Market day

It was really nice to see the Ulva Ferry Community Bus out in earnest dropping people off at the ferry this morning.  It owes its existence to the hard work of the Local Development Officers, Mull and Iona Community Trust (MICT) and Ulva School Community Association (USCA), sourcing the funding for much needed local transport.

We took our first lambs to market today. The Cheviot and Zwartble lambs.  Last year we sold a week later than this year, but as we are doing our own transport this year we are able to spread out the sales - practically speaking, as we can only fit 60 in a trailer load, whereas the lorry used to take over 200 lambs in one go.

You probably can't see the number plates of these smart lorries - but they all have the initials of the owner, and either COO, MOO and EWE!

Here is the Farmer in the ring as our lambs are being counted in.

This is the wash off point at the back of the mart.

We gave a lift back from the ferry to a neighbour and met a young foal having an itch.

When we got home, I checked the prices we got today against those we got last year.  We were up by 12 pence.   That certainly won't cover the increase in feed cost, or vet and med.. not to mention the ferry charges!!

Walks, ferries and family time

We had a great excuse to take some time off this week. Farmer's sister, who had never been to Treshnish, came to stay with her husband. Plus two milestones in our lives passed too - the calves were sold (of more below) on Monday, and I stepped down from USCA on Thursday night when a new Convenor was chosen to take my place.

Walking Coco in the woods at Calgary.

Cafe Fish window on a wet September afternoon.

The calves were sold on Monday at Caledonian Marts in Stirling, at their native breeds sale. We have kept with Aberdeen Angus cows and bull all these years as they are a Scottish breed and we like their native qualities. When we were organic, we sold directly to another organic farm which meant there was less stress on the animals not having to go through the market, and less stress on us because we knew what we were being paid before the animals left here - a price per kilo.

But since then we have had to rely on the market and it really has been a lottery. If our cows were pedigree we would probably be able to find a farmer who would buy straight from the farm, but they are not pedigree. (Apologies if I have already said all this on earlier blogs.) Year 1 of no longer having organic status we sold our calves in Craignure (2010) and only received half the price we had got the year before.... Last year (2011) was an improvement on 2010, but by no means equal to previous organic years.

Most of the store calves from the west coast are continentals - and we had realised that the buyers were prepared to pay more for them than for our native calves. So we decided to try the traditional sale in Stirling. Initially we were disappointed by the prices we got, about 30p less a kilo than continentals were getting in Oban the following day, but the market report from the Stirling sale in our local paper showed that on average our prices were no worse than anyone elses at that sale, which made us feel a bit better. But it was making us think perhaps about replacing Equator, our Angus bull, for a fine red Limousin bull, which we can buy from a farmer 10 miles away. But Equator is a very gentle natured bull, (important on a farm with lots of visitors) and his calves thrive. So perhaps we are best to stay as we are... time will tell.

Calgary Beach this morning. Beach finds: hot water bottle top, brown Irish fish box.

Sun just appearing over Calgary dunes.

Earlier in the week - Oban. Farmer did the shopping whilst I went to an USCA related meeting.

Coco had her first visit to the Isle of Ulva today. (above, with Donald the Ferryman). The continuing storm was raging over Treshnish, with the wind coming from the north west, but Ulva Sound was alot calmer, and the Boathouse serves up a fantastic lunch which we started eating outside in the sun, and finished up inside when the rains came again!

The Boathouse Ulva Fishermen's Platter. (delicious)

Skies cleared after we had finished lunch, so we managed a dry walk. The rowans are fantastic this year.

I attended my last USCA committee meeting on Thursday. With Daughter now at High School, and living outside the USCA area as we do, it seemed to make sense for me to step down so that someone more local could take over. I feel very lucky to have been part of getting USCA started, and wish it well for the future. I know I will go on feeling like a broody hen whose chicks have been taken away from her until I fully let it go. Farmer is looking forward to me getting back into the farm office to restore some kind of order... we'll see!

Farmer gets to drive something other than a tractor

The hoggs have been eating down the Black Park and Haunn fields. The primroses are flowering beautifully in sheltered spots away from the sheep. They will go back to the hill soon, so we can start keeping stock out of the in bye fields according to our conservation management plan.

These 2 are the pet lambs from 2009 - Alice and Agatha. They have today had their routine pre-lambing treatments. They, the other cheviots and the brown ones are all now in the New Field to the north east of the Point. It hasn't had stock in there for a few months so they are going onto relatively clean grazing.

Farmer has been busy this week. The tractor has been busy too. But Farmer also took up the chance of a lifetime to drive something a little bit different this week - but more of that later.

I apologise for yet more photographs for the magnolia but one blissfully still and sunny morning we walked the dogs down to the Ensay Burn in order to catch the blossom in different light. It was quite magical enjoying the woodland with that dappled light, clear air, hazel branches in places dripping with grey green lichens, and the scent of wild garlic drifting up from the gully in the rising warm air.

