tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32584840599993832142024-03-15T01:47:58.240+11:00Glut: a year in my patchThis blog once described my veggie garden adventures in suburbia. Now, these city folk have moved to the bush. There will be veggie dramas, encounters with wildlife, efforts at conservation and tales of our local area. gardengluthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11878662637625011658noreply@blogger.comBlogger330125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3258484059999383214.post-34357190751129179282014-02-15T12:08:00.001+11:002014-02-15T12:08:24.568+11:00Show GirlWell the results are in from the 123rd Gundagai Agricultural Show. This is the first time I have entered this show, last year I was just an observer. I entered produce into Section S - Jams and Jellies.<br />
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I entered <i>Class 10 - Peach Jam, any flavour</i>. I put in two jars into this class mostly because I have a peach glut to deal with. My Peppered peach and Rosemary Jam was awarded Second Prize.<br />
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Me of little faith - I though this unusual flavour combo might be a little too odd for the Judges!<br />
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I also entered <i>Class 13 - Tomato Jam, any flavour.</i> I submitted a jar of the Tomato and Chilli Jam I got a second with last year at the Adelong Show and also got a Second Prize.Yay!<br />
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I had hoped to have some produce for submission to Section P - Vegetables but the last week long heatwave destroyed that idea. I had particularly wanted to enter <i>Classes 26 and 27 - Three zucchinis under 18cm (Green and Yellow)</i>. I think you will agree that these items are not fit for submission...<br />
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I don't know about you but the moment that the temperature goes into the mid to high 30s my zucchinis fail to fertilize. Perhaps the bees all die or at least are too hot to be bothered collecting pollen.<br />
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And I had also hoped to submit entries into <i>Class 28 - A Bunch of Chillies</i>. My chilli plants have been some of the toughest survivors of the 4 week long heat waves we suffered this year, I was feeling confident, but the fruit proved less resilient. Most chillies simultaneously dried and turned red on the bush.<br />
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It's been a tough summer, still despite these failures we pick enough to keep us fed - we hardly buy any vegetables at all.<br />
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Today there is the hope that the summer is over. Today we have had our first rain for a good while and it is cool and misty. Perhaps the cooler weather will mean I have some vegetable produce in a fit state for the Palindrome (Tumut) and Adelong Shows.<br />
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May your vegetables be fit for submission and my your jars be full of jam.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16547410700199878385noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3258484059999383214.post-29292030017175004192014-02-10T13:26:00.000+11:002014-02-11T12:42:27.844+11:00Harvest Monday - 10 Feb '14It's been a peach of a week - not weather wise but produce wise. <br />
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The weather has been hot and horrible ( hopefully the last heatwave of the year...) but the peaches have started to ripen in earnest and the hot weather means the scent of ripening peaches fills the air.<br />
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There have been peaches for breakfast and lunch. There has been the making of peach jam- this one is a savoury jam with rosemary and black pepper. We've sampled it already with some of our home raised lamb - it's very good with lamb! I'm planning on entering a jar in this week's Gundagai Agricultural Show. It might be a little weird though?<br />
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I'm also scanning the peach trees to try to find three beautiful peaches for the Fruit section of the Gundagai Show. If I can get three that look like this one, I'll possibly enter them.<br />
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There have also been Peach Tomatoes. These are a yellow fruit with a furry skin. The flavour is quite mild but the best thing about them is that they have been good performers in the hot weather - perhaps the fury outside protects the skin of the tomato.<br />
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The other tomatoes are producing too. The pear shaped tomatoes have been particularly productive, as have the <i>Jaune Flamme, Cherokee Purple </i>and <i>Verna Orange</i> all seeds generously provided by Yvonne.<br />
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Most nights we eat a tomato salad with yellow long capsicums with our meal.<br />
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This is this morning's pick...<br />
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again peaches and tomatoes with a few small ( but very crunchy!) cucumbers, zucchini and small green capsicums. The grapes are a generous gift from our neighbours who cut all their grapes this morning and had their glut to share! Thank you folk of the river flats!<br />
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That's the Harvest for the week. I'm contributing this to <a href="http://daphnesdandelions.blogspot.com.au/2014/02/harvest-monday-february-10th-2014.html">Daphne's Harvest Monday</a>. Pop over to hers to see OPP (other people's produce).Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16547410700199878385noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3258484059999383214.post-38977984071076717122014-02-04T20:23:00.001+11:002014-02-04T20:23:22.546+11:00So many reasons...Finally, after an extremely hot week, there is a cool breeze. Actually, it's not really a breeze, its much more forceful than that, nevertheless is is refreshing... finally!<br />
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It's been a long week of relentless sun which was finally broken last night by this wind. As a consequence I woke this morning at about 2am and sat bolt upright seemly smelling bushfire smoke thru my sleep. I immediately checked the Facebook of the Rural Fire Service who handily posted that smoke from the Cooma fire was all over our valleys but there was nothing to worry about.<br />
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Phew, somewhat relieved but now wide awake I lay on top of the bed, for the first time in days with a sheet <i>and</i> a blanket and watched with awe and trepidation the night sky light up with dry lightening strikes - just the sort that start fires around here.<br />
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There have been so many reasons why I haven't blogged but the heat has been the biggest one. That combined with the fact that my very old lap top even on a cold day emits a tremendous amount of heat has made blogging not just unattractive but downright foolish and possibly life threatening, or at least leg burning.<br />
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It's also hard to get inspired about blogging when after three massive heat waves your produce looks like this!<br />
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It may be hard to recognise these items as vegetables... let me run you thru the items you see...<br />
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<i>Rocket</i> - sun burnt leaves.<br />
Pear shaped tomatoes - yep, they are pear-shaped with sun scald!<br />
Speckled Roman tomato - terrible blossom end rot. For some reason this variety is particularly sensitive to this affliction caused in part by irregular watering.<br />
<i>Chilli</i> - semi dried on the bush shortly after turning red.<br />
Purple Cherokee tomato - just shrivelled!<br />
<i>Zucchini</i> - failure to fertilise - I find that this happens when it's too hot. Perhaps all the bees have expired? I can see now that I will not be able to manage an entry in the Gundagai Show in the category of three zucchinis under 18cms.<br />
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You will notice there are no beans in the shot - that's because they have failed completely in the heat.<br />
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I have been successful with a few things. Isn't it amazing that something so watery and fleshy as a cucumber produces so well in the heat? And I have been able to pick the off zucchini, yellow pepper and eggplant. There have also been hauls of tomatoes and peaches, peaches, peaches - that is the ones that the wallaby doesn't eat.<br />
