Eating problems

January 1 2016

This week we had the pleasure of eating one of our problems.  Indi gave us some steak she had from the neighbour’s cow that caused everyone so much trouble. We preferred it much more cooked   than in orbit round the district breaking fences and causing everyone stress.    It is a bit worrying how much better home grown meat tastes.  We usually buy organic meat but it is totally different to what you produce yourself.    I had forgotten.

It has been slightly cooler this week and Edd and I have completed the next grow bed and planted out the pumpkins who had all out grown their pots.   They look much happier today despite the transplant stress.   At last the tomatoes are red and our meals can feature them again.  The zucchinis are still over producing and we have eaten the first cucumbers.    Our runner beans are fighting off some sort of attack, possibly snails, and the snow peas are finished.

My basil is nearly at eating stage and once again I am looking forward to pesto.  For breakfast the fruit are strawberries and raspberries.  It is definitely the best time of year for edible treats.    I have folded up the Xmas tree, tied it down and sealed it in its cardboard coffin waiting for the next festive season.   It is only a cheap imitation pine but it has lasted unexpectedly long and has gained survival status.    Also I do not want to murder a real tree or acquire a landscape full of huge unproductive pines. 

The hay has been a problem.   We may have to deal with round bales ourselves but the hay came from Judy’s paddock and the arrangement was that we had to put thirty small square bales in her shed before we kept the rest.   When the baler broke we asked the contractors to use the round baler because if the hay had been left it would have blown away and got wet.   We have the round bales safe but we still owe Judy square bales and they are getting hard to find.  They are also very expensive because they are made to order for horse owners etc.  This problem could cost us a fortune  and we can't eat it.

There is almost nothing edible left for the stock in the paddocks with the he grass is burnt off sparse.   The goats are working their way down the gullies eating black berries and dead leaves but we are already giving hay to the horses.    The fire danger has lessened with the cooler weather but there is a lot of the season gets to go.    We are working on fire defence and have brought a sump pump to get water up onto the house roof.  We need to fix up piping and power before it can be effective.

Bo and Indi have been hard at work all Xmas in the restaurant. Al has been working hard so that he can go to a workshop in Tasmania to try and sort out some answers to the displaced populations affected by war and climate change.   At least I think that is what it is about.   He is there already so we might hear more soon.  We have talked to Josh over the phone.  I do wish he could have stayed here longer.   I love it when we go to garden World together and both get tempted to spend too much on rare plants!