5 reasons why we should support Rare breeds

You may have noticed a number of Muddy Carrot sellers farm rare breeds.

North Ronaldsay Lamb

The British Isles has been home to an amazing range of native breeds.  In years gone by very few dairy cows in the field would have been the standard black and white Friesian cattle that have become so common today.  In fact even the simple fawn  and white Guernsey cattle I have fond memories of my family farming are infrequently seen due to their less commercial milk yields and higher fat content.

 

Over time, and with the need for farmers to turn a profit there has been a drive, spurred on by the supermarkets, to standardise our farm animals.  Modern breeds on commercial farms have been bred to provide optimum milk, or lean meat output and dual purpose animals have been phased out. 

The drive to higher yields has already lost us many breeds that we will never get back.  Many of these could have proved useful in improving breeding stock in the future, with their special characteristics peculiar to the breed.  One example of this is the Limestone Sheep.  It was a hardy hill breed that produced high quality wool.  Unlike modern breeds it could give birth at any time of the year.

5 reasons why we should care about Rare Breeds:

• Preserve our heritage
• Keep alive as wide a gene pool as possible
• Few commercial breeds can survive in more hostile environments
• Diversity makes for a richer countryside
• Many less commercial breeds provide a better flavour or other qualities

Wool and Feathers Bag

A great deal of effort is put into preserving rare breeds today.  The Rare Breeds Survival Trust (RBST) are key to making this happen.  They work with dedicated farmers all over the country monitoring the numbers of each of our native breeds and the dangers that could affect them.

Wool and Feathers breed North Ronaldsay and Shetland sheep.  The North Ronaldsay in its native island lives entirely on seaweed found on the shoreline.  It is only more recently that flocks have been established elsewhere to prevent the whole breed being wiped out through catastrophes like foot and mouth.

Wool and Feathers make the most of their fabulous sheep.  They make beautiful crafts either using spun or felted wool; we love this gorgeous picture – it would look fantastic on any wall.  And the coarser wool is bagged for keen bird lovers for bird nests. 

If you’re a farmer, and feel inspired to breed some rare breeds, take a look at some of the livestock available through Muddy Carrot.

#imapeice - a Jigsaw that could make all the difference

If you’re a crafter you may already be aware of the Craftivist Collective's Jigsaw Project.  This is a project that has been set up to show, in a very visual way, its support for  Save the Children's Race Against Hunger Campaign encouraging David Cameron to use his power as host to tackle injustice at the G8 Conference this year. 

The Craftivist Collective  was conceived in 2009 by Sarah Corbett who wanted to do activism differently. Their manifesto is: “To expose the scandal of global poverty, and human rights injustices though the power of craft and public art. This will be done through provocative, non-violent creative actions.”   The ‘Craftivism’ term was initially coined by Betsy Greer who defines it as: “A way of looking at life where voicing opinions through creativity makes your voice stronger, your compassion deeper and your quest for justice more infinite.”

The Jigsaw Project is open to anyone who can pick up a needle and  cares about seeing injustice tackled.  It is very easy to take part.  The aim is to create a giant jigsaw embroidered with messages to support Save the Children's Race Against Hunger Campaign.

If you did wish to take part there are excellent instructions and a template available and it will run until Spring 2013.  Visit Craftivist Collective's Jigsaw Project for all you need to know. 

If you want to get involved and encourage others to join you, why not publicise your event for free here, or join the social media chat using #imapeice.

Is it easy planting trees?

We've been farming our little corner of Dorset for over 14 years now, and in that time we have fallen in love with planting trees.

Trees planted 10 years ago

It started out with the collection of the odd acorn when walking in autumn, planting them and watching with child like wonder as our acorn first became a tiny sapling and then a tree.  Being a very windy area our interest soon grew into buying a few bare root "whips" (1 or 2 year old trees) in autumn and planting them in strategic places to help us gain some shelter.  Some of these when planted were just knee height are now towering over us.