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There have been upsides to the heat. It has inspired me to build a garden more appropriate to the climate - a desert garden. It's not finished yet, I need to collect some rocks from the mini quarry on our property but it's been too hot to lug large pieces of rocks around!<br />
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Oh well, some things have been enjoying the heat! Here is my garden companion - gargoyle perhaps? This lizard lives in Fortress Wallaby. He looks very wise doesn't he? As if this lizard knows not to try gardening in such a horrid summer climate!<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16547410700199878385noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3258484059999383214.post-2881268156140369032014-01-29T12:41:00.001+11:002014-01-29T12:41:56.231+11:00Preparing for Show Season - Gundagai<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It's Show Time - Agricultural Show time here in the Riverina Highlands. First Show on the schedule? Gundagai.<br />
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Last year we visited the Gundagai Show. We watched the pretty ponies and their prettier riders, watched the old timers and their dogs handling sheep and inspected the vegetable exhibits. This year I am going to put in some entries.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">(Just in case there is some confusion - last year I entered the Adelong Show only - this year I am going to submit entries in both Gundagai and Adelong!). </span><br />
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Here are the sections I'm looking at...<br />
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<b>Vegies</b><br />
Class 6: A collection of Tomatoes<br />
Class 23: Six Potatoes<br />
Class 26: Three Zucchini - green - under 18cms<br />
Class 27: Three Zucchini - yellow - under 18cms<br />
Class 28: A bunch of Chillies<br />
Class 44: A collection of culinary Herbs<br />
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Of course I probably wont enter all of these classes - it will very much depend on what survives this weeks week long heat wave! But I guess everyone else is in the same situation.<br />
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Yesterday I inspected my zucchini plants to see how entries in classes 26 and 27 were going. I've three different types of zucchini in, so I guess if they classify the 'Costata' as a green zucchini, there is potential for three entries into those two classes.<br />
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But clearly getting three zucchini of roughly the same size on the right day is going to be a challenge!<br />
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<b>Jams and Jellies</b><br />
Class 10: Peach Jam any flavour<br />
Class 13: Tomato Jam any flavour<br />
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The peaches are ripening right now. I am hoping they will be ripe in enough time to make and age some jam.<br />
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Of course I could buy some peaches, but I'd really like to use our own home grown peaches if I can.<br />
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Today I made my batch of Tomato Jam, mine has roasted capsicum and a little chilli. Last year the same recipe won second prize at the Adelong Show but I am sure that the competition at the Gundagai Show will be tougher!<br />
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I'll report back on my show preparations and let you know how I'm getting on.<br />
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And after a little taste test, I might be offering some jars for sale. This jam goes really well with cold lamb!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16547410700199878385noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3258484059999383214.post-16737408676132237202014-01-20T16:00:00.000+11:002014-01-20T16:00:54.185+11:00Compost Pot LuckWe all know how wonderful compost is right? A great way to add nutrient to the soil via your vegetable off cuts and the like. But compost can be more than this - it can make your vegetable patch for you!<br />
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In spring I dug in the compost that was in my tumbling compost bin in preparation for planting the usual summer crops. To my great surprise a load of seedlings from the compost came up.<br />
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I have no idea what they are - cucurbits of some sort are particularly evident but what sort of cucurbit are they? I have about 5 of these large leaved things starting to take over... I wonder if they are a watermelon or a pumpkin? In any case they are doing very well.<br />
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Then I have about 5 of these little fellas doing very well - I suspect a cucumber or a rockmelon?<br />
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Then there are the tomatoes that have popped up.<br />
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<br />Very delicate little plants that seem to be forming cherry tomatoes in a Mini Roma type form. There are about 5 of these too.<br />
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It is fantastic to have these surprise plants for free coming up thru the garden. I cant wait to see what they will yield. Next spring I will devote a whole bed to these random compost pot luck vegetables, just to see what happens. Yay, free plants!<br />
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Have you had a vegetable surprise lately? From your compost heap or a self seeded surprise?Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16547410700199878385noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3258484059999383214.post-25739448065565425872014-01-14T12:50:00.001+11:002014-01-14T12:52:06.792+11:00Beating the heat?Day three of a week-long heat wave and the pumpkins seem to be holding up relatively well.<br />
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I have two varieties in - <i>Butternut</i> and <i>Jap</i>.<br />
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You might notice the bundle of shade cloth lying beside the pumpkin bed? That's why the pumpkins are surviving I think. Uncovered and I'm sure they'd fry! I have photographed the pumpkins in the early morning thus the shadow of the photographer (apologies!).<br />
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I am leaving the pumpkins uncovered until midday to allow any pollination to happen and then I cover them with a 90% shade cloth until about 8pm when they get uncovered again. That's the approach I'm taking anyway, let's see if this method works for the rest of the week. Temps are supposed to stay in the high 30s and low 40s until Saturday!<br />
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These two plants have started to develop little pumpkins.<br />
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Let's hope the shade cloths will enable these little fellas to continue their development.<br />
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Other pumpkin vines that were reasonably advanced during the last period of belting heat did not get the shade cloth treatment.<br />
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Sad specimens aren't they? They are still alive but have never recovered and are certainly not thriving enough to produce. The only reason I am leaving them in the ground is that at least they are providing some shade to the roots of a nearby apple tree.<br />
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The longer I garden the more I think that the oft said tip about vegetable gardening - the one that says 'plant your vegetable garden in full sun' - is just clearly wrong for an Australian summer. I find that most of the plants in the vegetable garden do so much better in considerable shade, especially when I can't freely water due to relying on tank water alone.<br />
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The photo below is of my haricot beans and cucumbers under a 90% shade cloth which remains on them all day. They are doing very well.<br />
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Even some of my chilli plants are benefiting with a little shade from an off-cut of a shade cloth.<br />
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The only plants that seem to actually thrive in the extreme heat and radiation are the eggplants.<br />
