Greave House Farm Trust

We have a page set up now for people to make donations via Just Giving, to our work in an easy hassle-free way. Simply click this link then click the donate button.

As soon as I can work out how to do it I will be adding a button on the widget bar to make it even simpler.

On Saturday 29th September we will be holding the very first Stocksbridge Chase (who knows – it might become an annual event?)

This is a scenic 2 lap 10km race with a gentle incline to the trig point on Whitwell Moor with fantastic views on all sides,  then gently down hill all the way back, going through the lovely little village of Bolsterstone.

There is also a shorter Fun Run (or walk) for those of us who would rather not exert ourselves too much but still want to raise money for Greave House Farm

Please visit w:http://www.sheffieldrunningclub.org.uk/cahse/ for more information or an application form.  Forms can also be picked up from Stocksbridge Leisure Centre or various shops and pubs in the area.

If anyone would like to get sponsored for it you can set up your own Just Giving Page for the Trust or let us know and we’ll send you a sponsor form.

We hope many people will be able to support the farm with this event so please spread the word.

Barbara

Emma and her sister Steph were really interested in the progress we have made on the farm.  She had found our details on the care farming UK website last year and arranged to come and volunteer for a weekend. I had been showing off the bee hives and we were walking back up the field, when we noticed a low hanging branch full of bees. Emma could not have timed her visit better! I went into full bee rescue mode. As I had no-one else around to help me, Emma was press-ganged into service. We rushed back to the house to get the bee keeping gear and a cardboard box. Emma pushed Steph in her wheelchair through the deep grass so she could have a great view of what we were doing.

After battling though the nettles to get to the tree, (that reminds me, I must get around to making some more nettle soup!) I held the box, while Emma skillfully snipped the whole branch including the bees into it. Operation bee rescue was a success!

I am really chuffed that I was able to save our bees from swarming away from the farm, and that I’m gaining confidence in handling them. Emma and Steph were really pleased to have seen it and become involved.

On Wednesday 20th June our trusty volunteer Ray and myself put up our display in Ponds Forge to launch our day service on the farm for adults with learning disabilities.  All of the other organistations who provide services or support in and around Sheffield were there.

There was lots of interest in us and some people seemed excited at finding a new project that they didn’t know.  Two or three people said their services were near to capacity and it would be good to be able to refer people to us as an alternative.  I have to say, our display looked really nice and I was pleased that I decided to keep text to a minimum and not let it get too crowded.  It had the desired impact.  All we need now are some enquiries!

We are also looking for Volunteer Supporters who can commit to working one day a week.  You would be working with one other person, probably me, the Development Worker, to support a maximum of 3 adults.  It would involve gardening jobs, looking after poultry, cooking together and crafts.  You would also need to have a CRB. (criminal records bureau)  check before starting that we would arrange.  Please get in touch with Barbara for more information if interested.

Thanks to everyone who came to work today.  Lots of nettles and dock dug up and more woodchippings put down round the raised beds.  Two young helpers found 16 chicken eggs hiding under a mass of nettles – and we thought they were just getting old and had stopped laying!

Following on from our little gosling hatching, we bought six more yesterday, about 2 week older to keep it company.  They seem to be settling in ok and seem ok with the ducks around them.  Very cute and fluffy.

Thanks to the recent warm weather, I’ve managed to plant out the runner beans, peas and mange tout, hope they survive now.  There’s loads of stuff bursting out of our tiny polytunnel – beetroot, cabbages, squashes, chard, leeks, courgettes, plus the tomtatoes, cucumbers, chillis, peppers and ghurkins that will stay in there.

Debs and myself have also been very busy trying to prevent our lovely new bees from swarming.  Charles (the head beek) has been over twice this week to do a “reversal” on two of the hives, which is a method to keep the new queen from flying off with about 20,000 others.  I’ve just got to try and remember everything he’s telling me!  We’re finding it all absolutely fascinating, but at this time of year it’s also quite time consuming and two hours can fly by while you’re doing an inspection.  We are not the only ones who have been busy though, because there’s about 40lbs of honey stored already.  Once the bees have capped it we will be able to take it out for extracting.  How exciting!

Someone else who has been very busy sitting doing nothing has been one of our little bantems.  Several weeks ago, Chris decided to put a goose egg under her as she was very broody.  The poor little thing could hardly stay balanced on top of it!  Anyway, against all odds it has started to hatch this morning so we are all very excited about our new arrival.  I think some people questioned Chris’s sanity, but it’s worked.  It will be interesting to see the relationship between the mother and baby.  Springwatch…