling system. The first part was completed in the knick of time! The stags velvet had peeled exposing the hard antler and our Jock had an impressive 19 points this year. Andrew didn’t much fancy getting chased with those weapons!
The handling system has still to be completed but was operational enough to de-antler stags, tag all calves and give the hinds their annual fluke and worm dose, along with a mineral bolus.
Lambs have been performing well. We made the decision not to take a second cut for silage from our red clover and instead have been finishing early season lambs on the crop.
The next job on the calendar for the cattle is pre-weaning vaccinations. Due to start next week, to allow the calves the time to gain immunity to the bugs they may encounter over the winter months.
Everyone at Glenkilrie takes great pride and pleasure in the other wildlife on the farm and they have been in abundance this summer with many resident Red Squirrels, Hedgehogs, thousands of Swallows, Black Grouse and Partridge to name a few.
