The non-urban dweller may not appreciate the full impact of being able to pop in to a working farm on a regular basis with small children. We smell and hear it before we get there - chickens, geese and ducks wander freely around the yard. A pair of pigs rootle happily in squelchy mud, horses are saddled ready to be exercised around the neighbouring roads, goats wander over to say hello and sheep nurture their spring lambs in fields under the railway arches. Three orphaned cows are constantly pestered by crowing cockerels and soon frogs will come to spawn in the pond.
Great stuff, and yes I do know a rhyme or song for every animal (and sing them). But my favourite view is this: a great big pile of steaming poo. Isn't it marvellous? (And, yep, there's a song for this too.)
Well, not so much poo exactly as horse manure and stable sweepings which, as we know, will rot down to very useful soil improver. A sight to gladden any gardener's heart and free for the taking (as long as you ask nicely first and then they'll bag it for you, or so I'm told).
I mention this simply to illustrate that in the Veg Patch's third growing year, our thoughts our turning to muck and soil which is just how it should be at this time of year.
Thanks Carol, for bringing back many happy childhood memories of visiting the City Farm when I lived in London. I rushed there straight after school and mucked out the horses, milked the goats and collected the chicken eggs. Then I went home for dinner, exhausted, smelly and VERY happy!
ReplyDeleteLovely to see you blogging again :)
It's such a great place for children of all ages - they still turn up to muck out the horses, and get to ride at the weekends. Am going there tomorrow with a small group of children to look at the very recently arrived baby goats - and then back again at the weekend to collect well-rotted manure! Caro xx
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