Back to the farm

This is the 55th time that I have stayed at my sister's farm Garrington,Littlebourne near Canterbury. She has lived here for 57 years. It has been most interesting to observe the changes over the years. When my brother in law David first farmed I think they had about 250 acres and about eight men who worked on it plus a group of women who were transported from Dover to work in the Hop Fields. The family own now about 800 acres. However my nephew Robert manages about 3100 acres on six farms. This is done with five full time equivalent workers (including Robert) plus huge machinery. The complexity of this management is amazing and I greatly appreciate each visit a snapshot of what is involved from Roberts perspective. The farm is mostly arable - wheat and barley but also break crops like rape seed and beans (that put Nitrogen back into the soil). They have a small beef herd and all sorts of interesting activities like pheasant raising, bee keeping, solar panels (that produce revenue, about six farm cottages (that produce revenue), chickens, a vegetable garden, grain storage, horse riding (my sister plays an important role in reporting on what is happening on the fields) etc. This year with David having broken his hip and suffering from early dementia I am playing more of a supportive role to my sister than usual inclding chauffeur when requested. Farming is a very complex life and I greatly enjoy learnling more each visit before returing to what seems a simpler life!