Tag: #Farmers

Lammas on 1st & Full Moon on 3rd

Lammas is celebrated on August 1st and is the first of the three harvest festivals (the Autumnal Equinox and Samhain being the others). The first fruits of summer are enjoyed. There are many festivals and ceremonies but throughout, there is a custom of climbing hills and mountains – we have Lewesdon hill our our doorstep 🙂

August’s Full Moon is on Monday, 3rd and is known as the Sturgeon Moon.  So called because the giant sturgeon of the Great Lakes and Lake Champlain in North America were most readily caught during this part of summer. It is also referred to as Full Green Corn Moon, signalling that the corn was nearly ready for harvest, Grain Moon, Fruit Moon, Barley Moon. Wheat Cut Moon, and Blueberry Moon.*

The word “sturgeon” means “the stirrer”, which is what this giant freshwater fish does when it is looking for food; it stirs up the mud and silt on river and lake bottoms.  The sturgeon is sometimes called a “living fossil,” as it belongs to a family of fish that has existed for more than 135 million years.
SturgeonIn ancient times, it was common to track the changing seasons by following the lunar month rather than the solar year, which the 12 months in our modern Gregorian calendar are based on.

*For millennia, people across Europe, as well as the Native American tribes, named the months after features they associated with the Northern Hemisphere seasons, and many of these names are very similar or identical.

#Broadwindsor #Dorset #WestDorset #Lammas #FullMoon #Sturgeon #LookUp #FirstFruits #Harvest #Celebration #StaySafe

 

 

Petition to Help Sheep Farmers Make a Decent Income From Their Fleeces

The 1000 wool fleeces in the photograph are about to be incorporated into the manure heap.
What a waste of a once valuable resource. A sustainable product that could be used to insulate homes for all government grant supported buildings.
Sheep farmers receive less for their wool than the cost of shearing the sheep. Last year David Jones, who is pictured with his wool above, received 28p a fleece and paid the shearer ÂŁ1. This year the value it set to drop by at least half. Hence he and many other farmer’s across the country, decision to plough their wool into the fields as fertiliser.

Wool is sustainable, fire-retardant, bio-degradable, and the most efficient form of insulation.

Read more and sign the petition HERE.

#Broadwindsor #WestDorset #Farmers #Sheep #Fleece #Petition

Procession for Harry Isaacs 7.30pm This Evening.

Harry Isaacs, the young farmer who tragically lost his life earlier this week, will be celebrated this evening by a tractor procession from Mosterton to Beaminster Square for a Memorial service and tributes from family and friends.

As you’d expect, things are subject to change but the plan is . . .

  • 6.45pm – Marshall meeting in Beaminster Square.
  • 7pm – Procession gathering in Mosterton.
  • 7.30pm – Procession departs Mosterton. Slow drive.
  • 8pm – Arrive in Beaminster Square
  • 8pm – Tributes and speeches
  • 8.30pm – Candles lit and one minute silence.
  • 9pm – Start to clear the Square

Please remember face coverings and social distancing where possible.
The Highways and Police are informed and are in full support of this but would respectfully ask that the town is cleared by 9.15pm.
You are invited to bring “Flags, flowers, photos, banners, candles, cheers and good vibes for this special young man and his family and all of us grieving at this very sad time.”
A true and fitting tribute to such a beautiful young man with the biggest smile of anyone we’ve ever known.
Hearts together.❤️

Harry’s Tribute Page is HERE.

The fundraising page for a Memorial Bench for Harry (with any surplus going to his parents) can be found HERE.

Memorial Bench Fund for Harry Isaacs

The young man who tragically lost his life was named as 20 year old Harry Isaacs.  Social media has been flooded with tributes to this hard working, popular, smiling farmer.
Jack Ruston has created a Fundraising page on behalf of Ollie Saloman-Carter, who had the brilliant idea of creating a memorial bench for him in Beaminster park.
At the time of publishing, they have achieved ÂŁ635 of their ÂŁ1,000 target.
If there are surplus donations – the money will be given to Harry’s parents to help towards funeral costs.
You can read more and donate HERE.

 

Bridport Police Issue Reminder Re: Farming Land

Bridport PoliceHere is a follow up to Andrew Frampton‘s comments (original post HERE) on 4th July issued by Bridport Police earlier today:
“Over the last few weeks there have been an increased amount of issues around the area with footpath gates being left open, damaged or taken off the hinges. It is not known why, but please remember that if livestock are able to escape their field, particularly close to main roads, this can have very serious consequences.
I would also like to remind people that gates shouldn’t be climbed on/damaged for this reason, but also because it could result in criminal damage. There have also been reports of fires being lit and left unattended in woodlands around Beaminster. Please be aware that even if you think you have put fires out, in hot weather they can easily reignite and cause a lot of damage.
Please enjoy the Countryside we are lucky to have in this area and respect the work that people do to farm and preserve it.”

