At Glensaugh we are continuing to sell finished lambs from grass, always reducing overall stocking density as we move towards autumn. Our suckled calves have been vaccinated to cover them against a broad range of respiratory diseases in readiness for weaning and housing. Meanwhile all our deer calves have been weaned to their winter quarters in the “Black Shed”.
On Saturday 18 September we participated in Aberdeenshire Council’s Doors Open Day during which we ran two informal tours of the steading and research facilities. This was an opportunity to engage with members of the public who in most cases had no connection with farming or land-based research. Our next meeting will be held on 7 October when we once again play host to the Soil Association (last here in May). This time the title of the meeting is Developing On-Farm Renewables, an area where there is broad interest within the rural community. Speakers will include Maitland Mackie, who has championed wind power in the rural sector, and Ian Cowe, The Forestry Commission’s Biomass Development Officer who has helped us develop our own biomass project.
Biomass is project of the month at Glensaugh; we have now cleared the site for the boiler and this week we are installing services between the boiler house site and Glensaugh Lodge, as well as undergrounding our incoming electricity supply. The installation of these services will open the way towards installation of the plant itself which is presently being shipped from Poland.
