Some major hedge pruning has been order of the day recently, with some of the prunings saved as small wood for future use, and with the debris going on the bonfire. Recent cold weather here at the organic eco micro-holding (small smallholding) in the UK heartlands has resulted in lots of (hungry) bird sitings, and the consumption of a fair bit of wood of various shapes and sizes, well aided and abetted by the new air-source heat pump, which when solar powered , gives 'free' heat. Micro-holding seasonal work is under way with various sowings made and woodash and compost spread on half the veg growing area.
Modern increasing animal welfare production systems seem to be being reversed by the trend of introducing large dairy production units with cows kept mainly under cover, thereby unable to practice natural behaviour patterns such as 'roam grazing', at the same time limiting independence opportunities, with small family based farm businesses being put out of dairy business due to lowered prices. The idea that man should be respecting nature and animals is probably more 'feeling' based and maybe therefore harder to argue for in a 'head' based culture based largely on rationality - ? 'Large' concerns too, seem to 'automatically' view 'small' as inefficient, which, may, though, not be the whole story - ?
The 'Soddy's Farm' case-study continues, showing why the retired 'meet-er and greet-er' boar was not unproductive, and then the case of a couple living the simple life officially below the poverty line but rich in other respects, is outlined.
