DispatchMembers
Sunday dispatch: hedgerows, harvest mice and a broken baler
This week's notebook for members: what I saw, what I read and one recipe.
By Mara Ellison
· 5 min read
Audio version for members · 8 min
Good morning from a week that went mostly sideways. The baler on the neighbouring farm broke on Tuesday, in the one dry window we had, and I spent an afternoon learning more than I expected to about shear bolts. More on that below, along with harvest mice, a book and a crumble.
What I saw. The hedgerow along the bottom field was cut on Wednesday, late enough this year that the blackberries and sloes had their chance. In the stubble afterwards, a harvest mouse nest, round as a cricket ball and woven entirely from living grass. I left it where it was and walked the long way home.
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Good morning from a week that went mostly sideways. The baler on the neighbouring farm broke on Tuesday, in the one dry window we had, and I spent an afternoon learning more than I expected to about shear bolts. More on that below, along with harvest mice, a book and a crumble.
What I saw. The hedgerow along the bottom field was cut on Wednesday, late enough this year that the blackberries and sloes had their chance. In the stubble afterwards, a harvest mouse nest, round as a cricket ball and woven entirely from living grass. I left it where it was and walked the long way home.
What I read. Hester Coyle's new book on field boundaries, which argues, convincingly, that a hedge is the most underrated piece of farm infrastructure we have: fence, windbreak, larder and wildlife corridor at once. I'll be talking to her for a members' interview in November.
The baler. It was fixed by Thursday, by a mechanic who arrived with a box of parts, a flask, and the air of a man who has seen every way a baler can fail. The bales were made on Friday. It rained on Saturday. Nobody said anything, but everyone was smiling.
One recipe: hedgerow crumble
- Two cooking apples, peeled and sliced, and a good handful of blackberries.
- A spoon of honey and a squeeze of lemon over the fruit.
- Rub 100g butter into 150g flour and 50g oats, then stir in 75g brown sugar.
- Scatter over the fruit and bake at 180°C for 35 minutes, until it bubbles at the edges.
19 comments
Newest firstYusuf DemirMemberSep 21
Made the crumble with the last of our damsons instead of blackberries. Recommend.
Ines HalvorsenMemberSep 22
A harvest mouse nest! I've never seen one. Thank you for leaving it be.