Time to open

It is hard to believe that after all the dreaming, hoping, planning and working towards our goal we are now open to guests!
The last few weeks have been pretty full on here in Devon as we worked towards being ready for the arrival of our Shepherd huts. The first hut finally arrived on 3rd July. We had got the site mostly ready but were unsure how much space we would need to actually get the hut in place. We moved the hottub and storage shed for the first hut before hand.

On the big day I was very grateful for Iain's nerves and driving ability to get the Shepherd hut from the road where it was unloaded from the lorry up our narrow lane to the glamping site. The little travel wheels looked a little precarious but all went to plan. 'Oak' had a safe journey.

The next job was for the hut builders to permanently fix the solar panels back in place and to replace the travel wheels with the lovely cast iron ones,

Then for us to 'dress' it and fill it with all our glampers could need. Finally to begin the task of bringing out all the things we had stashed at home over the last months!

At this point we still needed to lay a few stepping stones and complete the fencing between our glampers and our sheep but it was looking pretty special to me.

 Now everything is finally in place inside and outside 'oak we are so happy with how it has all come together. We are also delighted that our first visitors have been pleased with what they found. Hopefully we will have many more glampers enjoying this amazing corner of the world over the coming years. 

The next step for us will be the arrival of 'Bluebell' hut at the end of the month and, although we know it can be done, until it is successfully in place I will still be keeping everything crossed and holding my breath!

Another week of progress in Devon

Checking the ladies in the sunshine.

 We have had another week of activity here in Devon preparing for our glampers. It has been mostly lovely weather (although there was a huge storm which had to be one the night that our 11 year old and 3 of her friends had chosen to camp in the garden...!) which has been good for us. Last weekend was a very exciting time as it saw the installation of the solar panels which are to power the water pump and filtration system to bring our
borehole water safely to our glampers in the huts. They are all wired up and the water is pumping well. Now we just need to wait for the next lot of samples to be tested to finalise the filtration requirements. The reservoir is in place and the she that will be the pump house to keep all the electrics and controls in is ready to be built. Amazing to see the little dials going round thanks entirely to the sun. :)

We have also got most of the other pipework back underground now and waiting to be used. The next big delivery here is stone for the lane improvements tomorrow. Offgrid is great but we still need our glampers to be able to get there easily!

I am hopeful that in the next week or so we shall be able to get the area fenced and the bases for the huts and hottubs sorted. It is very exciting and getting closer but I still need to use a little imagination to see everything there!

Meantime, life on the farm continues in it's usual busy manor. The sunshine makes it more pleasant to move and check the animals. 

Some young ladies out for a stroll.

Sheep check in the sunshine.

 As well as the day to day tasks it is nice to grab the chance to enjoy our lovely space in the world. After a lot of running our lovely working dog, Swift enjoys a paddle and drink in Holly Water a my favourite resting spot. Not only did she have a little rest but we also got the chace to admire some of the local residents in these gorgeous.
Damselflies. They don't like to sit still for long but are just beautiful.

Another little job that was just asking to be done was to gather some Elderflowers for cordial. A lovely smelling kitchen is the result! Happy days in Devon!

Lots of little steps closer!

I can't believe another couple of weeks has passed already - where has it gone?! Amongst other things we have taken delivery of most of our 'plumbing' and it is now safely in the necessary places in the ground. The septic tank was taken up to the site on the front loader of the tractor with a straw bale to protect it if it swung - all very farmer-ish!! The trench you can see here is now filled in again and hides the waste pipes all connected up to the septic tank and some fresh water pipes. Now we are expecting the solar panels for the fresh water pump to be installed next week and then it will just need the huts on the other end!

We have plumbing!

Septic tank with it's straw bale buffer!

Lane work in progress

 We have also made a start on the access lane which is in need of some improvement. The next step is to roll what is left there now and then come to a final decision on the surfacing. I'm told the roller might need a driver at the weekend...! 😲

Freshly prepared homemade apple juice and jam. Yum!

