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Watching over the flock at Nether Springs

This morning was like any other overcast Northumbrian February morning, apart from one significant difference. Our neighbours, Andy and Lorna, walked twelve young Shetland Sheep ewes two miles down the roads to their new home at Hetton Hall. This wasn’t because they’d discovered some new exercise regime, but because lambing season this year means that they’re running out of space on their small-holding. So some of their sheep have taken up temporary residence here, and will be eating the grass in our front field until we all move on in August. In exchange for the grass, Andy and Lorna are giving us some veg from their garden and some eggs from their hens. A good deal all round.

 

 

There’s a few reasons that I’ve been looking forward to this:

>   It’s nice to have some livestock about the place – the sheep are pretty friendly so they’ll probably come and say hello if you take a walk in their field. Animals are also very discrete, you can tell them anything and it doesn’t go any further, although it has to be said that my grandma’s budgie was partial to a bit of gossip!

>   It’s great to grow a friendship with our neighbours and to be able to support each other, even in this small way. There’s something wonderful about not having to exchange any money.

>   It’s good to feel that tiny bit closer to the land.

Chatting to folk who’ve passed through the Hall over this last few weeks has made me realise that there’s quite a few of you out there raising a few hens, herding a few sheep, keeping more than a few bees, or growing some veg and herbs. As we ponder ‘How then shall we live?’ it seems to me that this stuff is important. I suspect you’ll find me blogging about it as we look to the new Mother House. In the meantime, here’s some poetry from that farmer theologian, Wendell Berry:

 

“I dream of a quiet man
who explains nothing and defends
nothing, but only knows
where the rarest wildflowers
are blooming, and who goes,
and finds that he is smiling
not by his own will.”