The Journal

Life at Martins Farm

The Oast, the meadow, the Morgan and the daily business of looking after the estate.

These are the stories closest to home: The Oast and its AGA, the meadow, the weather, family life and the machinery that sometimes chooses to participate. They record the daily business of looking after Martins Farm, along with the ideas taking shape here. Some weeks produce a useful lesson; others produce a Journal article about why the Morgan has not left the yard. Read alongside the history collection for a longer view of the place.

Latest in Life at Martins Farm

Old apple orchard and long grass meadow in summer light at Martins Farm

27 August 20266 minutes

The Birds Were Fine. The Gravel Was Not.

An attempt at responsible field management involving one not-quite-tractor, a flail mower, a missing iPhone, a loose hydraulic arm and a very recently laid drive.

The Hine family in the British Racing Green 1980 Morgan 4/4

19 August 20263 minutes

The Morgan and the High Weald Drive That Nearly Happened

After nearly two days on a trickle charger, the Martins Farm Morgan finally starts—just as the East Sussex rain arrives and the High Weald drive slips away.

The cream RBM Panda Air Large canvas tent glowing with warm string lights on the lawn at Martins Farm after dark, with trees and the play area behind it.

15 August 20267 minutes

The Summer the Tent Won

When the British weather finally delivered a proper summer, our Victorian farmhouse responded by turning itself into a beautifully appointed storage heater. So we moved into the garden.

British Racing Green 1980 Morgan 4/4 in the barn at Martins Farm with its bonnet raised and a battery charger attached.

15 August 20262 minutes

Old Cars Are Wonderful — Until You Want to Drive One

The sun comes out, everyone is ready, and the 1980 Morgan 4/4 has other ideas.

Looking from the kitchen door at The Oast into the sitting and dining space, with a wooden floor, exposed beams, a dining table and chairs and a grey sofa beyond

14 August 20264 minutes

The AGA and the barbecue: a summer disagreement

A cast-iron stove that is never switched off, a barbecue that is never quite hot enough, and a household that has decided the answer to two AGAs is a third.