Summer in the Meadows

As autumn grows nearer, we look back on the summer months.

A sense of timelessness filled June, as the month saw stretching, peaceful days, and a calm before the storm of seasonal tourists. Vegetables grew in abundance, so we lived off courgette and cucumber salads. A simple favourite was chargrilled courgette, feta and walnut salad. Our bees gave us delicious, buttery honey, to add to the salad. Shearing came round again, so the sheep got a makeover and we were supplied with new fleece for the year.

The garden burst with flowers in July, and inside the polytunnel felt like a colourful jungle. We harvested and dried the calendula for soap making before the caterpillars got to it. The ducks enjoyed stealing salad leaves from the beds and made the most of their pond as the sunshine continued.

August on the farm flew by for us, as our campsite reached peak busyness, so was over before we had time to appreciate the unusual August sunshine and say goodbye to our sunflowers. Autumn reached us earlier this year, so we were blackberry and sloe picking, stocking up for winter though it still felt so far away. Three chicks made a surprise arrival, so our family of hens grew, whilst our new cockerel learnt to sing.

Though we’ll miss the excitement of the summer, we’re looking forward to the calmness of September, bringing slow mornings and cooler days.