Welcome to this week’s round-up of interesting snippets from around the world of wholesome food.
Porkers
Country Smallholding magazine has a new columnist, Liz Shankland. In her introductory article, Liz talks about how she became involved in pig-keeping and acknowledges the difficulties facing pig farmers:
The past year has not been a good time for pig farmers. Feed prices have rocketed and profits have dwindled. Big commercial suppliers feel short-changed by the supermarkets, which continue to buy in cheap meat from abroad. Our farmers are also bound by stricter welfare regulations than those in most other EU countries, making pig production much more expensive. Disillusioned and increasingly desperate producers are scaling back or giving up.
But, she says, this isn’t the whole story:
Farmers and smallholders who specialise in rare breeds tend to sell niche market meat which can command a premium price. They sell a high-quality, free-range product to friends and neighbours, at farmers’ markets, at the farm gate, and, increasingly, over the internet. In my own experience, discerning customers are keen to pay that little bit extra for meat which tastes a world apart from the flavourless, non-descript pork with the bargain price tags – and which they know has been reared in a kind and sensitive way.
Looks like this could be a useful column for existing pig-keepers and those thinking about it.
Growing your skills as well as your produce
We often get requests for recommendations from prospective and new WFA members, as well as supporter members, who want to improve their smallholding and husbandry skills, most often in specific areas.
There are some good resources on our Links page: click here. They include a range of courses from those suitable for existing smallholders wanting to expand to those aimed more at people with allotments and large gardens.
And WFA members The Husbandry School are busy expanding their range of courses, held in Devon. These are probably aimed more at the beginner and those with environmental interests than the hard-core smallholder. The folks at The Husbandry School are doing good things and have worked really hard to develop some very interesting courses. To check out what’s available, click here.
And remember that if you need advice, there are lots of people willing and able to share tips and experience at the online community sponsored and managed by the WFA: Smallholders Online.
Why did the chicken heat the greenhouse?
I stumbled across an interesting article about Cerridwen Farm, in Vermont, US. They’ve been experimenting with different ways of saving energy and costs, and have integrated their chicken coop (they normally have around 60 birds) into the wall of their main greenhouse. The body temperature of the flock at night, plus water tanks that absorb and store heat, provide the energy needed to heat the greenhouse.
Probably an idea that could be adapted in various ways on some smallholdings.
What’s happening in September?
It’s agricultural show time around the country. Here are a few:
- Usk, Monmouthshire - 10th September
- Frome, Somerset - 10th September
- Eggleston, County Durham - 17th September
- Newbury, Berkshire - 17th and 18th September
- Nidderdale, North Yorks - 18th September
- Gransden, Bedfordshire - 24th September
And finally…
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Have a good week, everyone.