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These look to be in the shade but aren't. They are just a little shaded from the morning sun.<br />
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How is your garden surviving the heat wave? What things are you doing to protect your plants?<br />
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Stay cool SE Australia!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16547410700199878385noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3258484059999383214.post-44962665734353231342014-01-13T12:43:00.001+11:002014-01-13T22:12:04.730+11:00Harvest Monday - 13 Jan '14A whole week without posting! We've been busy doing more yard work, taking the first of our lamb orders up to Sydney and to a local Farmstay, maintaining the vegetable patch, and over the last day or two skulking inside to hide from the punishing heat.<br />
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Today is the second day of a monster heat wave that has already dried up the western states and is now descending on us. Today it's forecast to be 37c, then the next few days are predicted to be 39c, 41c, 42c and then 41c. If my garden survives then I will be fortunate...<br />
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To beat the heat I did a little picking this morning and here is the result.<br />
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The cucumbers are <i>Spacemaster, </i> the corn <i>Snow Gold</i> and the tomatoes <i>Red Pear, Green Grape</i> and <i>Jaune Flamme</i>.<br />
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Over the last week I have picked a little more corn. Even though not all nibblets are full the corn is so good to eat, sweet and tender and takes no time to cook. This is actually the best corn I have ever grown so while it is not perfect I am very pleased. I'm putting it down to chook pooh.<br />
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There have also been more cucumbers and I pick some tomatoes each day. Some still have evidence of blossom end rot from the last week of heat but they are not too badly effected and are still delicious.<br />
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These little beans are <i>Hawkesbury Wonder</i>.<br />
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We have also been the welcome recipients of other people's gluts. A few lovely grapefruit for instance from one neighbour,<br />
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and from another we have received fish! With the local creeks low due to the dry spell they found it (relatively) easy to net a few carp including a massive one. We confess that we have not eaten the carp. Instead we have decided to use these feral fish to fertilise the vegetable patch. We hope that they neighbours don't mind!!!<br />
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That's it from Highfield this week. Pop over to <a href="http://daphnesdandelions.blogspot.com.au/">Daphne's</a> to see other people's produce.<br />
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Keep picking!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16547410700199878385noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3258484059999383214.post-33326041081508524672014-01-06T22:03:00.003+11:002014-01-06T22:04:33.757+11:00Harvest Monday - 6th Jan '14<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFvA1d6UUl_fef6ow2v7yZzAKPogQwlBvLWcHpVa9dqrFo8gL83c3VjyX3i8m2bUwsF_gdDEnpxFg-Nbyr5LFFqPMT0wr2KgJNw-KsMZGzh2zoMwvRjfc7VXL68g5AAvqLGQGDRgSc7dvR/s1600/IMAG2980.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFvA1d6UUl_fef6ow2v7yZzAKPogQwlBvLWcHpVa9dqrFo8gL83c3VjyX3i8m2bUwsF_gdDEnpxFg-Nbyr5LFFqPMT0wr2KgJNw-KsMZGzh2zoMwvRjfc7VXL68g5AAvqLGQGDRgSc7dvR/s1600/IMAG2980.jpg" height="640" width="360" /></a>I've been absent from the Harvest Monday blog party the last few weeks.<br />
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Mostly because there was very little to show for my gardening efforts but also because Christmas and New Year intervened and I have taken very few photos of the pick.<br />
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But today as I was picking for the evening meal I decided to take a snap.<br />
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This little basket all went into a simple salad that accompanied a steak.<br />
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I did pick more than this over the last week but this is the only photo.<br />
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The tomatoes are <i>Jaune Flamme, Green grape, Yellow Pear </i>and <i>Red Pear</i>. The beans are <i>Hawkesbury Wonder</i>. The lettuce is a <i>Butter</i> lettuce (a little too soft leaved for me, I think I like my leaves more crisp). The cucumber is a <i>Space Saver</i>. I don't remember the radish variety. I also picked a little marjoram.<br />
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I'm contributing this post to <a href="http://daphnesdandelions.blogspot.com.au/">Daphne's Harvest Monday</a>. Pop over hers to see produce from others' gardens.<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16547410700199878385noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3258484059999383214.post-42137511379836612302014-01-05T13:03:00.002+11:002014-01-05T13:03:53.084+11:00Grape Henge<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUEVts9N-EpiBV7Fg5LUB8bjPdQyEsXSfCg0QbOf8nwfvMeIWbReZGidD7z5RBDHP2S9KoIjO86t2p7i_iQWD-py0CqiK7Smy-92EXN1qde1HGNKR_VzkaQ45bpRkVMZPMARgy5H10JsZE/s1600/IMAG2968.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUEVts9N-EpiBV7Fg5LUB8bjPdQyEsXSfCg0QbOf8nwfvMeIWbReZGidD7z5RBDHP2S9KoIjO86t2p7i_iQWD-py0CqiK7Smy-92EXN1qde1HGNKR_VzkaQ45bpRkVMZPMARgy5H10JsZE/s640/IMAG2968.jpg" width="360" /></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;">Sun worship temple? </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;">Healing centre? </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;">Huge calendar? Site of ritual sacrifice?</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;">How did they make this amazing structure using only found wood and twitching wire?</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 16px;">"Easy peasy", as the ancients would say!</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 16px;"><br /></span></span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 16px;">All you need is a farm truck, a Lad handy with chain and pruning saw, crow bar, screw driver and twitching wire along with blessing and encouragement from 'The Vegetable Queen' and in no time at all you have a Grape Henge!</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 16px;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 16px;">Our new grape trellis, located on the perimeter of Fortress Wallaby has been constructed and I am delighted. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 16px;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 16px;">It's all wiggly found wood and a little wire. Not a straight line can be seen. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 16px;">This structure will form a frame for the four grape vines I intend to raise and the structure clad with large grape leaves will shade other vegetables beneath. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 16px;">That's the theory anyway. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 16px;">Let's consult the oracle to see what she foretells... <br /><br />"I see a bounty of grapes of different colours, green, pink and black. I see fresh grapes full of juice, I see dried fruit - perhaps a muscatelle at Christmas? I see stuffed vine leaves with rice and preserved lemon, and I see shaded vegetables under the protection of the grapes of Grape Henge". </span></span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16547410700199878385noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3258484059999383214.post-84135082021250041962014-01-04T12:22:00.003+11:002014-01-04T12:22:53.921+11:00Sowing winter cropsI don't know if I am crazy or not.Yesterday I started sowing my winter crops.<br />
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It always seems so silly to start seeds for cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower and other winter crops in January - there is still so much hot weather to come. But when I think about when I used to plant out seedlings of winter crops in Sydney, I always started in February. While we have a hotter summer here (and a cooler winter) than Sydney, I think the timing is pretty right.<br />
