The Smithy Field becomes Smithy Farm

Although just words, we are now regarding the "field" in terms of a developing micro farm, and this symbolic shift in sentiment very much defines our convictions for the year ahead. To demonstrate the progress so far and provide a visual narrative of the future lay out of the fruit and flower farm, I have taken to video for this post, although my skills of narration leave a lot to be desired.

After calling our land the “Smithy Field” since we bought it back in March, we thought the time had come to start referring to it as “Smithy Farm”. Its perhaps a bit premature and grandiose, as it isn't really a small farm yet, with just a few empty beds and someone else’s sheep. However, now we have a definitive plan and can see how the site is coming on, if only in the mind's eye, the farm has become very much a reality to us. Its also important to start adopting the mindset of a small farmer, as ultimately this role will end up dominating my work based time and impacting on our family rhythms. What's even more important, is that the kids can see the plans unfold too, and Josselin in particular is getting enthused by the prospect of endless rows of strawberries, and has started to chip in with the jobs. It fills my heart to see her getting involved, and she often talks about running the farm when she's older and naively talks about acquiring all the surrounding land, building a small house next to mum and dads, and keeping loads of sheep - although not to kill! I really hope this becomes a reality, but I suspect I will be face-timing her in London before too long, trying to tempt her up for a weekend visit with the promise of a Sunday lunch and home made raspberry crumble. Her speciality is raking the compost over the manure after I've barrowed it in place, and her help is very much appreciated. Its surprised me how long it takes to create these 25-meter-long permanent beds, and how the effort of pushing a barrow full of cow manure up a hill is rewarded by only a few measly inches of barely perceivable progress. The whole process is made that little bit harder by Peppers fascination with chasing the wheelbarrow, eating the cow manure and jumping around on top of the neatly manicured soil. True to form, a job I thought would take days is ending up taking weeks, but luckily the Strawberry plants don't arrive until March.

Behind the scenes, and this time in the comfort of the armchair, I have been chipping away at the farm website, at least when time allows. The site (Blooms & Berries) will be built around our fruit and flower delivery box strategy, and provide potential customers with product and ordering options, as well as information about the farm - more of this in the next post. Anyway, to try and document some of the physical progressions in a different format, I have taken to film for this post. If I can try not to sound like someone who's recently had their brain removed, perhaps this can become a more regular means of communication. Enjoy.