It's been very, very wet, but it's now starting to feel like spring is finally on its way!
The evenings are stretching out, the snowdrops and daffodils are popping up, and it's beginning to feel like warmer days are on the way – we hope!
January 12 marked this year's 'Plough Monday', an old English tradition that signalled the true start of the farming year – and the end of the Christmas break.
Rooted in religion, the day followed Plough Sunday, when the church blessed the plough, the workers, and the land.
The plough was scrubbed clean, brightly decorated, and paraded through the village to collect money for the 'plough light', a candle lit to bring good luck and a good harvest.
Refusing to donate wasn’t advised – those who didn’t contribute might wake up to find their garden neatly ploughed up as punishment!
For the plough boys, it was also a rare chance to earn some money during a long, hard winter.
Our Young Farmers Club closed for January because of the dark nights, wet weather and to give our volunteers a break.
But we have now restarted in February and have got plenty of exciting meetings planned for the coming month.
As always, details of the meetings can be found on the YFC Facebook (Isle of Wight Young Farmers Club) and Instagram (isleofwightYFC) so if you’d like to join the club please do come along!
On Saturday, January 31, The New Holmwood in Cowes hosted the annual Gilten Market Dinner, welcoming over 60 members of the Island's farming community for an evening of great food and company.
The dinner featured a fantastic menu of local produce, with Gilten Market chairman, Matt Legge, saying "it was a lovely evening, bringing together local farmers to enjoy delicious food and great company".
A highlight of the evening was a raffle in aid of the High Sheriff's Trust.
The event also offered a great opportunity for networking, with a special thank you to Duxmore Botanics for sponsoring discounted tickets for some of our young farmers – giving the next generation a chance to get involved and make connections.
The Isle of Wight Farming Conference 2026, held on Thursday, February 12 at Barton Manor, was another standout event for the Island's agricultural community.
Bringing together farmers, land managers, and rural professionals, the conference focused on "Tools to Succeed," with a full day of thought-provoking panel sessions, expert insights, practical discussions and even some after-lunch exercise!
Organised by Wight Rural Hub, the programme covered key topics such as technology in farming, business resilience and wellbeing, with plenty of opportunities for networking and learning.
The event equipped attendees with valuable knowledge and connections to support their businesses and the future of farming on the Island, making it a memorable and impactful day.
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