Farm Flooded
At 2 am this morning we were woken by a phone call from our neighbour to say that the beck had burst it’s bank and the village was flooded. The water was making it’s way up the lane, like a river in the neighbouring field and flowing quickly from our back field into the yard, veg patch and garden.
After a number of phonecalls to the other farm to see if that was flooded we decided to start sand bagging a corner of the back field. With no sand and only mud and plastic feedbags, 4 of us started to shovel soil into the bags and pile them high. Did we do any good? Only time will tell. My father in law said that the water was now only a trickle instead of the gushing torrent that it had been when we first encountered the problem.
By 5am we had run out of bags and energy from all the digging and headed back to the house to find that the water level was creeping up and creeping closer to the house. I practically swam to the poultry hut to check on the guinea fowl and Hatty. The veg patch is now a swimming pool and the garden is little by little disappearing from view.
Here are photos from about 5.30am this morning.
We are hoping that the flood doesn’t worsen, thank heavens it’s not raining still. What makes matters worse for us is that we have two farms flooded and not just one.
I will give you updates as events change.
Flooding Weather
Oh Sara, I am SO sorry to read this … there’ll undoubtedly be a horrible mess when the waters subside, but let’s hope there’s not too much damage, and that you don’t lose any livestock.
Thinking of you
Joanna
joannasfood.blogspot.com
Comment by Joanna — June 26, 2007 @ 6:46 am
Hi Joanna,
Thank you so much for your kind thoughts. Yes the clean up will be a big job I fear. Livestock seem ok at the moment.
Sara @ Farming Friends
Comment by Sara @ Farming Friends — June 26, 2007 @ 6:49 am
Oh Sara! I’m so sorry that this happened. How sad to see all your hard work under water. I’ll be thinking of you and hoping that the water recedes quickly and everything isn’t a total loss. Maybe all the area lovely topsoil will be deposited into your garden.
(It’s the only silver lining I could think of.)
Michelle
Comment by Michelle — June 26, 2007 @ 7:18 am
Hi Michelle,
Thank you so much for your kind thoughts. We are hoping that it doesn’t come into the house. My garden is certainly awash now!
Sara @ farming friends
Comment by Sara @ Farming Friends — June 26, 2007 @ 8:19 am
Sara
We were so sorry to hear about your flood. What a terrible shock for you. We hope the cattle in the photo remained on dry ground & that you will soon be dried out
Mike
www.topveg.com
Comment by Mike — June 26, 2007 @ 7:00 pm
Hi Mike,
Thank you for your sympathy. I am pleased to say that the cattle have managed to stay dry and are actually enjoying running through the water.
Sara @ farmingfriends
Comment by Sara @ Farming Friends — June 26, 2007 @ 7:30 pm
Sara!!! I don’t know what to say. I am soooo sorry to see this has happened to you. Perhaps there will be some kind of aid for everyone to get back on their feet? You’re truely in my prayers.
Comment by Lynn — June 26, 2007 @ 10:28 pm
Hi Lynn,
Thank you so much for your prayers and positive thoughts. We won’t know the full extent of the damage until the flood waters go done. They have now stopped rising so lets hope the drop quickly.
Sara @ farmingfriends
Comment by Sara @ Farming Friends — June 26, 2007 @ 11:30 pm
Here in Oregon, I’m thinking of you and your lovely farm, animals, beloved plants, and family. Thank goodness you are all OK and healthy! Good things always follow things such as this. I cannot wait to hear about your future good fortune!
Comment by BoggyWoggy — June 27, 2007 @ 3:54 am
Hi BoggyWoggy,
Thank you so much for your kind words all the way from Oregon. Your positive thoughts and words lifted our spirits.
Sara @ farmingfriends
Comment by Sara @ Farming Friends — June 27, 2007 @ 8:36 am
Oh Sara, you poor thing. The trials of this life…I am thinking of you. Please let us know how you get on.
Comment by Melissa — June 27, 2007 @ 9:13 am
Hi Melissa,
Thank you so much for your kind words and thoughts. I am pleased to say that the flood level has reduced down the lane and hasn’t got into the house although the other farmhouse has been flooded.
Sara @ farmingfriends
Comment by Sara @ Farming Friends — June 27, 2007 @ 10:01 am
Sara - We are thinking of you with all this disruption and mess to deal with. I hope the water subsides soon and hasn’t ruined everything.
Comment by Charlotte — June 27, 2007 @ 12:10 pm
Hi Charlotte,
Thank you for your kind thoughts. Until the water levels fall we cannot assess the full extent of the damage. Lots of crops are sitting in water and the level is not reducing very quickly.
Sara @ farmingfriends
Comment by Sara @ Farming Friends — June 27, 2007 @ 12:30 pm
Hi Sara,
You poor thing - it must be terrible. We’ve all been watching the flooding on telly, but it’s impossible to imagine how bad it really is unless you’re the one who’s affected. We’re keeping our fingers crossed the water doesn’t reach your house. Chin up…
Comment by tim relf — June 27, 2007 @ 12:44 pm
Flood damage…
It’s hard to imagine how terrible it must be to be affected by the flooding. I read this morning that Field Day reader and fellow blogger Sara was woken in the early hours to find her farm has been……
Trackback by Field Day — June 27, 2007 @ 1:14 pm
Hi Tim,
Thank you so much for your thoughts and kind words. I am pleased to say that it has not gone in our house although the farm machinery and crops are badly affected.
Thank you also for your article.
Sara @ farmingfriends
Comment by Sara @ Farming Friends — June 27, 2007 @ 1:15 pm
Blimey. I hope the damage isn’t too bad. Best wishes.
Comment by Adam — June 27, 2007 @ 1:16 pm
Hi Adam,
Thank you so much for your best wishes. Only one of the farmhouses has been flooded inside but we have alot of crops and machinery standing in water.
Sara @ farmingfriends
Comment by Sara @ Farming Friends — June 28, 2007 @ 12:56 pm
[…] About 100ml of rain fell in Hull over a 24 hour period making over 40 schools close and  thousands of people homeless. Police struggled to control looters and many people were in a state of panic.  My son (pictuted here sailing a boat outside our house) was sent home from school and I have to take time off work to look after him until school reopens. The lives of ordinairy people like my friend Sara from Farming Friends were turned upside down. Crops were damaged and when it comes to harvest time, yields will be less. […]
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