The birth of quins - Farmer Stuart Luxton celebrates the miracle of life in difficult times
Hello again. As you are all aware we are finding ourselves in very unusual times. If six months ago we had been told that we would all be confined to our homes with many businesses shut and the roads deserted, no-one would have believed you. While many people must be worried about the present and the future, it’s not all bad. I feel that many people will realise how much we have and how little we need.
We are also very very lucky that we live in rural Devon, not in a metropolis. I am currently sat in my garden listening to birdsong with the first house martins of the year flying overhead - not listening to cars, with planes flying overhead. There seems to be a heightened sense of community. People are helping neighbours and friends in their times of need. Many local businesses are delivering to the vulnerable.
The farm has been very different for me this spring. My parents are in their 70s and dad in particular would be classified as high risk in virus terms. As a family we took the decision that I would work at the shop and my sisters would look after the farm - I am allowed to pop into the farm but mustn’t get too close to anyone.
On the farm, lambing has gone well, the most memorable moment was one ewe having quins! Calving has so far gone exceptionally well and we started with a very high proportion of twins. We have also had some exceptional calves both from our new bulls (Sportsman and Black Bill) and from the AI bull we used last summer.
The straws of semen weren’t cheap, I like to think of them as the rock stars of the Aberdeen Angus world (Rawburn Jumbo Eric and Linton Gilbertines Powerhouse). The weather has been amazing for the last six weeks but we are now desperate for rain. It does look like we will be getting some very soon.
At Farmer Luxton’s things have changed beyond all recognition. Obviously, we have had to shut the café but in some ways that has been a blessing in disguise. The shop has been so busy that we would have struggled to cope with everything. The shop now has a one-way system and a strict policy of social distancing. We have used the café area to prepare orders which we deliver to the vulnerable. We also have a ring and collect service which has been very popular. It’s been a very steep learning curve, with every week presenting a new challenge, but all the staff have been absolutely amazing.
We soon realized that one phone line would be inadequate and had to upgrade to three. Some elderly people don’t know how to use the internet to shop, are scared and just want a friendly voice on the other end of the phone.
At the moment no one knows how long lock down will last but I have a feeling that unlocking won’t be as easy as locking down.
Bye for now everyone, stay safe, see you drekly.
Stuart Luxton