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Here is what I have started to raise.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqZIn43M0vaCDsvtrbYPBfF2qOBVUyVxis07o28JxmR03aLOEID4gGQIGlI39efEoQsEzuCy8qzqqH305jPlQ8itW3bsBPePQXUgHob6h8u8MievawHodxW4OhDDDfWyCqmgycA7ucPOnF/s1600/winter+seeds.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqZIn43M0vaCDsvtrbYPBfF2qOBVUyVxis07o28JxmR03aLOEID4gGQIGlI39efEoQsEzuCy8qzqqH305jPlQ8itW3bsBPePQXUgHob6h8u8MievawHodxW4OhDDDfWyCqmgycA7ucPOnF/s640/winter+seeds.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>Asian vegetables</i><br />
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<li>Red Pak Choi, Mini Wombok<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i>Cabbage</i><br />
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<li>Mini Cabbage, Savoy</li>
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<i>Broccoli</i><br />
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<li>Green Sprouting, Waltham, Romanesco</li>
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<i>Cauliflower</i><br />
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<li>Purple, Mini</li>
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<i>Kale</i><br />
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<li>Chou Moillier - this is a really weird plant that grows incredibly tall. I will grow it for green winter Chook food. I'm hoping it will handle our winter and become a permanent fixture in the garden providing shade in summer too. </li>
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<i>Herbs</i><br />
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<li>Continental parsley</li>
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<i>Lettuce</i><br />
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<li>Freckles Bunte, Salad Bowl, Baby Cos</li>
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I started one punnet of each yesterday. I will put more seeds in over January and February and maybe March so that I can crop all thru the cooler months.<br />
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Are you thinking about winter yet Southerners? Are the Northern folk thinking about summer crops yet?Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16547410700199878385noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3258484059999383214.post-41097852422169359992014-01-03T16:57:00.000+11:002014-01-03T16:57:01.248+11:00Tomatoes to come<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMiBTn_ET-WRmJSaD-UVOnDxbHIeidB8fuduffXW5R1aA-hjM8sATkQU9U2hwVzzOVcw7q9cQ72vTcbYB5cZ8eJkBZEjcucAkvIlFZ2UA3CjMs6fKs9Gz3tB4s8yIuQFqxscRKXBmm1YUA/s1600/IMAG2938.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMiBTn_ET-WRmJSaD-UVOnDxbHIeidB8fuduffXW5R1aA-hjM8sATkQU9U2hwVzzOVcw7q9cQ72vTcbYB5cZ8eJkBZEjcucAkvIlFZ2UA3CjMs6fKs9Gz3tB4s8yIuQFqxscRKXBmm1YUA/s400/IMAG2938.jpg" width="225" /></a>Last post I reported on two of the varieties of tomatoes I am currently picking. I have many other varieties yet to ripen.<br />
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This year all tomatoes I put in were kindly provided to me, via the supply of seed by Yvonne. Her choices so far with the <i>Jaune Flamme</i> and <i>Purple Cherokee</i> have been spot on. These varieties have had great flavour and juiciness.<br />
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Now I can't wait till some of the others ripen.<br />
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The first <i>Speckled Romans</i> wont be far off now. One is already turning and others are developing their characteristic stripes. Why aren't they called Striped Romans?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOCMB_pyJkUJDeJAW1ljA-QItAfwmgUClQ1z_xDoednqL71i_xt4hoAkt47J-AaU0Gx_GGymw6AXj4JIJmZ9_u3PkCfemEeszr9NqYzaauv2cFYq5KPiogf44PfI46HedPOvA9ioJQ5wAC/s1600/IMAG2921.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOCMB_pyJkUJDeJAW1ljA-QItAfwmgUClQ1z_xDoednqL71i_xt4hoAkt47J-AaU0Gx_GGymw6AXj4JIJmZ9_u3PkCfemEeszr9NqYzaauv2cFYq5KPiogf44PfI46HedPOvA9ioJQ5wAC/s400/IMAG2921.jpg" width="225" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7GBJfKo9a5FUTSrt-ZOiB6VGrj1xRPF-jx_Ki-BhE34cu0TrGEsZk8xkqzJkXXFXT2FOos-ZYy22TUgxBnvAVE937Vk69xqqUMt3GjNxI1F_JZ7P93mNt7K99ZTylvZ31mRySqCB_bJ28/s1600/IMAG2935.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7GBJfKo9a5FUTSrt-ZOiB6VGrj1xRPF-jx_Ki-BhE34cu0TrGEsZk8xkqzJkXXFXT2FOos-ZYy22TUgxBnvAVE937Vk69xqqUMt3GjNxI1F_JZ7P93mNt7K99ZTylvZ31mRySqCB_bJ28/s320/IMAG2935.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I am also waiting on the <i>Green Grapes</i> to ripen. This plant is the sole survivor of the frost snap in late October. I had several more in but alas they were burnt off. It's sometimes hard to know when a green variety is ripe isn't it? Other than a by giving them a little squeeze? Does anyone have a technique or tip?</div>
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I am growing other small varieties. I am also growing a <i>Yellow Pear </i>and a <i>Red Pear</i>. The plant below is the<i> Red Pear</i> ripening up </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRFY3lwzOvIVTqbdomT5dIs7RYl8ACGOodqtxBQhLu986g4XBvGlv032wA0YpgCXJu2Bk5q3L04ZNcB7vPQdVCMz5n8mTOLftGodLJDxzVK2jNf6fDHTC4ZFVmmMiVKY2mcIFBxnKHW2gR/s1600/IMAG2944.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRFY3lwzOvIVTqbdomT5dIs7RYl8ACGOodqtxBQhLu986g4XBvGlv032wA0YpgCXJu2Bk5q3L04ZNcB7vPQdVCMz5n8mTOLftGodLJDxzVK2jNf6fDHTC4ZFVmmMiVKY2mcIFBxnKHW2gR/s400/IMAG2944.jpg" width="225" /></a><br />
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The other varieties I am growing, again , all thanks to Yvonne's generous supply of seeds are, Peach - it has a nice squat shape... </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_AjSdBe1YUtNnWzw84X9nh2xEEmBlXK4o5YZJRevGsk9oJqC0agrSzrclc_zMZTOqjFXA4REHKztqHzqC5o-WClp-0xe9woBK6CAmHqvN4ONaOO3DkCt0t2jxm1ViiQ6sDic9GZRhOwl0/s1600/IMAG2943.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_AjSdBe1YUtNnWzw84X9nh2xEEmBlXK4o5YZJRevGsk9oJqC0agrSzrclc_zMZTOqjFXA4REHKztqHzqC5o-WClp-0xe9woBK6CAmHqvN4ONaOO3DkCt0t2jxm1ViiQ6sDic9GZRhOwl0/s320/IMAG2943.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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Oxheart Yellow, and</div>
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<i>Verna Orange</i> (which has a little bit of a Blossom-end rot problem - see the fruit's flat bottom?).<br />
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Here are more <i>Purple Cherokee</i> on the way!</div>
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And more <i>Jaune Flamme</i>...<br />
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I am really looking forward to my tomato glut. Happy Tomatoeing everyone!</div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16547410700199878385noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3258484059999383214.post-3293171458395939542014-01-02T15:20:00.003+11:002014-01-02T21:13:44.574+11:00The first of the summer pickingsIt's taken a while. There has been late frosts, chaffer grub attacks on my borlotti and then very changeable weather followed by 5 days over 35 degrees. Finally however, there are some summer pickings.<br />
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The pickings are very small right now but at least there are some.<br />
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I have been picking about 2 or 3 <i>Jaune Flamme</i> tomatoes a day for a week now and they are delicious - they do apparently win lots of taste tests.<br />
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Mine don't seem to be as orange as photos on the web suggest. They are more a dark yellow colour.<br />
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Some have had a little blossom end rot - but that's pretty inevitable given the hot weather run we had. In any case, it's not too bad and easily cut off. The <i>Jaune Flamme</i> seeds were given to me by the lovely Yvonne - thanks so much, they are beautiful.<br />
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Then this morning I picked the first <i>Purple Cherokee</i>. They too were ripe and delicious. Again, all thanks to Yvonne for introducing me to this tomato.<br />
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Best of all, neither tomato had any fruit fly! (Shhh, I'm keeping it quiet in case they hear me!)<br />
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I have been picking the odd cucumber too - these have come off my <i>Space Saver</i> plants<br />
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They are a bit wonky but as the plants mature it seems as though the fruit straightens out too.<br />
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And there has been the odd yellow long capsicum and tip pickings of marjoram . The tomatoes, capsicum and marjoram went with leftover Christmas ham and home-laid eggs into a dish I call a rough omelette - a favourite easy dinner dish.<br />
