wombats in the roof

Wind  destroys the poly house

Wombat damage on the roof

We still have a pile of pumpkins in the mud room

August 11.15

We had huge winds this week and the polythene on the large tube house ripped right down the length of the building with a sound like a thunderclap! Edd, Indi and I tied down the flapping plastic with baler twine to prevent damage to the frame but basically all that shelter is now lost.  The only bright side is that it served its purpose after the fires and made a great venue for Al’s wedding but it was a bit of an eye sore. Perhaps now we can cover the frame with netting and make a huge cage to protect some fruit trees.

We are still planting trees, but will we still be here to see them when they mature?  Everything is changing fast. Apparently our neighbours on the hill opposite are moving out in six weeks time. A young couple expecting their first child have brought the land and plan to build a new house there. We have not met them yet, but it is sad that the last Hargreaves have left the land here. Once the family cleared and owned all our little valley and we have know them over three generations. The view from their hill is absolutely amazing and I know it will be hard to leave for B and L. We will miss them; they have been the best neighbours.

Edd is recovering quickly from his last operation and is now back on his feet again and making up for lost time on the farm. He has set up the incubator and loaded it with what we hope are fertile eggs. We have a marron rooster the so we could get some nice chicks if we are lucky. It is a good time to put eggs on because it gives us point of lay chooks for next winter eggs.

The other problem this week was found when we took a permaculure group around last Saturday. When we walked across the roof we discovered that a wombat had dug a large hole near the first chimney! Edd has filled it in but we will have to keep watching. Wombats can be very determined and dig huge holes. Please note, you lot who think moles are a problem have probably never seen what a wombat can do! Believe me they are in a class of their own as far as digging goes.