An Avian Influenza Prevention Zone has come into force across Great Britain as of 5pm on 3 November 2021. This means it is a legal requirement for all bird keepers to follow strict biosecurity measures to protect their birds from avian influenza. For more information see GOV.​UK: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/avian-influenza-bird-flu#AIPZ, GOV.SCOT: https://www.gov.scot/publications/avian-influenza-outbreaks/ and GOV.WALES: https://gov.wales/avian-influenza-bird-flu-latest-update

In the latter part of 2021 we have increasing reports of raw sewage being allowed to be discharged into water courses, in the name of Covid and Brexit issues.
Once again we chose to make the worst environmental decisions, and those who need to be taking responsibility are being allowed to profit without consequence.

Sewage is a RESOURCE .. “humanure” – a highly valuable resource that we humans, the millions of us, daily evacuate and then treat as WASTE.

There are now many issues with this as a resource that we need to face and resolve. (time of innovation, engineering and opportunity)

• the heavy metals in our sewage system – so stop using it and replace our humanure collection with alternatives and deal with the heavy metals.
• Drugs in our systems – the use of the pill for the past 50 years has advanced the welfare of women tremendously, but now threatens our water species.

links (will add more)
https://www.theriverstrust.org/key-issues/sewage-in-rivers

when you cannot have sugar it makes it tough to preserve fruits in delicious ways to enjoy the rest of the year.

Gin is low carb, yipppeee .. and it infuses beautifully taking up the flavours of aromatics like elderflower, and fruits like gooseberries, plums, strawberries. 

These flavoured gins are perfect with a sparkling water, needing no further flavouring. (the wonderful tonics are all high sugar!)

There are increasing news pieces on TV, radio, newspaper and online about how we need to change how we eat for climate change.

Mostly this is an erroneous drive to cut down red meat, without any single iota of understanding of the different parts of red meat production.

Anyway – todays twist, along with a sugar and salt tax, is to suggest that GPs prescribe fruit that will be handed out to certain patients.
report on Englands food strategy – https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-57838103

This is not a new idea

2003 – http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/2777947.stm

Tuesday, 18 February, 2003, 19:55 GMT Doctors prescribe fruit and vegetables Patients will be given tokens to buy fruit and veg Doctors in north Staffordshire will soon be able to prescribe fruit and vegetables.

INSTEAD – why not GROW MORE FRUIT .. in every community : city, urban, rural ..

• take cuttings
• grow on
• plant plant plant plant
• tend together
• crop and enjoy !
• and limit the amount of cordial, jam, etc made which is 90% sugar again !!!

There are a great deal of angst about the “waste” of the wool produced by the 22,000 tonnes in the UK that currently has no market in China.

There is so much more we could be doing with this
However most of our fleeces are not high enough quality for many of the finer uses – we need to be selecting for far better fleece

Simple composting ..

on farm composting .. Audrey Literrick

Dalesfoot compost

Pillows – Uan Wool https://www.facebook.com/uanwool/

Duvets

Fibre yarn – especially our rare breed fleeces.

• Caithness yarn
• Ardalanish yarn

Insulation

Felting  – craft and commercial

Spinning and weaving –

Industrial spinners

Industrial sheepskin processing

https://terroirtalk.org/terroir-denmark : HindsholmGrisen, a wholly sustainable pig farm on the tiny Danish island of Fyn. They raise, feed, slaughter, butcher and produce products from the 300 hectare organic farm.

Keeping sheep for fleece is a different way to raise sheep

Good fleece sheep breeding and husbandry will work well with regenerative grazing management, that will bring about better soils and food producing habitat.

Fleece sheep have to be selected for the quality of the fibre, that takes plenty of investment but it is well worth the effort

Management of the sheep for fleece means concentrating on the stock well being every day, not pushing for live weight gain.

It is also possible to keep a flock for years without so much lambing, therefore putting less stress on the ewes and the land.

Caithness yarns ..

Another blossom in full bloom.. so important to have flowers all year around, for our insects, this is especially important for the native mason bees. With the weather getting milder, it’s wonderful to know there is a ready source of food for early emergents.
#flowersofinstagram #shrubsofinstagram #pieris #pollinators #masonbees #beesofinstagram #farmingwithnature #naturefriendlyfarming #kintaline