#Broadwindsor #Dorset #Police #Farmers #BeResponsible

Fresh Eggs Daily

Fresh EggsLiving where we do, many of us know where farmers and others leave their fresh eggs out on a daily basis.  There’s Chris Sewell at Manor Farm up Common Water Lane,  there’s the Curtis’ Moorelands Farm down at Hursey and Alison Curtis brings her eggs into the Comrades Hall when the Post Office services are there.
Now we also have Tina Samways at Little Court in Broadwindsor who offers:

  • Chicken eggs various colours and sizes, laid daily by our ladies who are very well loved and looked after.
  • ÂŁ1 per half dozen
  • Please note we do sell out quite fast so it will be on a first come first served basis.

Message Tina through her Facebook Page HERE to place an order.

#Broadwindsor #StaySafe #SocialDistancing #FreshEggs #CheerfulChickens

 

Direct Message from Angry Farmer

Framptons CowsLocal farmer, Andrew Frampton is angry, frustrated and exasperated having to repeatedly deal with the carelessness of walkers leaving gates open and dog owners not picking up after their dogs.
“A big f’ing thank you to the dog walkers/walkers who decided to leave open a hapsed and chained gate this morning (Saturday 4th) on the route to Lewesdon hill. 50 heifers and Bull then got into grass laid up for silage and a spring barley field. This is the third time this year. All gates swing freely and have simple dog clip and chain attachments to make it easier for you lot. We put up with you letting your dogs shit and not picking it up and even slinging it in the hedges when you do not to mention a lot of you who roam around the fields and through the woods which are miles away from the 1 m path leading to the hill.
Is it really that difficult to shut a gate behind you?”  🤬

Frampton's Field#StaySafe #SocialDistancing #Farming #Broadwindsor #Lewesdon #Community #BeResponsible #Moo

The Countryside Code

No Bonfires or BBQsNatural England has updated the Countryside Code.

It now includes ‘don’t have BBQs or fires‘ as well as ‘check what facilities are open‘ and ‘obey social distancing measures‘.
Whether you’re enjoying our countryside as a walker, cyclist or horse rider, please follow the Countryside Code in order to respect others and protect our natural environment…and have a BBQ at home!

The Countryside Code:

Respect other people

  • Consider the local community and other people enjoying the outdoors
  • Park carefully so access to gateways and driveways are clear
  • Leave gates and property as you find them
  • Follow paths but give way to others where it’s narrow

Protect the natural environment

  • Leave no trace of your visit, take all your litter home
  • Don’t have BBQs or fires
  • Keep dogs under effective control*
  • Dog poo – bag it and bin it

Enjoy the outdoors

  • Plan ahead, check what facilities are open, be prepared
  • Follow advice and local signs and obey social distancing measures

* Dogs: A local note –

  • Dogs can disturb farm animals, people and wild life. By law your dog has to have a short lead in the country side.
  • If you’re on a public foot path your dog can have no lead only if he’s under control.
  • If your dog scares or injures a farmer’s animal they are entitled to shoot it if they want.
  • If you’re being chased by the farmer’s animals, let your dog off; don’t protect it.
  • Make sure your dog does not disturb nesting birds.
  • By law and for safety, clear up dog poo because it carries disease. 
  • Do NOT hang bags of poo on fences, gates, trees or bushes.  You take it to the nearest bin.
  • Please follow the code and please, keep your dog under control.  Thank you 🙂

The Countryside Code

Assistance for Dairy Farmers

Photo by Emma HouseThe Dairy Response Fund 2020 is to provide support to eligible dairy farmers in England who produce cows’ milk. They can apply for a one-off payment. It opened on 19th June for those eligible to apply for up to £10,000 of financial support following the coronavirus outbreak.
To be eligible for support from the fund, farmers in England need to demonstrate that they have suffered a reduction in the average price paid for their milk of 25% or more in April 2020 when compared with February 2020.
Qualifying farmers are entitled to up to ÂŁ10,000 each to cover 70% of their losses across April and May incurred as a result of a drop in price, following a reduced demand for milk with the closure of restaurants, bars, and cafes in recent months.
This financial support is to help farmers maintain production capacity and sustain their business without impacts on animal welfare.
Farmers will be able to apply for a single payment from the fund, which will be paid out from 6th July. Applications can be submitted directly to the Rural Payments Agency (RPA).

The deadline for applications  is 14th August.

For more Government Guidance and Regulation re: Dairy and Milk Production – Click HERE.

#Broadwindsor #StaySafe #SocialDistancing #Dairy #Farming #Covid-19  #Moo