All Apple Trees Now in the Ground

We are delighted to have now completed the task of planting all 231 trees into our orchard.

9 cider varieties, 2 cooker varieties, 2 dessert varieties
and some crabs to encourage pollinators.

Our next task is to build guards round the young trees to protect them from our small flock of blackface ewes who manage the grass far more effectively (and less costly) than a mechanised solution.  Thankfully we have until November this year to complete the job.

Orchard Ready for Tree Planting

Our 2 acre field will soon be an orchard.  9 varieties of cider apple trees are being planted in the next week or so.  Better get the spade out!

With the windbreak/deer fence now complete and the sheep decanted to another area we are now marking out the location of the trees. OCD was kicking in so I think our lines are straight enough and spacing accurate using a low tech method with 5m measuring planks and sight lines.  All being well we anticipate our first batch of blended craft cider will be available in 2018.

Bad light stopped play, but managed to get almost half the orchard "pegged out"

All posts are numbered according to our orchard plan.

Prototype tree protection. Scratching posts for the sheep.

4 weeks of scratching and they appear to be up to the job. Time will tell.

Our low tech method of measuring planks and sight lines has worked well.

A Molesome Approach to Farming.

Messrs Mole, Mole & Mole have set up residence in some areas within and just outside the orchard, pushing up a couple of hedge whips that didn't fit in with the decor. No worries. Foragers works with nature, not against it! Once the mole has created his underground abode, he'll defend it fiercely keeping other moles away, therefore no new molehills should appear. We'll just rake the hills, fix the hedge whips, and leave Mr Mole to enjoy his brand new basement apartment.

Constructing the Raised Beds

We're somewhat behind schedule on the polytunnels due to some drainage issues but hopefully sorted now. We can now build the raised beds in preparation for planting.

Hedge Planting

1200 bareroot hedge whips planted this week throughout the site, mostly Hornbeam but also some other bird friendly varieties including Hawthorn, Wild Privet, Hazel, Guelder Rose and Blackthorn.   We were blessed with ideal weather for planting; no heavy rain and temperatures above freezing.  Hoping that the Rootgrow gel as recommended by RHS with help the young plants thrive in order to provide some good wildlife habitat and shelter for the orchard once they mature.

Windbreak Fence Almost Complete

We have been blessed with some great weather this week helping us to put up the windbreak mesh. Some gentle breezes made the job a challenge at times, but almost complete. Just need to order 17 more metres of material and finish off with cable ties.

Fencing Nearing Completion

We are delighted with the work of our fencer William Montgomery who has done a first class job of our stock fencing throughout the site including the installation of several gates and the construction of a bridge over the stream.  We would have no hesitation in recommending William for fencing and many other tasks including;

• Tree Felling, Reduction & Removal
• Stump Griding
• Log Splitting
• Hedge Trimming
• Fencing
• Grass Cutting
• Turfing
• Weed Control
• Snow Clearing

Contact William Montgomery, Upper Carlstoun Farm,
Acre Valley Road, Torrance, G64 4DL
Email: williammongomery@btinternet.com
Tel (Evenings): 01360 620 038
Mobile: 07900 638 105

Polytunnels Erected

The team from Premier Polytunnels were up this week to erect our two 30 x 60ft tunnels.  We are delighted with them.  Next challenge will be building raised beds and sorting out irrigation.

Mobile homes arrive on site

Following completion of the barn and connection of the services, the next stage is delivery of our mobile homes.  In order to establish and operate Foragers effectively it's imperative that we live on site, so the McAlpine family is all set to downsize and move to Wester Balfunning Farm very soon.  A great opportunity to get rid of all the accumulated and often unnecessary junk we have gathered over the years.  A few trips to charity shops and recycling centres will be required I think.

I really hope that gate's wide enough!  (watch this video to find out)

Well done McCallum's Caravans - great job!

Water, Gas and Electricity

It’s been a hectic few weeks on site with all the main services now connected.  Some utility companies do generate excessive red tape though!

Traffic management for water connection.

Digging up the road to access the water main.

Domestic and commercial water supply

"The boys from the black stuff"  get the road repaired

LPG supply to mobile homes

Gas pipes pressure testing

Cable arrives for electric supply

Splicing the electricity cable

Connecting the electricity cable

Barn complete

Our barn is now complete.  The floor will never be this tidy again.

Some of the hard working team from Robinsons.  Thanks Artur and Rastick!

Newly laid topsoil over area where polytunnels will be erected July/August

Inside looking towards roller shutter

Inside looking towards dividing wall to cider house

What will be the cider house

Almost wind and water tight

Our barn is nearing completion.  Concrete floor, castle boarding and doors installed this week by Robinsons Scotland Ltd.

Timber cladding and doors being installed

The concrete floor being poured

Help were stuck!

It took two tractors to pull this heavy JCB tele-handler out of the soft stuff. Thanks to our neighbours Gordon and Malcolm for coming to the rescue at very short notice.

Progress continues apace at Wester Balfunning

Building work starts on the first building at Foragers Foods.  Our barn and cider house should be completed early May.

Most of the steelwork erected in 1 day

Safety netting in preparation for roofing

A beautiful day for verge cutting.

I took the opportunity (before the severe weather arrives tomorrow) to improve our sight lines by cutting down lots of bushes, brambles and scrub from the road side verge. In addition to planting a 2 acre orchard we will be encouraging biodiversity by planting new hedging, shrubs and trees over the next few years.

Looking east on A811

I reckon this oak was about 50 years old. A casualty of the 5th December storm.
Will need to invest in a larger chain saw!

Looking west on A811

Looking east on A811