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How are your summer pickings going? Did you have the fabled Christmas tomato?Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16547410700199878385noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3258484059999383214.post-69711630902876615082013-12-29T12:26:00.002+11:002013-12-29T21:17:12.278+11:00Little bird lost - and then foundThe other day while hiding inside out of the heat watching the cricket we heard a loud rip and crash.<br />
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A large branch of a Blakley's Red Gum had crashed to the ground taking with it on it's way a branch of a White Box and a good few meters of the fence line separating the House Yard from the Lower Nursery Paddock - one of the paddocks that our sheep lamb in.<br />
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We popped our heads out to take a look, sighed and then went inside again out of the heat.<br />
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The next morning while it was still cool we decided to inspect the damage and to clear the fallen timber from the fence line. The Lad got to with the chainsaw and soon we had a great pile of future winter fuel to show for our efforts.<br />
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Thankfully the fence wasn't in too bad a condition - all the wire was recoverable and after The Lad got to work with the gripples (they are handy thingies for joining fencing wire together) and fence strainer, we again had an intact boundary. (Skilled isn't he?)<br />
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Soon we realised there was a more serious outcome of the fallen tree...<br />
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We found this little fellow on the ground out of its nest. A baby Dusky Woodswallow had lost its nest and its parents. I took it inside and gave it a little water. When it looked like it had revived I took it outside again and set it up in the shade while we continued the tidy up of the fallen tree.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLMw4Vi_312mehoKy7R6K-n6B_DLwr7Do8lmpHtWdCwC_I9O79Tzq-ykWPKKDJH-mUoN3QiTGSgm4ulM1dJcVwoXdEJ6nHKFmT5dSHrsA6sOUIKotPztt-sGhctlOz6Viqdz6CDpWnaroy/s1600/IMAG2902.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLMw4Vi_312mehoKy7R6K-n6B_DLwr7Do8lmpHtWdCwC_I9O79Tzq-ykWPKKDJH-mUoN3QiTGSgm4ulM1dJcVwoXdEJ6nHKFmT5dSHrsA6sOUIKotPztt-sGhctlOz6Viqdz6CDpWnaroy/s320/IMAG2902.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH5enJkaFa5DBlADadv1WTjru7bUGpRqoX7HPbJqex_fGv4fRkhILhQ4oLjSPPpo-CT1jmuR4SRlOMdAhGTpf6pNPvnsryeo6NtNyUHupFdqychlWoHdN4EdOwxsi8BLShl4DbBH6z6Ov3/s1600/rough+bark.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH5enJkaFa5DBlADadv1WTjru7bUGpRqoX7HPbJqex_fGv4fRkhILhQ4oLjSPPpo-CT1jmuR4SRlOMdAhGTpf6pNPvnsryeo6NtNyUHupFdqychlWoHdN4EdOwxsi8BLShl4DbBH6z6Ov3/s400/rough+bark.JPG" width="225" /></a>We could see its worried parents flying around and calling to the little bird. The baby bird called back.<br />
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Soon it was up on its feet. It somehow climbed down from the little 'nest' I had made it in the shade in the top hollow of an old tree stump and was again on the ground.<br />
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Soon we saw it climbing, very ably up a Rough Barked Box tree near the chook shed, all the while with its parents cheeping (encouragement?). Soon we lost track of where it was.<br />
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Did it make it to a safe place where its parents would continue to feed it?<br />
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Whatever the outcome we were amazed at the persistence of the parents to find their baby.We were amazed that after such a long period the baby bird was still alive. (We estimate that it was out of its nest for about 24 hours). We were amazed that the baby bird had the strength and skill to climb the tree.<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16547410700199878385noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3258484059999383214.post-59093447885176560042013-12-27T11:33:00.003+11:002013-12-27T11:33:29.673+11:00Christmas Day pickings<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpPyrXPtAiw5j7xV6hwdsomQp4HVcQQwJQ2Etk3v80GVbsemlrhKqHL2NHpJ0TpnyrWxtBn8bGSLkuEH-AmQkh-iQlWcmv0Ipgnnqh7XtbHS1RJrdVjmLAp8GUMQG4iQIBTEHDxBxG7fwh/s1600/IMAG2886.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpPyrXPtAiw5j7xV6hwdsomQp4HVcQQwJQ2Etk3v80GVbsemlrhKqHL2NHpJ0TpnyrWxtBn8bGSLkuEH-AmQkh-iQlWcmv0Ipgnnqh7XtbHS1RJrdVjmLAp8GUMQG4iQIBTEHDxBxG7fwh/s640/IMAG2886.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16547410700199878385noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3258484059999383214.post-73900309891511711492013-12-24T22:16:00.000+11:002013-12-24T22:16:09.082+11:00Christmas Eve at Highfield<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKKTmMmfyihzdEYKJ0hNh37FiRA19FYu_qKm-tcbMfK3uoLUT6MYLIvpKc8S0FORLAQoNhnSC_lm7IUkZhg0tLDTNoBf8xtEuX4xQgOVQ015NHrk-1o_mWRxTwiZKkC-vunSIkTy-xV65C/s1600/IMAG2877.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKKTmMmfyihzdEYKJ0hNh37FiRA19FYu_qKm-tcbMfK3uoLUT6MYLIvpKc8S0FORLAQoNhnSC_lm7IUkZhg0tLDTNoBf8xtEuX4xQgOVQ015NHrk-1o_mWRxTwiZKkC-vunSIkTy-xV65C/s640/IMAG2877.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16547410700199878385noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3258484059999383214.post-51927697745395429262013-12-23T17:19:00.000+11:002013-12-23T18:31:01.595+11:00The North WindMost Christmas carols don't work here in Australia. While Northerners sing of snow and sleighs and getting cosy, we are sweltering in 35c plus heat. Consequently I have always found most Christmas carols irrelevant, mostly just making me cross at the hemispheric bias to our world.<br />
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There are however, a few good Australian Christmas carols. My favourite is, 'The North Wind'. The first verse is the most appropriate to us at Highfield.<br />
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<i><b><span style="font-size: large;">The North Wind</span></b></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">( in Southern Australia a north wind is a hot dry wind)<br /></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">The north wind is tossing the leaves</span></i></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkpr6qgPomjjpjOjtLVUxg8h4PShIkpTwF_Eh7JsT-XYWVdK0oxTW21ccE_zUVaq_bW8ZgnXMoJdlU7npk-rzm3YJljqPn9BR706CFeTKPAmIC6E-tMhfu63SKU0OhH0m0H1KQCfcJzTxz/s1600/IMAG2840.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkpr6qgPomjjpjOjtLVUxg8h4PShIkpTwF_Eh7JsT-XYWVdK0oxTW21ccE_zUVaq_bW8ZgnXMoJdlU7npk-rzm3YJljqPn9BR706CFeTKPAmIC6E-tMhfu63SKU0OhH0m0H1KQCfcJzTxz/s640/IMAG2840.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wind blown eucalyptus leaves</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<i><i><span style="font-size: large;">The red dust is over the town</span></i></i><br />
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">The swallows are under the eaves </span></i><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoJ6Uf3Ev51MNqhyEVHvhOHEwVZFGlHm4-OCcX659YXt2XOf1Gdhyphenhyphenxhp3nLeHEksN4qygE-g1WxY514YxKyosBcu19BZ_IanAAgM7eqmzOle7zER5VFKqw6s5slk4O53CPTgFxQEZ44UH4/s1600/IMAG2858.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoJ6Uf3Ev51MNqhyEVHvhOHEwVZFGlHm4-OCcX659YXt2XOf1Gdhyphenhyphenxhp3nLeHEksN4qygE-g1WxY514YxKyosBcu19BZ_IanAAgM7eqmzOle7zER5VFKqw6s5slk4O53CPTgFxQEZ44UH4/s640/IMAG2858.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Swallow nests in the eaves of the new shed</td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: large;">And the grass in the paddock is brown</span></i></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjST4zoAjGy3k1KtKgrO958YZuJ3YQLdrxBNmy9Ik0i60ya8NbeX9clJBuVglFHE1Nqv_mbSENB3yfygihTQzAtrLBTutpVY2Te0fK-ywdgh7uIH5XNtmKcgSFo4hI6_xLoN0iwEq8mxTyG/s1600/IMAG2839.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjST4zoAjGy3k1KtKgrO958YZuJ3YQLdrxBNmy9Ik0i60ya8NbeX9clJBuVglFHE1Nqv_mbSENB3yfygihTQzAtrLBTutpVY2Te0fK-ywdgh7uIH5XNtmKcgSFo4hI6_xLoN0iwEq8mxTyG/s640/IMAG2839.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The golden brown glow of the main paddock in the afternoon</td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: large;"><br />As we lift up our voices and sing</span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLcdXk_4__pb7YOJA_X8mc52zjmhpbp-1d0ZJY4w7ie_1R1JbJSH4lA51ub-Bs3jv5a9dyxE0KYTjiF35_QvaMPx2BFYICkkTtiGFz8WDdJjgPonk-FVU_zCOAE9pdg4ioF5plOXzP1M7D/s1600/IMAG2832.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLcdXk_4__pb7YOJA_X8mc52zjmhpbp-1d0ZJY4w7ie_1R1JbJSH4lA51ub-Bs3jv5a9dyxE0KYTjiF35_QvaMPx2BFYICkkTtiGFz8WDdJjgPonk-FVU_zCOAE9pdg4ioF5plOXzP1M7D/s640/IMAG2832.jpg" height="640" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cicarda shells left behind in their mission to sing from the tree tops</td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: large;"><br />To the Christ child, the heavenly King.</span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></i>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn_HKCWsnYMFXhyV3glwWFhPRi8mo29axogqyjJQdm25TDqKU-qf32Yjizp0M7nVqm6-Z9WOY3j_NUkPxfXBzVIgxYrP2ZP9vzgK0AljUGDw7GgPC6Uk5JQsEpRO1JEdNIZC2PyCv_VZyR/s1600/IMAG2848.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn_HKCWsnYMFXhyV3glwWFhPRi8mo29axogqyjJQdm25TDqKU-qf32Yjizp0M7nVqm6-Z9WOY3j_NUkPxfXBzVIgxYrP2ZP9vzgK0AljUGDw7GgPC6Uk5JQsEpRO1JEdNIZC2PyCv_VZyR/s640/IMAG2848.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My bush star made from peach stems</td></tr>