It is often all too easy to be put off the idea of planting trees.

Our future Glade

Having grown a variety of trees and hedges from different methods we decided in 2010 to take on the planting of a 5 acre woodland.  We took time to plan, removing and relocating fencing and visualising it when mature. We plotted a winding walk way through it and a glade in the centre where we could one day site a clay oven and take the Grandchildren for picnics.  To give you an idea of our time scales on this idea our eldest son is now 14 and very career minded, so the trees have at least 20 years to establish!!

We calculated the number of trees needed to be in excess of 2,000 and realised we would need some help.  At this point we started to talk to others about our dream.  This is when we experienced a lot of sucking of breath, discussions of deer decimating our whole woodland over night, how poor planting could result in the trees sitting in the ground and dying, and killer rabbits.  In fact if there was a way a tree could die it was brought up by someone at this stage.
With an investment in over 2,000 trees (paid for in part by the English Woodland Grant Scheme from the Forestry Commission) we did feel a bit nervous, but having always had success with trees and having done a fair amount of research we stuck to our plans and the trees arrived, a little late for planting, in Februray 2011.

Horse Chestnut buds

We all set-to with spades, planting the trees as quickly as we could.

Our planting, it turned out, was at the start of an unpresentedly dry spring and we went weeks with no rain.  With over 2,000 trees now in the ground spread over 5 acres (the size of 3 rugby pitches) we could not water as you would a tree in your garden.  We did try.  We emptied all our rain harvested water onto small groups of trees.  It felt like filling a bath with cups of water brought in from the kitchen!  On a those rare occasions when there was rain in our region it somehow never quite reached us. We felt certain at this point we would lose large numbers of our trees.  Perhaps everyone had been right?

We are now 2 years on, and have seen droughts, deluges of rain, deer and rabbits.  Through all of this my respect for trees has done nothing but grow.  We would estimate our tree losses at less than 10%, and much of this can be replanted from young seedlings we've been growing on for the purpose.  Some trees lost some of their top growth, but their will to live is so great that they have sent up fresh growth from the base.  Many buds are already starting to swell up in readiness for spring.

If you are thinking of planting any trees my advice to you is go for it.  If you are a novice why not, like us, eye up some trees you love this year, and wait to the autumn to select some seeds.  You can plant them into a spare bit of border or some pots, to plant out in a year or two.  And if you've got children they will love it.

Prince's Fears over not handing on a Poisoned Chalice

Prince Charles is clearly thrilled at the news that Prince William and Kate will be having their first child this summer. 

In a recent interview with ITV1’s This Morning Programme he spoke from the heart about the prospect of his first Grandchild, his concerns over environmental damage and the need for action.  

He said  "It makes it even more obvious to try to make sure we leave them something that isn't a total poisoned chalice”

Since the 1980s he has sought to raise awareness of the dangers facing the natural environment such as climate change.  He has been an enthusiastic champion of organic farming and gardening methods and in the 1990s launched his own organic brand, Duchy Originals, selling  a range of goods from food to garden furniture.  He has also sought to invest in finding a solution to save the world’s threatened Rainforests, setting up The Prince’s Rainforest Group in 2007.

Prince Charles has published the carbon footprint of his household every year since 2007, as part of his annual report and has set himself a carbon target.  

Is Poultry Keeping for you?

At Muddy Carrot HQ we like to keep a handful of chickens supplying eggs for our table.  Eggs are such a complete food, in fact Zest Magazine gives 7 good reasons for making superfood eggs part of your regular diet.

If you have the space and have thought of keeping livestock, chickens are a great starting point.  Our chickens are loved by every member of the family, and have bags of personality – whilst at the same time producing us a regular supply of eggs!