This week I have also raided the freezer stocks of last years fruit to make some jam and juice to put into our bottles and jars with our new labels. I think they look quite good, if I do say so myself. I hope that our glampers enjoy them.
We also took some photos for the website to show our standard welcome baskets and the 'Extras' option. All you need to do is put the kettle on and relax.

Standard welcome basket.

'Extras' option 

It's all happening in sunny Devon!

Things have been quite busy around here over the last couple of weeks. The sheep are now rather less woolly as they have finally all been sheared.

 

 

As we lamb in November this is part of our preparation before 'tupping' or putting the rams in with the ewes. The ewes are now being given the choice of mineral buckets in their fields to help make sure they are in the best condition for conceiving and hopefully growing us another year of lambs.

Also on the farm there has been the start of 'silly season' with the first of the grass being cut and stored to make silage for the winter feed for the cows. Some of the fields have already been re-ploughed and planted with maize for the next crop.

 It has also been exciting to see some work being done this week on the actual site for our Shepherd's huts. The water has been tested and we are awaiting results to know what, if any, treatment is required and more visible is the arrival of a digger to level the site and put in some trenches for the necessary pipe work. I have to admit to having mixed feelings when first seeing the topsoil being removed but I realise it has to look worse before it can look better and we are a step closer to that now. We also took delivery of timber for some fencing and expect the arrival of the septic tank on Thursday - not everybody's idea of exciting but it is all leading us towards our amazing escape that we want you to be able to enjoy. :)

Meanwhile, the girls seem completely un-fazed by the assorted activities around them and enjoy the shade under one of their favourite trees!! 

Time is Racing on.

Well, I'm not sure where the time has been going but suddenly it's a couple of weeks since I updated you and lots has been happening here on the farm.

Our main exciting news is that the borehole has been done so we now have a water supply for our glampers. As it is it is not quite ready to come out of taps and showers but it is the first step. It now needs to wait a couple of weeks and then be tested to discover what, if any, treatment is required over and above an infra red light. After this they will be able to install the solar pump to bring it to our pipes and taps when the time comes.
We have also been doing a spot of shopping for our guests comfort. We now have some very nice pocket sprung mattresses on order, tables and chairs for a spot of al fresco dining are ready and waiting and an assortment of other goodies are appearing and being temporarily stashed as they wait for their new Shepherd Hut accommodation.
Alongside all of this life on the farm has also been quite busy with the arrival of a gorgeous new litter of piglets,

 

At 2 weeks old they are now very busy and lots of mischief!

We also have the welcome return of our beautiful Bluebells beginning. We have many Bluebells in our sheep fields and in the small wooded area in the field. This is where the name for our pedigree flock of Dorset sheep comes form as we are The Bluebell Dorset. We are also naming one of our Shepherd Huts 'Bluebell' so they are quite special and seeing them return each year is a pleasure. This year they were just peeping out at the same time as 18 new ladies joining our Bluebell flock. :) We have also selected which of our home grown ewe lambs will be staying with us as our next generation of breeding ewes so on my 'to do' list is to apply to the 'Dorset Horn and Polled Dorset Sheep Breeder's Association' to get them their pedigree registration numbers. With half the flock being sheared tomorrow it is a busy time!

Busy, busy, busy!

Well the sun is shining and the world looks amazing in glorious mid Devon at the moment. If I was going on a glamping escape right now there is nowhere I would rather choose! Although we are enjoying the beautiful weather and the lovely countryside around us we are also very busy here on the farm just now.

 Blue skies and blossoming trees are a pretty sight to see on our way to check stock and carry out farm work. We are lambing some sheep for a family member who has been unwell at the moment so although our own flock won't be lambing again until October we are back on lamb watch for a while. I think this new mummy was wondering why her breakfast trough had a little foreign body in it!! Several of the babies like to hide themselves away in the patches of nettles and under

Strange Breakfast!

 trees!

In addition to lambs we have been waiting for our sow, Gunta, to farrow. In the early hours yesterday she produced 8 very spotty piglets for us.

Meantime, elsewhere work continues on our shepherd huts and the website and booking facility is all underway. Lots to keep up with. :)