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</div>
Have a wonderful and safe Festive Season. Stay cool if you are in Australia (or elsewhere in the southern hemisphere) and stay warm if you are in the north. <br />
<br />
May your gardens prosper whether they are under shade cloth or a cloche.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16547410700199878385noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3258484059999383214.post-50542160286279617562013-12-22T21:50:00.002+11:002013-12-23T17:08:42.167+11:00Lamb<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPUuvt4JXm3djcS-TjtSPU-87VGzGDWPO1jx6FGOO-FJD8eu2nl1zWp58s9k9Zv1Sv84_ViNIyBSc46Id4Svt54c73WoooCYNuOMFYG-3lZlFopM7zmoO9RShs8nV-Pd5hYmCD7kYRmT7e/s1600/IMAG2798.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPUuvt4JXm3djcS-TjtSPU-87VGzGDWPO1jx6FGOO-FJD8eu2nl1zWp58s9k9Zv1Sv84_ViNIyBSc46Id4Svt54c73WoooCYNuOMFYG-3lZlFopM7zmoO9RShs8nV-Pd5hYmCD7kYRmT7e/s400/IMAG2798.jpg" width="225" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">(Note to readership: large pictures of meat follow if this is likely to offend, please click elsewhere.)</span><br />
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Another big week for us. Last week we took our first big babies <a href="http://gardenglut.blogspot.com.au/2013/12/today.html">off to the abattoirs</a>. This week I visited the butcher to ask them to cut up the lambs for me.<br />
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The butcher had collected my lambs from the abattoir on our behalf and it was time to make them into the cuts we wanted.<br />
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These first two lambs didn't hang for very long - ideally they would have hung for a few more days but being the week before Christmas the butcher's fridge was stuffed full of hams and turkeys!<br />
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It was great to watch the butchers at work and witness their skill with the blade. Thank you Joseph!<br />
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I would have taken more photos but I didn't want to disturb them at their work. I was delighted to see that the cuts I had chosen resulted in very little wastage.<br />
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On getting the lambs home I decided to take photos of some of the cuts, dressing them with home-grown garlic and rosemary.<br />
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I was really pleased with the cuts and also the colour and quality of the meat. I tried to assess it as if I were at the butchers shop selecting my own meat. "Would I buy this?", the answer was, "yes"! Especially the shanks - can't wait for shank-worthy cold weather...<br />
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We have already started sampling the cuts. I was worried that they may not be very tender given they had<br />
not hung for long, but they <i>were</i> tender. A rack of lamb shared with The Lad was juicy and sweet as racks should be. It was especially delicious seeing the lamb accompanied by roasted roots from the garden (potatoes, French onions and garlic).<br />
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We tried the loin chops sprinkled with sumac and eaten with a watermelon and haloumi salad (my home-made haloumi too). It too was also delicious, sweet and tender. I didn't photograph the meals - my history with meal shots is pretty pathetic.<br />
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Lamb gifts have been given to friends for their Christmas cheer and we will be having a lamb-focused meal for our Christmas table. It seems the right fare for the feast.<br />
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Now that we have trialled the abattoirs, the butcher and the lamb, we are ready to go. Our next big challenge will be selling our lamb from paddock to plate - direct to lamb lovers in Sydney and Canberra (and points in between).<br />
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I wanted this post to document this last part of the journey of my lambs and to demonstrate our excitement at providing for ourselves. This post is not intended as a promotion to my blog readers. (But, if you'd like some lamb delivered to your door, get in touch or visit the farm website: <a href="http://www.highfieldfarmwoodland.com/">http://www.highfieldfarmwoodland.com/</a>). Take a look at the <i>Produce</i> menu.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16547410700199878385noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3258484059999383214.post-1147114341908706952013-12-19T09:50:00.000+11:002013-12-19T10:23:15.639+11:00Has beanMy borlotti beans are now largely has beans.<br />
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They were planted quite early for us ( in September) and most survived the late October frost. They have produced a few beans for me - I ate them at their green stage as there was little else coming from the patch at the time. I found them quite good green.<br />
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But then they started to turn yellow and wither. On pulling the plants up I found that many of their roots had been nibbled off.<br />
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<a href="http://www.helenmpercy.com/gardeningblog/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/chafergrub.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.helenmpercy.com/gardeningblog/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/chafergrub.jpg" width="314" /></a><br />
I suspect it's the chafer grub.<br />
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Certainly I find them when I am digging thru the patch. I usually toss them to the chooks when I find them.The chooks just love them. Looks like the girls will have to do some work for me!<br />
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But here is the weird thing, it seems that it is only the borlotti beans that are effected.<br />
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Why is that? Other beans are thriving as are other plants in the neighbouring beds.<br />
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Have you any idea what's happening?<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16547410700199878385noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3258484059999383214.post-23298075441400144242013-12-15T18:03:00.000+11:002013-12-16T12:48:34.113+11:00Today...Today was a landmark day for us (and for our lambs). Today we took our first two lambs to the abattoirs.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOQj3OhgKkW7hk4it3VL9UnxOZ6IOX2z1PdnuImDkpcH_tl8bsi1FeZM6l6qxPqtQoDl6RDPj6dXB5vIm8ACnCQpwWtAQwj42wcp323qcipeOADPWonfExWmPZA6tyuLWEjo5xABkMXGc6/s1600/Big+mumma+and+babe.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOQj3OhgKkW7hk4it3VL9UnxOZ6IOX2z1PdnuImDkpcH_tl8bsi1FeZM6l6qxPqtQoDl6RDPj6dXB5vIm8ACnCQpwWtAQwj42wcp323qcipeOADPWonfExWmPZA6tyuLWEjo5xABkMXGc6/s1600/Big+mumma+and+babe.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Big Mumma's boy on the day of his birth</td></tr>
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It has been our aim to raise happy and quiet sheep. We have spent time in the paddock with them so they are familiar with us being around. We have taken care to move our sheep on foot without dogs or bikes or horses and as a result they move with minimum stress. As we have predictable routes around the property, often the sheep move where we want them to move with little direction from us.<br />
