The first bracken harvest

Hurrah! The first bracken harvest is done.

bracken
bracken waiting for the shredder


A little late, but I always say that. At least our newly planted coppices, lower and upper, have been cleared so the young trees can actually see some sunlight.
Not for long though – the one thing with bracken is it is so relentless. It will soon be time to start again …

It’s a good thing I enjoy it, I suppose. Another early morning job for me: everything is waking up, the air ranges from slightly damp to welsh sodden. It always feels good and reminds me why I am here.

Once it is picked, it is a bit more laborious – carting it across the hillside in a wheelbarrow to the barn, and then shredding it. I have a n electric shredder for that – all mod cons.

Finally, it is bagged up and sits in a pile waiting to be mixed in with the waste alpaca fleece, and alpaca poo … and from there, it is magically transformed into amazing compost!

How satisfying. Meanwhile the second crop is just about ready to be pulled, … just time for a few buttercups and brambles in between …