It has been a difficult few weeks here in Redwood.
As you know Alfie was in hospital for a couple of weeks, followed by more weeks on medication. Then to compound it all I got struck by some bug…. nothing serious just days of discomfort and total exhaustion.
All of this forced us to think about what we are doing here. Owing to human illness our ‘production’ has dropped dramatically this year which naturally means no sales. You can’t sell what you don’t have!
Keeping pigs is not difficult, but it is physical.
While Alfie was in hospital he worried about me out feeding the pigs on my own. I don’t mind feeding them, it is jsut heavy work carrying meal and water to them. However, there are other aspects that I just can’t manage on my own…. like loading them onto a trailer! And, in fact, while I can drive forward with a trailer on the car, do NOT ever ask me to reverse the car with a trailer on. Co-ordination goes out the window!
So this past couple of weeks, we’ve had to seriously consider whether to continue on with what we are doing. Can we afford to keep going? No sales, means a serious drop in income and there are still many mouths to feed.
The decision, after much tossing and turning of sleepless nights, and churning out different ideas and plans, is that we will fight back.
It is going to take time. We have, we hope, come up with a scheme that will kick into place should illness strike again.
So we are back working on getting pork to people. Four pigs loaded into the trailer this evening for their final journey tomorrow!
Perky has had her new litter.
The Gloucester Old Spots are growing nicely.
And just when we had made the decision to continue, look what arrived in the post!
Thank you so so much to John and Sally McKenna – you have no idea how timely this was! For non-locals John and Sally produce the best guides to food and places to eat and stay in Ireland – don’t travel without their guide. To have our pork included as a ‘Best in Ireland’, well that is such an honour.
So we’re back, and we’d be delighted to take your orders!
A Year In Redwood 
Welcome back xx And glad Alfie is back to good health. I am certain it was your Florence Nightingale skills :0) Huge congrats on the McKenna award .. It is well earned. Hope to see you soon xx
Mona, thank you for the encouragement! It really does help!
M
We used to have a large farm.As my health declined and I needed to do something about not being a huge burden on our budget,I had a building on the farm turned into a house and offered it free of charge to a family that would do all the chores on the farm.i put the ad up at all the local churches. We had a run on the house but no one wanted to work. I was losing hope when I was told to talk to the local Mormon church. There,I found many who were interested to help. We settled on a young couple who had very little experience.they turned out to be the right choice! Today they own our old farm,have expanded and they still keep in touch.
Lisa-Marie, what a lovely story! So glad it worked out for you.
We shall soldier on here, it is even good to just make a decision 🙂
I’m sure coming to the decision to continue was a very tough one indeed but I’m sure that you made the right one. Things are starting to look up and I wish you all the best with your endeavors. Congratulations on the birth of the new piglets and on this wonderful award!
Thank you Paula. It is good to have made the decision! There were, as you can imagine, lots and lots of forwards and back discussions 🙂
Always tough to make a decision like that, but you’ve made the right one, I’m sure. Well done on the award, and glad you are both well again.
Thank you Colette. You and J have always been so supportive, it is much appreciated!
well done good decision….really hope it,all works out!
Thank you Breda. It is nice to know of all the support out there!
Onwards and upwards Margaret! Congratulations on your lovely award x
Thanks Fiona! It has been a tough few weeks, but now that decision is made we shall be able to move on.
So enjoyed reading your blog especially as you are fighting back – great. You will be even better than you were before. Take care of yourselves and loads and loads of luck. xx
Thank you Lynne.
People have been so supportive. It is so nice to know that folks are supporting us.
I’m so glad you decided to persevere! Your adventures and travails are very inspirational, and I’m always glad to read of them. Besides, your photos are divine!
Thank you so much!
Will definitely keep you updated on the travails of life here!
I’m delighted to read the end of this. It must be very difficult alright but it’s really great that you’ve decided to keep going. And that award is just brilliant news – well done all. Sx
Thank you Sile. Yes, reaching the decision was tough, but now that it is made it is time to get going! 🙂
Sorry to hear that you have been having a difficult time but delighted to hear you will keep going plus congratulations on the award! So great to get something like that when you need it most : )
Jane, thank you so much for your lovely comment. It was so nice to get the award, it could not have been timed better!
Fair play to you guys for keeping your chin up and giant congratulations on your award, I’m absolutely thrilled for you. 🙂
Thank you Kate.
We’ve been absolutely blown away by all the support from people both at home and away.
Margaret
[…] We were so lucky to have so many orders for hams and pork pre-Christmas which made the weeks leading up to Christmas crazy, crazy busy. As we had orders to go to every corner of the country, we decided to implement one of the changes we had come up with in our review of tactics. […]