Pigs have been here one week now and are so much more friendly and getting braver in exploring. and of course now want tummy rubs. #freerangepigs #rarebreedpigs #gloucesteroldspots #slowfood #smallholdinglife #welshsmallholders #welshsmallholding #radnorforest

It's that time of year that all the hard work starts to pay off. Outdoor tomatoes in their windproof cage ... and with fruit; Red currents appearing; flowers on the broad beans and the start of the kohl rabis season. #gyo #growyouown #sustainablefood #thegoodlife #smallholdinglife #smallholders #welshsmallholders #welshsmallholding #radnorforest

What a difference yesterday was in terms of weather. The field that took three years of clearing is starting to reveal new plant life. Here are just some of the photos taken: the mess of canes are either wild raspberries or Logan berries; There is now a huge amount of violets and bluebells everywhere along with Stitchwort;; Creeping Cinquefoil; Stitchwort with pollinator #sustainablelifestyle #thegoodlife #treesforlife #pollinators #wildflowers #ancientpasture #smallholding

The veg garden has been temporarily ( I hope) wrapped up again after forecast of snow and minus temperatures over the next few days. As the potatoes are in raised beds; it is harder to 'earth up' so i cover them with straw. This year we have Earliers and 2nd Earlies so they can be grown closer together. They have had an extra layer of straw to help protect from the frost. Unfortunately the peas will have to take their chance as the pea sticks are in place. Hopefully there w

While i was away the OH has been very busy finishing clearing a very steep part of the holding. This has been an on-going job since we arrived nearly three years ago.The sheep do not tend to go up to this part as it is full of brambles, bracken and gorse. The brambles tend to catch the sheep so they get stuck; the gorse can prick little noses and cause a disease called Orf, which is also passed to humans; the bracken harbours ticks and the spores are believed to be carcinog

Making a Hay feeder. This is the fourth husband has made. The original idea is from the fantastic smallholders book 'The Smallholders DIY' by Michael Roberts. Husband had done some modifications to the original, ie making the overhang of the roof bigger. Sheep love it. Now to let the sheep in the field. #smallholdersdiy #hayfeeder #feedinghay #feedinghaytothesheep #sustainability #smallholder #smallholding #welshsmallholding #welshsmallholders #instagramsmallholder

"Marmite! It's 31*C where you are! Are you mad?" Think, just a few weeks ago my old pygmy goats were back off to Africa in search of warmer and sunnier climes. No need to go now; therefore helping to reduce global warming; as Africa has come to Wales... My mate, Marmite, my old pygmy nanny is the only one of the gang appearing to enjoy this heat. It obviously reminds her of her ancestral home of Africa. Bovril is in the shade, sensible boy. Rodney Kitten (9 years old, d

Here they are! They have started to expand their range and have now discovered there is more to the woodland than their ark and the immediate surroundings. They all have their own personalities; one of the gilts appears to be the boss. #theforestsmallholding #Welshsmallholding #smallholding #smallholders #thegoodlife #growyourown #largeblacks #welshpigs #freerange #slowfoood #woodland