News from Holmelacy Farm

Matthew is a fourth generation farmer in Tideswell, working with his dad, James, and brother,
Nathan, and as many hired hands as they can get.

To no one’s surprise, this year’s weather issue is the lack of rain. They’ve had to delay mowing
for silage because the grass hasn’t been growing enough, and it will burn if cut too short in
these dry conditions. They try to mow every 7-8 weeks, and if they get four cuts in a
spring/summer, that’s a good year. They’ve had to use up most of their existing silage, so this
last mow came at a good time, and just before the rain. So, once it’s been cut and stowed, it’s
time to spread the slurry to help with soil fertility, promoting the next growth.

Speaking of fertility, you will see lots of calves this year. The Shirts keep Holsteins, which are
dairy cattle, and they give birth every 14 months or so. They don’t go into heat when the
weather’s too hot or too cold, so if it’s good walking weather, you might see some frisky cows.
The lambs are the trademarks of spring and summer in Derbyshire, and Tideswell is blessed
with fields of sheep in the village. The lambs will disappear at the end of summer, and mating
season will begin around the beginning of November. It’s kale-planting time, as kale is a
winter-hardy nutritious crop for the sheep when other foraging is scarce.

In addition to maintaining their large animals, grass, and the 16 miles of stone walls to keep
them in, the Shirts also keep chickens and offer their eggs for sale by the roadside on Top Lane.
Matthew says they’re also experimenting with an acre of potatoes this year. Perhaps we’ll be
able to purchase potatoes along with eggs one day?

Laurie Wonnell