By Richard Tory

LOTS of exciting news to report on this month. Firstly on the mainstream farming front there's good news from the pigs as Boris the boar is a Daddy as Doris the saddleback is now a proud mother to a litter of seven piglets who are all doing well.

Calf numbers are currently exactly 100, with a few more being sold than coming into the farm so we'll be looking to up the numbers again. They have been coughing a bit with this recent cold weather so we've been working on achieving the optimum balance between ventilation and warmth. The cultivator has also been busy in the fields preparing the soil for the spring crops that will be sown in February, clearing weeds and reducing compactment.

We're still busy with diversification plans and are feeling even more festive than normal at this time of year, and are very excited to announce that for the first time we will be opening a pop up Christmas tree shop at Charisworth. 

The doors open on Saturday, November 26 and we will have a selection of non-drop Nordmann and Fraser fir trees alongside the traditional Christmas tree with that unrivalled festive aroma. 

Full details of opening hours, days and a couple of special launch events will be on the Charisworth Facebook page imminently so please do check it and come and use it as an opportunity to visit the farm - remembering of course that you can also get those other essentials such as a farm reared turkey (needs pre booking) and logs for the fire at the same time! 

Also we have recently heard that Teddy Rocks has been granted a licence to come to the farm for their 2017 event. We are very excited to be hosting such a high profile event supporting such a wonderful cause- Teddy 20 is charity set up to support children fighting cancer. Tom Newton, the festival founder was recently runner up at the pride of Britain awards and the charity is set up in memory of his brother Ted who sadly lost his battle with Ewing’s Sarcoma. Further details can be found on the Teddy Rocks Facebook page, and we are looking forward to welcoming them to the farm.

And finally after a small lull the hog roasts are busy at Christmas festivals. Thursday, December 8 I'm in Dorchester for the Christmas Cracker and on December 14 Blandford Yuletide festival. 

So I look forward to reporting next month on our festive ventures and hope I can manage to fit in my Christmas shopping at some point!