The dogs were frantically running through the field on our way down to the burn, following the scent of something - all 3 of them coursing the field noses to the ground. Could have been mink. Or an otter. In the middle of that dog doing what comes natural to them moment a hare appeared and crossed the field. For one awful and prolonged moment I thought the worst - that all 3 dogs would sniff him at the same time - and go for it and I would be unable to control them. Thankfully after stopping to look at us for a moment, the hare took off across the field again unnoticed by the dogs. His hind legs were still white. Farmer, a day later, watched 2 Mad March Hares boxing and jumping about, near the farm buildings. It was a great privilege to see them.

Farmer had quite a big list of things to do this week. Fields to harrow, fields upon which to spread the well rotted FYM. Trailer of FYM to deliver to Dervaig. Harrowing brings the dead grasses and mosses to the surface so is good for the grass growth when spring comes. We have had a false spring for most of the last 10 days or so. It has been mild, and dry and wonderful - and hot at times too.

After the wet windy winter I have enjoyed every moment of this weather, but then that nagging concern about unnatural weather surfaces - signs of spring appearing too early and where will it end? Farmer and Daughter went off one evening to look for tadpoles and frog spawn to rescue. When out feeding Farmer had noticed that there was frog spawn in some of the puddles formed in tractor wheel ruts, and with the warm weather, the puddles were drying up. So they collected and moved as many as they could find, and re-homed them in the lochan above the house.

On Friday Farmer was up before dawn, feeding the animals as the light lifted. He was away down to Bunessan to pick up a minibus.

You may just notice a flower on the seat cover behind Farmer? Farmer volunteered to drive down and collect the Balamory Bus (which was awarded to the Ross of Mull for their community transport and can be hired out on the island) in order to drive guests from the Oban ferry up to the Ulva Ferry area for a meeting USCA were holding with stakeholders, chaired by Jim Mather. Guests included our MSP and Minister for Education and Lifelong Learning Michael Russell, MSP Mike MacKenzie, MP Alan Reid, and lots of other agencies and third sector organisations who all made the journey across to meet us. Torloisk House hosted a delicious lunch made by local caterers and bakers. It was a very successful day in all - and we were delighted by the input and support from those who came to meet with us. I found it very moving that so many people had turned out to talk and to see if they could help us, and the behind the scenes effort was huge. What a day! Farmer got to drive his party back to Craignure afterwards, and Daughter was thrilled (ish - she is about 8 years too old for Balamory these days) to go too.

The last photo is of Farmer joined by Michael Russell MSP and Councillor Devon who have both been a huge support to Ulva School and USCA.

This week is back to normal, and the week for gathering and working and I will be posting something again soon. Sun is shining, the sea is surreally blue and there is a raven floating on the wind outside the window.

Pinks, orchids, pony traps, adjustment and regeneration.

Carpets of pinks at Lagganulva on my way to an USCA meeting at the school yesterday. It was cold for May, but the flags are nearly out here too.

Azalea planted by the previous owners of Treshnish by the Ensay Burn. There are a few random rhododendrons on the way up the track too. In the photograph below you can see the young trees that have sown themselves on the verge of the track, where there is less competition from grass. Young trees are surviving on the open ground, but the grass does slow down the gradual movement out from the wood into the open space. At this time of year it is easy to notice the new trees appearing when their leaves are so fresh.

Common spotted orchids on the bank above Studio with bluebells, and frail white pignut flowers beginning to appear in places too.

This old pony trap was used on Mull before the Second World War by my family on the other side of the island. It is sadly riddled with woodworm, and needs loving care. Perhaps someone walking past will offer to restore it.

Farmer is on his way, through Argyll. The weather has been mainly horrendous. He has visited 6 of the 9 schools on the threatened list. He has done really well and met some great people at some fantastic remote rural schools! Tomorrow North Bute Primary, then Toward and lastly Luss. On Bute tomorrow he will meet Michael Russell, Argyll MSP (and Education Minister) and be interviewed by the Buteman newspaper! He will be taking small ferries across some of Argyll's peninsulas (Tarbert to Portavadie, Colintraive to Bute, Dunoon to Gourock. Gourock to Helensburgh, and getting a lift on a fast RIB. Planning this leg of the trip illustrates how diverse and spread out Argyll is.

Adjustment refers to the dogs. No puppies to look after and no Meg. Daughter has brought Tig into the house more, but she goes back to her kennel at night. In Farmer's absence, Cap and Jan are playing around again as if 7 puppies never happened, so alot of care being taken to ensure they don't happen again.

The Contractors come in daily to check the stock. Charlie the pet lamb is thriving.

The woodchip boiler alarm light went off today, and an error message I have never seen before came up on the Control Panel. Gulp. Where is the Farmer when I need him?