Writings of a would-be smallholder in rural Monmouthshire....

Ancient David Brown Tractor, Ben - Head of Sales!, The Great Oak, Monmouthshire Tymawr Farm

Ancient David Brown Tractor, Ben - Head of Sales!, The Great Oak, Monmouthshire Tymawr Farm

Friday, 16 November 2012

Tymawr-Farm Events! #1 - Winter Wonderland Walk

In addition to our famous annual 'Lads & Dad's Camping Weekend' (same weekend as the Usk Show), we have now added a 'Winter Wonderland' walk through our woodland to the Tymawr-Farm calendar, which we hope will also become an annual event.

The plan is that people will start arriving at about 3PM and have some home-made cider punch, sloe-gin or hot chocolate for the kids / drivers.  While we have some light we'll go and feed the pigs and collect the eggs, and then go back into the house to have a yummy pork roll by a roaring log fire.

By this time it should be getting dark so we'll then walk up the lane, and into the Woodland.  I've been busy this afternoon laying woodchip on the path which is VERY muddy, and starting to build a bonfire in the clearing near the great, ancient Perry Pear tree which will be the focal point of the walk.  The plan is to light up the paths with some Christmas lights and uplight some of the beautiful trees to make the woodland look really magical.

As we make our way through the Woodland I'll tell people about the current make-up of the woodland (species, management), it's history (some interesting lime quarrying / burning activity), and our plans for the future (see Vision #4, charcoal #1).  That should take us to our first pause, lamps near the pond illuminating some more punch / drinks / nibbles and some goody bags for the kids (TBD).

A few more minutes will take us to the bonfire, where we'll do some more chatting, snacking and punch-drinking, and have a good warm up before making our way back through the Woodland and home!

Loads of work left to do but can't wait!

Thursday, 15 November 2012

Vision #6 - Independence Plan Detail

In a previous post I described a chart I was putting together.  Here it is!

I'd be very interested in anyone's comments!  It's best printed on A0 or used with a microscope!