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See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Original poster

Farming topic for Harvest Widows

29 replies

GinAndOnIt · 20/07/2016 13:30

And general agricultural chat/moans.

Its been discussed on Chat and I know there are lots of threads that get posted but often not seen by us lonely fuckers people who could do with a bit of support and solidarity when DPs/DHs are working endless hours and we forget what they look like.

OP posts:
Effster23 · 20/07/2016 17:44

Oh yes please! That'd be fab - we've had some really great/funny/useful posts over the years but they disappear on chat.

Original poster
GinAndOnIt · 21/07/2016 19:39

Just us two then Eff? I'm really missing DP this week :(

OP posts:
Effster23 · 21/07/2016 21:29

Seems so. DH is around this week, well, the amount of hay in my washing machine says he is, but I've hardly seen him.

MNHQ
EmmanuelleMumsnet · 21/07/2016 23:17

Just checking in to say we've seen this, and we'll continue to keep an eye to see how much interest there is.

Hay in the washing machine sounds like a nightmare... mine is currently clogged up with sand from the sandpit.

Original poster
GinAndOnIt · 22/07/2016 09:15

Thanks Emmanuelle, I know there are lots of us so hopefully a few more will come across this thread.

There has been rain! Hurrah! I managed to see DP for an hour this morning :)

OP posts:
CunningStunt1 · 22/07/2016 09:25

Hi!
Long suffering farmer's wife here!
We're abroad (Europe) and have so far cut our barley and rapeseed. A very depressing harvest so far, nearly 50% down on last year.
How is it in the UK?

Original poster
GinAndOnIt · 22/07/2016 10:00

Loving the name Cunning! Rape is not great here, we've decided this will be the last year. Which is a shame, because I liked having it steamed with my dinner.

Proper harvest hasn't started for us yet, but DP has been foraging for others.

OP posts:
liquidrevolution · 22/07/2016 10:07

Am a bit of an interloper as DH is a part time tractor driver as no full time work available for him here. So he has a day job and then works eves and weekends driving. Just waiting for the combine calls in the next few weeks... most people don't understand so a dedicated topic would be ace.

Original poster
GinAndOnIt · 22/07/2016 10:14

Non-farming people don't get it, and DP doesn't get that others organise their time because they know their schedule in advance. It's a logistical nightmare.

I need to collect an armchair from an eBay seller, and need his truck to do it. He told me to tell the seller he'll pop in one day when there's a quiet half hour, but he won't know in advance. I've no idea how to coordinate this. Arghhh

OP posts:
whojamaflip · 22/07/2016 10:23

Me please! Beef and sheep here but dh also contracts - he was in a foul mood last night as the 30% chance of a light shower turned into 5 hours of persistent rain. Grass on the floor wasn't quite fit to bale so has now been soaked Sad

Still it meant I saw dh at breakfast instead of him disappearing off at some ungodly hour this morning.

CunningStunt1 · 22/07/2016 11:06

Don't get me started on the bloody weather!

FruOla · 22/07/2016 16:15

I live in London. I have absolutely nothing to do with farming whatsoever. But over the years I've noticed that many MNers are farmers or farmers' wives.

So I'm quite surprised to see that there isn't a Farming topic. I agree with PPs, I think a Farming topic is important. Those of us who are townies need to realise the importance of agriculture.

Up with this sort of thing Grin

Original poster
GinAndOnIt · 22/07/2016 16:32

Hurray, thanks for the support Fru!

OP posts:
whojamaflip · 23/07/2016 09:57

Morning - sun is shining here again so fingers crossed we get the hay in today - dh was out at 4.30 am spraying and has just phoned to say he isn't going to get back for breakfast and can I bring some lunch out to him.........somewhere in the county apparently - no doubt I will get the usual type of directions - take the gate by the big oak tree, cross the field then take the second gate on the right - I should be in that field somewhere!Grin

Effster23 · 23/07/2016 11:12

Morning all, we're off to a wedding today.
When I say we, I mean me and the dc - dh is meeting us for the reception (my cousin knows he's missing the service but rocking up for feeding!) and maybe some of the evening do.

Such is life!

Oh and ds seems to be acquiring a goat next week. Part of me wants to ignore this until it actually happens; but I suspect it is an agreed thing already.

Original poster
GinAndOnIt · 23/07/2016 11:31

Gorgeous day here too. I wish DP would let me bring him lunch, instead he starves himself if he runs out of sandwiches and eats everything we own on his return in the wee hours of the next morning.

Hope you enjoy the wedding Eff. Nothing exciting happening here, DP still foraging. I'm painting some furniture in the garden and then off to PIL's to house/dog sit until Monday. They have a pool so I can't complain, and I intend to get some more cuttings from their garden.

OP posts:
whojamaflip · 24/07/2016 20:17

Bit of a bump Smile

The trouble with starting this thread now is that most of us farmers wives / other halves are out and about chasing the tractors and dealing with problems, fetching parts when they have broken down, dealing with the day to day crap and generally trying to hold the whole show together which leaves little time for mnetting doing anything else! GrinWink

Anyway the sun has been shining, the hay is in and dh is in a much better mood! Just about to go and try and catch some rather lame lambs which should be great fun - not! Hmm

WellErrr · 24/07/2016 20:24

I need to collect an armchair from an eBay seller, and need his truck to do it. He told me to tell the seller he'll pop in one day when there's a quiet half hour, but he won't know in advance. I've no idea how to coordinate this

THIS IS SO TRUE.

We absolutely need a farming topic! They could get rid of the EU referendum one, I think 3/4 of mumsnet have it hidden anyway Grin

DH is shearing. I haven't seen him for weeks. I need the grass cut and 3 trees planting and at 36 weeks pregnant with spd I can't do it myself.
Oh and I miss him too, of course Grin

Original poster
GinAndOnIt · 24/07/2016 20:27

Our grass still needs cutting too! No pregnancy here to use as an excuse, I just hate it! Today I resorted to LOUDLY TELLING THE CAT in the garden that the grass is too long while next door was getting his mower out. Alas, he didn't get the hint Grin

I need to invest in a ride-on...

OP posts:
Original poster
GinAndOnIt · 24/07/2016 20:28

Ps, a very lovely friend offered to help with the eBay collection. And delivered it to my door!

OP posts:
Original poster
GinAndOnIt · 30/07/2016 18:00

Just checking in to give the thread a bit of a bump, and to see how the others are doing. Has anyone started full on harvest yet?

DP finished work early today at 3.30pm (yay!) and has been asleep on the sofa since Grin

OP posts:
Scrowy · 30/07/2016 18:10

MNHQ started a 'rural living' topic a few years ago following a similar request from farmers. It started off well but for overtaken by folk asking about moving to other often not very rural areas. We could try and reclaim that topic or ask for it to be renamed 'farming lives' or summat to make it a bit clearer?

Original poster
GinAndOnIt · 30/07/2016 18:24

Scrowy we were discussing that on a thread that sparked the idea for this request. I didn't know it existed and had a browse and saw nothing farm related at all! I think it needs a more specific 'farm' name.

OP posts:
megletthesecond · 30/07/2016 18:30

As a beginner allotment-er I find large scale farming interesting so I'd rather appreciate a farming thread. I've noticed the farmers often call in on radio 1 competitions, until then I'd never thought about the amount of time they spend out there.

Bragadocia · 30/07/2016 18:34

I love reading the farming threads on MN. Agriculture only affects me as a consumer, but whenever I see threads like this, I always follow them to see what you're all up to.