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We have watched the lambs being born, play with each other, climb logs and look down wombat holes.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK4AUvyTDkQRUQgJ9bqwE_rn2s35YzfSyjxZ-nHHzbUBoQowfGibUm558L5tbGcTSBr5Zn4piukTL139U5_is4EB0VxJpxRoBya9J6Vu0ujmRuUSx2q5A8INtR7JU2G1w3U7LlxabEoPMG/s1600/Liz+photo+of+rounding+up+sheep.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK4AUvyTDkQRUQgJ9bqwE_rn2s35YzfSyjxZ-nHHzbUBoQowfGibUm558L5tbGcTSBr5Zn4piukTL139U5_is4EB0VxJpxRoBya9J6Vu0ujmRuUSx2q5A8INtR7JU2G1w3U7LlxabEoPMG/s1600/Liz+photo+of+rounding+up+sheep.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Playing on the way to the lambing paddock</td></tr>
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We have kept the foxes at bay with their guardian alpaca friends.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSGQ_2j5s7XQYGAKvZUfxIU3GLm2bNqJHgKtYyBlH0IDqN9tuqsnh8BdfdhRoZ_m7KVby5C31TrbbiYyhMFbLZMoF2xlUc7p-2VOr1pGQu_HfjLucbahPeHa6PHprFlk367m7Ncxsj8C5l/s1600/alpaca+and+lambs.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSGQ_2j5s7XQYGAKvZUfxIU3GLm2bNqJHgKtYyBlH0IDqN9tuqsnh8BdfdhRoZ_m7KVby5C31TrbbiYyhMFbLZMoF2xlUc7p-2VOr1pGQu_HfjLucbahPeHa6PHprFlk367m7Ncxsj8C5l/s1600/alpaca+and+lambs.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eric and Leslie on duty</td></tr>
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We have grazed our sheep entirely on our plentiful and mostly native pasture - no grain finishing or feed lots.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEj04FZkKuZBYHAfzyJDdwuSIAIUHu8eSEsOkAgFGk5_HNow18kIjHZ47IQ0XUrT3J5rs-3E6l_lg8KRGkimXJEq3RTSqU4PsdU8sk5q0LWlcCoKoFPZI7T-Txw5JfPHkGT3xcDqKV4sUs/s1600/dam.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEj04FZkKuZBYHAfzyJDdwuSIAIUHu8eSEsOkAgFGk5_HNow18kIjHZ47IQ0XUrT3J5rs-3E6l_lg8KRGkimXJEq3RTSqU4PsdU8sk5q0LWlcCoKoFPZI7T-Txw5JfPHkGT3xcDqKV4sUs/s1600/dam.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The main dam</td></tr>
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Now our lambies born in August have grown so quickly. They are all strong and chubby and practically lift their mothers off the ground when they suckle.<br />
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Today, it was time to take two our the biggest lambs to the abattoirs to stock the Christmas fridge, feed some of our friends and family and to do a practise run with the butcher for our lamb paddock to plate venture.<br />
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Today, all that work we have put into having the sheep comfortable with us paid off. Today, when we drafted, loaded and transported the two chosen lambies, all went smoothly and calmly. It felt good to say "thank you and goodbye" to them when they had had such stress-free lives.<br />
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I have always loved eating lamb - it is truly my favourite meat. I have never before however had to take responsibility for their birth, health, life and death. I have in the past, like most of us, simply bought lamb from the butcher.<br />
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I thought that today I would feel terribly uncomfortable with taking the lambs off the property where they were born on a short trip to the abattoirs but I didn't. I did feel a sort of pathos but is was more of a tenderness and gratitude rather than pity or sorrow.<br />
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While I am not at all religious, it has always seemed a proper thing to thank an animal (not a God) for its life. Today I had to live that (at least to an extent).<br />
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I think they had good lives, certainly they had lives where gentle care and handling was of great importance.<br />
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Thank you lambies and thank you sun and grass for keeping the lambies well fed.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmFcc2dfeDGXmKoUfd4GNlaS0LCfrLwrUEJ7tMdCC-K0vZjkzcFcEkQtdK2uhov-e520OFAsqHFPv3LcsRzIdSNMIlaFN2Pxl2VSOEDPK80rzpYrTLoxknpvzAU8H_D-kccGE7YNb-9ire/s1600/Twins.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmFcc2dfeDGXmKoUfd4GNlaS0LCfrLwrUEJ7tMdCC-K0vZjkzcFcEkQtdK2uhov-e520OFAsqHFPv3LcsRzIdSNMIlaFN2Pxl2VSOEDPK80rzpYrTLoxknpvzAU8H_D-kccGE7YNb-9ire/s1600/Twins.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New born twins</td></tr>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16547410700199878385noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3258484059999383214.post-14062695000248633562013-12-10T08:20:00.000+11:002013-12-10T14:03:45.025+11:00NestAbove the chook shed towers a Rough-barked box tree.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwcaYVpLNh-O1tGxJ29rCPk9GyNyYAqe0yMr0LiuX1kxSszRJWQRbouOZ5LrXHxF0GSTuJc3pSHCXx4JoMO9wyy7_T_Xuni30j7i-lfgWxYe_NwIz6tf_MUKAo-UnixiO8Px8JAvfYYC89/s1600/chook+shed+woodswallo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwcaYVpLNh-O1tGxJ29rCPk9GyNyYAqe0yMr0LiuX1kxSszRJWQRbouOZ5LrXHxF0GSTuJc3pSHCXx4JoMO9wyy7_T_Xuni30j7i-lfgWxYe_NwIz6tf_MUKAo-UnixiO8Px8JAvfYYC89/s640/chook+shed+woodswallo.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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It provides shade for the chooks in a hot summer <i>and</i> a nesting spot for a Dusky Woodswallow.<br />
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Amazingly the bird has nested in the peeling and deeply fissured bark, not like other birds nest, in the fork of a tree, in a hollow, in a nest hanging from vegetation...<br />
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I think you'll agree that building this nest was an achievement as was spotting it! Amazing twitching Lad and amazing photography!</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16547410700199878385noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3258484059999383214.post-49857459977823259572013-12-09T13:39:00.002+11:002013-12-10T14:45:44.526+11:00Harvest Monday - 9 Dec '13It's been slim but pretty pickings this week. The sunflowers have been the focus - picked both for cut flowers,<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4_o8v6BhVzAXsi9MFEoLGBpUa-Cpoqrf_MZABsbki8-TzHzeLURa4bQocAnP_phpefQsIVdA8dHg3zIw113k-eoa5L02-nsIik_qOfyb948DBh4l_YOQC7c6F6LBIUgzG4K5g6alpVvxN/s1600/sunflowers.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4_o8v6BhVzAXsi9MFEoLGBpUa-Cpoqrf_MZABsbki8-TzHzeLURa4bQocAnP_phpefQsIVdA8dHg3zIw113k-eoa5L02-nsIik_qOfyb948DBh4l_YOQC7c6F6LBIUgzG4K5g6alpVvxN/s640/sunflowers.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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and as chook food.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRFIaE6TTuIIFlsQ-6Kt4YprducNqCfd05dAfJMcKpZvLXdGEz_LU1nwZ2I0qD9SadkjeWf9TsSKb0EswP95roftQ26vMDQTwKl7eF4XMrgLpivLDjK2sUYUXKGLkhLiAeNA9QHseBx6F_/s1600/chook+food.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRFIaE6TTuIIFlsQ-6Kt4YprducNqCfd05dAfJMcKpZvLXdGEz_LU1nwZ2I0qD9SadkjeWf9TsSKb0EswP95roftQ26vMDQTwKl7eF4XMrgLpivLDjK2sUYUXKGLkhLiAeNA9QHseBx6F_/s640/chook+food.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5jiuyiGzqOn6LeCr0EQL5uI79NOWj2Qs5_ddpAL0gL0pdF5snZCzJ6tcTu3stwOKHLCLxzda7jBAyJrB-SD1R1qf9MMuz2m12_pBKKseAHn8o56FkO0fUh_QhJm-l0qqDJUZNc36PFHaq/s1600/heads.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5jiuyiGzqOn6LeCr0EQL5uI79NOWj2Qs5_ddpAL0gL0pdF5snZCzJ6tcTu3stwOKHLCLxzda7jBAyJrB-SD1R1qf9MMuz2m12_pBKKseAHn8o56FkO0fUh_QhJm-l0qqDJUZNc36PFHaq/s640/heads.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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As far as vegetables go I have had my first zucchini, a lovely <i>Gold Rush</i> from seeds provided by Nina (actually, just checked - they were from Bek)!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWJ8H4cQzld_tMmrG-oCKQ_yfy3rCBAtEhyibCqxNZnQtsBu0IjOlraHtVu0bNU-ZqvknVVVVF7TTMga56hqmeSLGAaPEF_IWSy-Pr8zijPyRz28zLlsd9_-QNMPbutt8PpbjUAkqVCL1d/s1600/IMAG2737.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWJ8H4cQzld_tMmrG-oCKQ_yfy3rCBAtEhyibCqxNZnQtsBu0IjOlraHtVu0bNU-ZqvknVVVVF7TTMga56hqmeSLGAaPEF_IWSy-Pr8zijPyRz28zLlsd9_-QNMPbutt8PpbjUAkqVCL1d/s640/IMAG2737.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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I've picked small amounts of borlotti beans,</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfj8c32h16VTJmBZmArPbzX_IdqYPoov9EelxvNK_igrKPj45t5FG36iCkSBXQQarNpKQ4NUvrAWmECXBCQ8OUJN6xOgxG5uC3RNzOhxtaJ1MbUMfS3pqiW2bk7W5lx3GfycS12dCmfmD3/s1600/IMAG2738.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfj8c32h16VTJmBZmArPbzX_IdqYPoov9EelxvNK_igrKPj45t5FG36iCkSBXQQarNpKQ4NUvrAWmECXBCQ8OUJN6xOgxG5uC3RNzOhxtaJ1MbUMfS3pqiW2bk7W5lx3GfycS12dCmfmD3/s640/IMAG2738.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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and some of the last of one of the plantings of radish.<br />