If this is something that appeals to you then Greenmeadow Poultry  offer a range of traditional breeds.   Cheryl from Greenmeadow compares traditional utility breeds with a purpose-bred laying hybrid - “A traditional utility hen will live longer and be productive over a longer time. For example, I have a five year old hen who still layed reasonably well last summer, in between raising two broods of chicks for me. She moulted in October and came back in to lay; and I expect to be able to use her as a broody this summer, too.” 

Their excellent services also include a range of poultry keeping courses from general care through to preparing chicken for the table and they are happy to advise on feeds and poultry housing.

Our Vision for 2013

Conscious consuming means absolutely everything to us.  It is not just about what we buy, and how we buy, but also a question of should we buy?  This does not mean we believe in living a life of denial, but one of far less waste.  

In the words of William Morris - a founding member of the Arts and Crafts Movement (started in the 1880s) 'Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.' 

There is huge value in such an ideal.  This sort of conscious consuming means that purchases are made on a more conscious level, buying something that enhances someone's life - and not just for today, but for the long term.  This means buying quality.  

At Muddy Carrot our sellers are assessed on whether they produce in line with our values, supporting their local economy, everything produced ethically and the people who produce compensated fairly.  This includes low intensive and organic farming, local and independent businesses, fair-trade and definitely no sweat-shops.

Is it time for a return to the Arts and Crafts Movement?  Buying to enhance our everyday routines in a meaningful way, and avoiding the mass-produced that will just end up tossed to one side.  What do you think?  We'd love to hear your views...

Our Native Black Bee

Bee keeper Garth Matthews

I spoke recently to an old college friend of mine who shares my passion for the environment.  I haven’t seen him in years and, yes, we both have definitely aged!  He is now a keen bee keeper with a particular interest in preserving our Native Black Bee.  I have to admit, despite my concern for our bee population, to not knowing we had a particular breed in this country.  What’s more this breed has been disregarded by many breeders in favour of a more modern bee.  Here is a potted history of bees in the UK:

Our native Native Black Bee, the dark European honey bee - Apis mellifera mellifera - did not arrive until between 6,000 and 10,000 years ago.  This is post the last ice age - giving rise to suitable flora for the bees to feed on and before the melting ice cap created the channel that cut us off from Europe.  These were our sole type of bee until the 19th century.

From 1814 onwards a few of  the UK bee keepers imported other breeds of bee, in particular the Italian Caucasians bee, initially with very little effect upon the native bee population.   Sadly though, between the wars a mite affected our native bee so badly it came close to extinction with only a small number surviving in parts of Scotland and Ireland.  The outbreak was called the ‘Isle of Wight disease’.

This triggered far greater importing of bees, initially from Europe and then also from the USA, Australia and NewZealand.  Even now, with far greater  import restrictions, the bee population is still being topped up by major imports of largely Italian style queen bees. 

This is not good news for our native bees. 

The direct result of these imports is that the genetic mix of our honey bee is broad, and although natural selection still favours dark bees, many of the major genetic advantages of our original native dark bee have been lost. Even in Scotland where Apis mellifera mellifera numbers were still significant up to the late 1960s, these imports have had a detrimental effect.

So does this matter?

Collecting a swarm of British black bees

There is no other bee better adapted to our climate than our Native Black Bee.  Over the past 6,000 years it has evolved to withstand the extremes of climate in our country and is also more economically viable than any other bee.   It is the experience of people who keep our native bee that the bee will produce surplus honey every year, even during cold summers when other breeds of bees have to be fed sugar to keep them alive. This is down to a number of factors including its physical size and design with insulating overhairs as well as its quick breeding response to our changing weather, enabling them to have the necessary reserves to survive poor weather. 

There are bee keepers who have kept the native breed all their lives and who believe they have a much stronger resistance to mites and therefore can survive without chemical treatment.  This may be a consequence of the original Isle of White outbreak.

There are small pockets of pure Apis mellifera mellifera  in remote parts of the country and, handled very carefully, there is a real possibility of re-introducing these on a major scale to save this exceedingly valuable species.

If you wish to know more about our native bee visit BIBBA