From the Farm
Apr 25, 2012
25 April 2012
Well another very busy week. And the weather dry, so dry had a frost or two. No autumn flush of grass so thank goodness for the fallow and the fantastic growth we had up to now.
We are not far off the full-on autumn colors and leaves falling, well it will better feathers falling from all the poultry molting.
Talking of poultry the egg production is at a dead stop we only had 8 eggs this week. Won't be long before they are back and we have dozens and dozens.
That's the price you pay for true free-range organic rarebreeds.
Went off on a road trip to Hamilton with Ruth and Beate to pick up a large stainless steel bench with two sinks and lots of benches on three sides for the farm kitchen, drop off a ram on the way and meet Amy with a Damara ram to swap, call in on Robin and meet Barbs (Beate's friend) in Hamilton. Then take a slow drive home stopping for coffee and a walk on the beach. Not to be.
First the freezer we sell out of at the Market just stopped working. No worries we will drop it at Taranaki Refrigeration on the way to Hamilton and while we are there we can drop Christine's ducks she had dressed at the abattoir at her work and drop ducks off at the BACH restaurant.
So first to Christine's work on Powderham street. Yes Ruth we must have missed it go around the block again, I don't know I'm going mad it was here. Yes i know we are late lets go to the Bach and Beate can stop at the library and see if see can find it. So where is it ...Google says Powerham Street, John its first left and on the right. YEAH RIGHT. Ring em..... O you have moved Vivian Street near 2 years ago ARRR.
We then dropped off the freezer and 2 hours gone hit the road to Robins at Piopio. It was good to see my old mate again and his wife and son Ben .... sorry we are running late have to meet Amy at the showgrounds to swap a ram, meet Barbs and go to Hamilton East to pick up the stainless kitchen, lets go. Phoned about the kitchen, see you at 3, bit late but fine see you then. Dropped Beate off with Barbs, explained to Amy, who was waiting for us, that we will be 20 minutes and drove to the row of shops east of Hamilton. The whole place
was shut down - all the shops with roller doors down, an old couch lying in the gutter, graffiti everywhere and groups of youths hanging around looking for trouble. Walked into one of the two open shops, he was expecting us and would be there after 4. FOUR. So back to Amy, swapped rams, good to see her and her girls and back to Robins for tea.
Put your window up John its cold. Right Ruth no prob hey it won't work. So trying to fix with polythene that blew away as soon as we hit 90. It was a late cold drive home at 11.30pm.
Not to worry, you put the jug on i will check the answer phone. Hi Taranaki Refrigeration here sorry John its not good.......... it costs $800 for the part to fix the freezer.
I don't think Ruth will do another road trip with me (and i still have the window to fix).
The next day made up for it. We had an open day for Taranaki Eco Hotspot Tour...The Australasian Permaculture Convergence...What a fantastic group of people. All on the same page and could really see what the farm is about, so sure as hell made up for the road trip.
The market was a good one, the ducks sold well, great. Had some great talks with people. It was really good to meet David from San Francisco, full on but saying the right words.
That for me is one of the greatest strengths of the Farmers Market, to meet those individual people that can think for themselves.
Ross gave me this book (ain't he great) I recommend it so my book for this week is Walden or Life in the Woods By Henry David Thoreau.
Try to get more on the farm for next week.
We are not far off the full-on autumn colors and leaves falling, well it will better feathers falling from all the poultry molting.
Talking of poultry the egg production is at a dead stop we only had 8 eggs this week. Won't be long before they are back and we have dozens and dozens.
That's the price you pay for true free-range organic rarebreeds.
Went off on a road trip to Hamilton with Ruth and Beate to pick up a large stainless steel bench with two sinks and lots of benches on three sides for the farm kitchen, drop off a ram on the way and meet Amy with a Damara ram to swap, call in on Robin and meet Barbs (Beate's friend) in Hamilton. Then take a slow drive home stopping for coffee and a walk on the beach. Not to be.
First the freezer we sell out of at the Market just stopped working. No worries we will drop it at Taranaki Refrigeration on the way to Hamilton and while we are there we can drop Christine's ducks she had dressed at the abattoir at her work and drop ducks off at the BACH restaurant.
So first to Christine's work on Powderham street. Yes Ruth we must have missed it go around the block again, I don't know I'm going mad it was here. Yes i know we are late lets go to the Bach and Beate can stop at the library and see if see can find it. So where is it ...Google says Powerham Street, John its first left and on the right. YEAH RIGHT. Ring em..... O you have moved Vivian Street near 2 years ago ARRR.
We then dropped off the freezer and 2 hours gone hit the road to Robins at Piopio. It was good to see my old mate again and his wife and son Ben .... sorry we are running late have to meet Amy at the showgrounds to swap a ram, meet Barbs and go to Hamilton East to pick up the stainless kitchen, lets go. Phoned about the kitchen, see you at 3, bit late but fine see you then. Dropped Beate off with Barbs, explained to Amy, who was waiting for us, that we will be 20 minutes and drove to the row of shops east of Hamilton. The whole place
was shut down - all the shops with roller doors down, an old couch lying in the gutter, graffiti everywhere and groups of youths hanging around looking for trouble. Walked into one of the two open shops, he was expecting us and would be there after 4. FOUR. So back to Amy, swapped rams, good to see her and her girls and back to Robins for tea.
Put your window up John its cold. Right Ruth no prob hey it won't work. So trying to fix with polythene that blew away as soon as we hit 90. It was a late cold drive home at 11.30pm.
Not to worry, you put the jug on i will check the answer phone. Hi Taranaki Refrigeration here sorry John its not good.......... it costs $800 for the part to fix the freezer.
I don't think Ruth will do another road trip with me (and i still have the window to fix).
The next day made up for it. We had an open day for Taranaki Eco Hotspot Tour...The Australasian Permaculture Convergence...What a fantastic group of people. All on the same page and could really see what the farm is about, so sure as hell made up for the road trip.
The market was a good one, the ducks sold well, great. Had some great talks with people. It was really good to meet David from San Francisco, full on but saying the right words.
That for me is one of the greatest strengths of the Farmers Market, to meet those individual people that can think for themselves.
Ross gave me this book (ain't he great) I recommend it so my book for this week is Walden or Life in the Woods By Henry David Thoreau.
Try to get more on the farm for next week.