Categories: From the Farm This Week
      Date: Mar 26, 2011
     Title: 26 March 2011
Well autumn is showing her face, some of the older poplars and plums are losing their leaves.  The Jerusalem artichokes were in full flower on the 23 march so we may have a bit more time until winter hits. We are trying to hold as much grass for winter and hope for a good Autumn flush that we have not had for a few years.
Samuel has been collecting apples to make cider.  He has a think big attitude and has managed to fill a 44 gallon drum with small apples.  His mates William and Brandon came out to go hunting and the three of them decided to camp out in the bush for the night.  The next  day Samuel got them to help cut up all the apples.  Picture three teenage boys that slept in the bush grumpily cutting up half ton of small apples, bit of a laugh really.  I will keep you posted on the brew.  I may even be allowed to try some maybe.
Ila went to the central field days with the school and the next day she was at WOMAD got in free with the other girls to pick up paper, she had a good time.
Ruth has been nagging me to put a new washer in the bathroom tap - a five min job - so i pulled the top of the tap and the seat was had it, down to the shed to find another tap, get the old one out new one in , wrong fitting.  I have heaps of fittings but not that one so off to town after 5 calls i got one. Home and fitted, working and water tight ONLY took five hours.  Imagine the plumbers bill $350+gst to change a washer.
Justin and Aleena called out and stayed for tea got into talking about many things, a good evening.
I have been on the road to and from the butcher etc.
Our volunteer Beate is fitting in well, she has the job of looking after the shed pigs that consist of spare stud boar and a few young gilts we don't want mated just yet as they would get in pig if let run freerange.  Beate is a psychoanalyst working in London City.  I now have a very calm lot of pigs totally content, im sure she has adjusted their outlook.  Ruth says when she reopens her practice she can add to the sign on her door Pig Whisperer along with her other qualifications.
After a day or so of cleaning we had our Food safety inspection for our food business. Wendy came out all went very well no problems at all. She gave good advice how to set up our farm kitchen etc.  We are coming under new rules and that involves heaps of paper work.  Wendy had good advice how to keep this to a minimum, you know i just love paper work.
Ruth has been moving ducks and chickens all week as we start the run next week.
Dee was out to tea sorting courses - we are getting a good response.
Must go as i have stock to shift before the rain.  Ruth and Beate are picking grapes and apples for the market.
See ya Sunday

PS  have a look at the April lifestyle block mag we have a good article in there.