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Just as well I still had a stash of broad beans and potatoes. Looks like I will soon have to head to the green grocers...sigh!</div>
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That's my meagre pick for the week. How has yours been? I'm contributing this post to <a href="http://daphnesdandelions.blogspot.com.au/">Daphne's Harvest Monday</a>. Pop over to hers to see others' harvests.</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16547410700199878385noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3258484059999383214.post-21387323150313872702013-12-07T13:17:00.000+11:002013-12-07T13:29:27.209+11:00Our logo!We have a logo (and a website)!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMsPB7FetWPz0NEMWSvdPOqLBcbNYTyHqpe5c0UE0ULCxLwDbac6oMltM1HzemfbdHV5ALZrIRki97T8gy18eGka9JP1jZWvG6SdQ_wUn8z9raD9EEMd3v2yss9RO2v9LN0_KwhyZLEc-m/s1600/Highfield+Farm+Logo+Final.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMsPB7FetWPz0NEMWSvdPOqLBcbNYTyHqpe5c0UE0ULCxLwDbac6oMltM1HzemfbdHV5ALZrIRki97T8gy18eGka9JP1jZWvG6SdQ_wUn8z9raD9EEMd3v2yss9RO2v9LN0_KwhyZLEc-m/s640/Highfield+Farm+Logo+Final.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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The lovely people at <a href="http://www.handmadeweb.com.au/">Handmade Web</a> - Emma and Anthony - did the logo for us for us. I've been doing the website which has been a pleasant challenge.</div>
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We really love the logo and we hope that it portrays our aims of both conserving our rare woodland and farming great lamb.</div>
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Soon we will be trying our first lambs, soon we will be selling lamb packs from our farm gate. </div>
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We've been here just over a year now and it seems that we have come a long way in such a relatively short time. What a year it has been!</div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16547410700199878385noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3258484059999383214.post-27595009161398657522013-12-06T14:03:00.002+11:002013-12-06T14:03:11.953+11:00New chicks on the blockYesterday we welcomed some new chicks - 5 Buff Orpington cross chicks 2-3 weeks old.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Lc6xLC_1paT8vgGDbbxGej4d6KAZ3LgwDUbN4TMCTZ-vyR1bV-zV2S_NiwCQP5EH19yFVTWJkkRMnWOsvCCrXyFPn-bckpbEsBr9yZUl_nfMrTxDzGcQyPV18oiwqmu10QnrCLsAEb3i/s1600/IMAG2744.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4Lc6xLC_1paT8vgGDbbxGej4d6KAZ3LgwDUbN4TMCTZ-vyR1bV-zV2S_NiwCQP5EH19yFVTWJkkRMnWOsvCCrXyFPn-bckpbEsBr9yZUl_nfMrTxDzGcQyPV18oiwqmu10QnrCLsAEb3i/s1600/IMAG2744.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a></div>
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We've decided to buy chicks young as a way of adding to our small chicken flock.<br />
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The baby roosters will become our own home grown supply of chicken meat ( it's very exciting to take on a new little venture!) and the little hens will give us eggs in exchange for good food and shelter.<br />
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For the moment they live in an old wooden box in the shed protected from the cold weather we are having. When it's a little warmer I'll pop them into the predator-proof chook shed.<br />
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Welcome little chicks!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16547410700199878385noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3258484059999383214.post-19546454051306959372013-12-04T09:48:00.000+11:002013-12-04T09:48:34.633+11:00SunflowersNow that I have had my 5 minutes of fame in <a href="http://gardenglut.blogspot.com.au/2013/12/we-are-in-house-and-garden.html">House and Garden</a> it's back to 'normal' life and blogging and today that means sunflowers!<br />
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Each summer I grow sunflowers.<br />
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In the past I have grown them for their beauty mostly as a cut flower and to brighten the patch.</div>
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But here at Highfield they have multiple purposes. In this hot summer climate, they provide shade for other crops in the patch.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcpRaF-cxE3c3Gg6I66jLgHitluUad8vG_akBXFePPHzp844woHfXnn3naszURDpF3kz47KDtGH7XdBtPH45zTdjjetDgwmCwkzgaRjDdE7BfGpUqxns0BRHYhR7enD1TNYNquDADApVFt/s1600/IMAG2716.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcpRaF-cxE3c3Gg6I66jLgHitluUad8vG_akBXFePPHzp844woHfXnn3naszURDpF3kz47KDtGH7XdBtPH45zTdjjetDgwmCwkzgaRjDdE7BfGpUqxns0BRHYhR7enD1TNYNquDADApVFt/s640/IMAG2716.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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The spent heads will be given to the chooks for them to pick on.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJJjiBSB6zXKUC33ahcz23DC2uAky_-i6fyLmorjQhA_fjb7U_MS3NmxTJYVH2-RORkJWjpMVTulqFOhsLWa2efbe-QirBvYp7tfps7mjgIiTX3qF4CNa_B4WHkBRjMMB4XcRCYsW7PgGa/s1600/IMAG2717.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJJjiBSB6zXKUC33ahcz23DC2uAky_-i6fyLmorjQhA_fjb7U_MS3NmxTJYVH2-RORkJWjpMVTulqFOhsLWa2efbe-QirBvYp7tfps7mjgIiTX3qF4CNa_B4WHkBRjMMB4XcRCYsW7PgGa/s640/IMAG2717.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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When the plants have faded I will do what I always do and dig them in as a bulky green manure. I find that they break down surprisingly quickly.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcrru8VCUDtVD6KzuSpbe9y5mmCi3CZT6PEnLEzJyuOdpY5h7_IJE9jYylHnKydlneD5pu7VCuUXZvYPgGkoFIuQX6aYgxevfLv6k4MDkkvRLYPqP5kMtgElymywRd8yJhEvAZQRl4UfVE/s1600/IMAG2714.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcrru8VCUDtVD6KzuSpbe9y5mmCi3CZT6PEnLEzJyuOdpY5h7_IJE9jYylHnKydlneD5pu7VCuUXZvYPgGkoFIuQX6aYgxevfLv6k4MDkkvRLYPqP5kMtgElymywRd8yJhEvAZQRl4UfVE/s640/IMAG2714.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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This sunflower, this big single flowering yellow one, came to the patch ( I'm guessing) from the chicken seed mix in the chook house litter I use to mulch the beds - a seed that escaped the chickens' beaks perhaps. It certainly isn't a variety I had planted, I usually plant seeds of the darker toned flowers and the ones that produce multiple flowers per plant.<br />
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But I love the idea that this plant has come from the chooks and will go back to the chooks.<br />
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Right now it is offering a little shade to the corn patch and I am hoping that the bean seeds recently planted will use it as a climbing frame too.<br />
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I am really enjoying the challenge of thinking out multiple purposes for everything we do. The sunflowers are a great example.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16547410700199878385noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3258484059999383214.post-66983497682341770492013-12-03T06:43:00.003+11:002013-12-03T06:43:57.641+11:00We are in House and Garden!We have been profiled in <i>House and Garden</i> magazine! My blog even gets mentioned!<br />
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Well, the article isn't really about 'us' and it is certainly not about our house or garden. The article is actually about the Nature Conservation Trust - the body we are working with to protect the endangered habitat on Highfield.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvGPF2SFlmaiNPtlKq5sXgfyY6mk0KipBypg6EQ0_l83uoRHnyRkaG9_I6eYhk-BbCfyfq7fAi1iXJhCLCkspMFuun8kbqsC-93CbF95Q8k8GuYGwXTrKOtlUATyna4FWmFBX572EQPlVr/s1600/H&G1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvGPF2SFlmaiNPtlKq5sXgfyY6mk0KipBypg6EQ0_l83uoRHnyRkaG9_I6eYhk-BbCfyfq7fAi1iXJhCLCkspMFuun8kbqsC-93CbF95Q8k8GuYGwXTrKOtlUATyna4FWmFBX572EQPlVr/s640/H&G1.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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It's the Jan '14 issue ( which strangely is already on the newsagent's shelves). Take a look if you are interested.<br />
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Please ignore the photo of the Herefords on my neighbour's property mistakenly assumed by the photographer or editor to be my Dexters. It's a shame, my Dexters are much prettier...Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16547410700199878385noreply@blogger.com10