Life on the Farm

Hello all, how is everyone doing?

That’s us into March and the lighter nights are fair creeping in, which is so nice to see.  I’m not sure about you, but when it’s so dark all the time I find it a bit claustrophobic and when the lighter nights appear, it really does feel like a breath of fresh air.

It’s crazy to think that I have now been back at work for well over a month. To be honest we’re doing well with our routine and Ellie is loving time at the childminder.  It’s so good for her (and me) to see other people and have different stimulation, socialising with others.  I also love picking her up, I get the best cuddles and smiles!

As a woman returning to work after maternity leave this can spark some debate as to whether, we should, or should not. Overall, it really depends on personal circumstances and most of all a need for pay, and right now every penny counts.

As a woman in agriculture, and part of the farming community it was always the way that a woman would stay at home, cook, clean and look after the children.  Probably alongside giving a hand on the farm.  Don’t get me wrong that would be a handful in itself, but I would love to be more involved outside if I could.

These days, the general set up is a whole load different and sadly farming is becoming less sustainable to support a family, meaning working off farm has become more and more of a need.  Coupled with the cost of living crisis, women are being asked to work harder, meaning juggling more than before, from cooking, cleaning, kids, as well as working off farm.

There is a point to everything I am talking about, 8th March is International Women’s Day.  This is a day set to remember when women’s rights were not as they are now.  Overall respect was once a lot different to what we have these days, which we should not forget. But also it gives a day to recognise how amazing women are, we grow life!

Down on the farm we have lots of new life springing about, and the calves are hitting the ground thick and fast.  We have around 20 calves already and they’re all doing well, which is so good to see.  Our heifers calf first, these are the girls who have not calved previously.  This gives them some time to settle with their calves and more space in the larger pen before the cows start.

With calving, also comes sleepless nights, just like with having children.  There is no specific way to book them in, or alarm to set to know when they’ll go into labour, this will happen at any time of the day.  The girls are always checked before we head to bed, and if Gav suspects there is something happening, he will either wait up an extra hour or we will set an alarm.  There have been many midnight births, and once we had an emergency c-section on Christmas day! But these girls are so important and things can go wrong quickly.

With calving comes tagging, which every cow needs. I’ll cover this next month as I’ll be able to record more about it by then. Also, hopefully we will be getting organised for cows going back out to the field by then.

I hope you all enjoy March and as always if there is anything I have covered but you would like more information on, please let us know and I will try and answer any questions you may have.  Or if there are any topics you would like me to cover our email address is info@ruralnetwork.scot, you can also follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for regular rural updates.

Thanks,

Sophie