Hmmm...So here we are at the start of what could easily be another nightmare winter. Nature will always run in cycles; spring, summer, autumn, winter. From Solstice to Solstice, dark and light, over and over, ad infinitum!

What a time then to chose to create a community farm. Yes, what a time indeed! But, maybe this is the best time, in that we can show our resolve and resourcefulness. The pigs are here, they need feed and water and that brings with it the responsibilities of good livestock husbandry. Hopefully as you read this, the rota for the pigs will be working well and they are warm and content within their cosy sty. If the winter does take a turn for the worse, the pigs will stay at the farm, as there is no point in taking unnecessary risks transporting them on icy roads and then to have to supplementary feed more so that their bodies can cope with being outside rather than to put on weight.

Just to keep you updated with how the legal structure for the farm is coming along, a meeting was held at Tracks a fortnight ago. One, to measure interest and ask for ideas and feedback from all those who attended. And two, to allow Ali Gibson (our lovely resident legal organiser) the opportunity to explain the framework we will probably be taking to build the farm around. At the time of writing, there is a shortlist of 2 possible avenues we can take. One is an IPS (Industrial Provident Society) and the other is a CLG (Company limited by Guarantee). The ins and outs of either of these I can't go into with you as yet, as I don't have a complete understanding of the workings other than to state that we need to be accountable, transparent and professionally structured to be able to move forward. Farming as I am learning, is not all about sugar beet and bullocks!

The second Orchard day was cancelled due to common sense reasons. Ice and snow is bad enough without good people working as hard as they have, building up a terrific sweat, stopping and risking hypothermia. Hopefully if the cold abates we will try and organise another day soon.

One of the points raised within the meeting was to create a database that will allow us to register our interests and 'not so' interests within the farm. Also focus groups to share and teach others within the group i.e. Clive 'the Bee Pusher' will be creating a honeybee school. I'm hoping to provide small courses on practical small woodland management, spoon making, etc. Hopefully a pie, wine and cider making group will appear too! Is there anything you can offer?

Right, time to feed the pigs. Now, where did I put them tights!

Take care, Mark

Video: Oliver Payne and Oscar Lotis

One word..............  Wow!!

For  weeks, I'd been privately dreading the decision to make our first concerted effort toward building the community farm an open affair; without too much organisation other than to be sure we were 'properly insured', adequately tooled with skilled labour to lead the way and pretty much just the seats of our pants along with the hope of fair weather to ride upon.

I don't know about you., but I feel we did ourselves proud.

Community.. It's a queer little word. But one which now I honestly feel I have begun to understand the meaning of maybe just a little more than I had before. As every time I looked up or across the orchard, I saw people  working alongside one another; talking, laughing, straining to pull this, lifting that, cutting, clearing, burning, smiling, drinking, eating and having what for all intense and purposes looked like a jolly good time indeed. And look what we  achieved. I hope the momentum from this can carry us forward to the 5^th December when next we can 'chose a tree, and liberate it'.

Wasn't it amazing too? For the amount of fresh apple juice created was fantastic. It looks like we could indeed start making cider again. Hmmm., 'Park House Rough Cider'. What do you think? In fact, to let you into a little secret. A few of us are gathering this very evening to take the first tentative steps toward just that. Our very own cider. And maybe, if we manage to succeed. In Spring when the toil is hopefully out in the fields. We'll have at least something to quench our thirst.

Perhaps, while working away, you may have heard talk of the piglets that are to be purchased from Union Farm at Gressenhall Museum. It's true. Soon enough there will be nine rare breed Large Blacks for us to rear. The pigs will at first be at Park Farm till approximately three months old and then moved either into the orchard or to the Old Hall meadows on Eastgate Street. Where they can start the process of returning the meadows back to viable pasture and hay land by rooting out the docks that have become such a menace there.

It's all about the soil, You see? The more ways we can help the soil, by not using chemicals. The more giving the soil will be to us. In the way of minerals and healthy crops .

So, not much more to report just now, other than to say watch this space and., THANK YOU ALL, SO MUCH. See you next time.

Mark.