At Lokkelebery Vineyard there is never a dull moment. This is mainly down to the fact that when we are not growing a vineyard, we are growing other crops on the rest of the farm instead, such as barley, oats and wheat.
As arable farmers, there is no busier time for us than summer, when our cereal crops finally ripen and are ready to be harvested. Luckily, since grapes are harvested in October and only need some maintenance in summer, we are able to just about balance our tasks.
This week we harvested our barley and made hay. The barley will hopefully go off for beer brewing. It was a wonderful moment standing in the vineyard and watching the combine approach in the neighbouring field as it cut the barley. The new crop meets the old one!
It is amazing to think that on one farm so many of our daily food stuffs are produced; beer, porridge, digestive biscuits, and one day, wine! We also have cattle (belonging to a neighbouring farmer) grazing in the pastures next to the vineyard. So you can add locally-reared beef to the list too! However, we are not alone in all that we grow. Farmers up and down the country are doing the same and have been for generations.
We are proud to grow for the nation, whether that be grapes for wine, beer for barley or wheat for biscuits. #backbritishfarming #redtractor