ZOE COLVILLE ON LIFESTYLE CHANGES

By Zoe Colville, The Chief Shepherdess

There was a time in my life when 'shopping' meant starting the day with breakfast and a glass of alcohol, then giggling with girlfriends in changing rooms while the sales assistant gave us disapproving looks. It meant deep marks on my forearms from carrying heavy shopping bags and a strained bank account. Oh, how things have changed since I altered my lifestyle.

You can no longer find me on the famous bustling shopping streets, whose stores lure me in with their glittering "Sale" signs and the seductive scent of bergamot and orange blossoms. If we take a day off to go "shopping," it no longer means mimosa cocktails and pancakes, but rather greasy English breakfast and a coffee in a cheap takeaway cup. I sip my coffee as I wander the noisy aisles, but this time I'm not looking for the perfect jacket and the trendiest sweater. Instead, a woolly face stares at me from one stall after another, as if to ask, "What are you looking at?".

A sheep's gestation period is about five months. For lambs to be born in spring – just in time for the changing seasons when fresh grass sprouts – the males must be introduced in autumn. This means we spend a lot from September onwards.

We need new ewes to carry lambs, as we would have already sold those 'retiring'. And we also buy new male sheep, also known as rams or tups. This means we might drive to appointments all over the country to buy from breeders we like or know. It can also mean attending auctions where, not infrequently, thousands of sheep are sold to the highest bidder.

This environment used to intimidate me; I felt like an outsider because I didn't know the names of the breeds or simply didn't understand what the announcer was saying over the microphone – and I always thought I spoke fast! But everyone was so friendly that it didn't take long for me to feel comfortable enough to bid and get carried away by the excitement. Buying livestock in autumn... it's like an adrenaline rush and comes with a lot of excitement that you don't experience at any other time of year. Will they have good lambs? Is this breed the future of our flock? It's uncertain, but it's also fun; it's not without risks, prices can fluctuate, and so can the weather, but it's also why we work in agriculture. We like to be kept on our toes; every season and every year brings new challenges. 

About The Little Farm Fridge

Zoe spent the majority of her childhood outdoors, building dens and playing with her imaginary animals. At 18 she moved to London to train as a hairdresser, where she spent all her time until she met Chris and gradually moved back to Kent. Gradually, they acquired more and more animals and now have a whole flock of animals grazing across the county (and beyond). One thing is for sure: the passion for their animals is ubiquitous. No matter how wet the winter or how dry the summer – they always strive for the best.

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