By Judy Barnet, Ag Columnist
I swear it has only been a few days since I picked cucumbers from the garden.
I couldn’t believe the size of these guys – they are continental cucumbers, not the ordinary green ones that do grow big and fat.
No amount of watering can make things grow like rain or a storm and the 60mm of rain we received on Tuesday most certainly gave them a good growth spurt.
What I don’t grow from seed I buy in punnets from the Spring Creek self serve stall at Broadwater.
Their seedlings are incredibly hardy and there is always an abundance of vegetables produced on whatever varieties I plant.
At the moment I am eagerly awaiting watermelons – the moon and stars variety I have grown from seed I collected has flowered but no fruit yet.
Both campers and cottage guests have enjoyed picking vegetables from the garden; it helps me keep on top of the bean and tomato glut and provides a great experience for them.
Some recent campers, Kevin and Kerry from Caloundra, invited me down to their campsite at the dam for lunch to thank me for the eggs and vegetables.
They made the most beautifully presented four bean salad, as well as a potato salad with Italian sausage. Nearly everything had come from the garden. They both tasted amazing!
Not sure if any readers remember the great adventurer Alby Mangels, but Kevin was the spitting image of Alby. I have to confess, I was an Alby Mangels addict! We had a lot in common, Kevin, Kerry and I, and I am looking forward to visiting their little oasis at Caloundra next time I go up that way.
Back to the garden, and one thing I have noticed is that my snail and slug problem seems to have disappeared – I am wondering if it could be due to the ducks being in the house yard and garden area.
I am not keen on them in the house yard area as they tend to poop everywhere – although there are only three so it’s not too bad – but I think I will need to reconsider my status on this if they are cleaning up the snails and slugs.
My garden is chemical free so the ducks well may be the perfect solution. I draw the line though at the latest five hatchlings – nine pooping ducks is just too much.
These ducklings are like peas in a pod with four of them having nearly identical markings.
These quackers are ready to go to new homes if anyone is looking for quiet free range ducklings that eat out of your hand.
Sadly we have lost a few lambs, it looks like a few went into hiding last muster and escaped drenching and/or we may have a bit of drench resistance.
The main escapees were the lambs of the wild bunch and they have paid the ultimate price.
A worm count came back with some sheep having a zero count of worm eggs, but some lambs having up to 16,500.
We have changed drenches and will do another count next week.
All sheep have been moved to our top paddock which hasn’t been used for a while, that includes all the pampered sheep that used to hang around the house and sleep in the carport or around the sheds.
Those same sheep were also handy to entertain the cottage guests as they loved being fed stock nuts and would hang around the cottage for hours waiting for a handout.
I kept a drum of stock nuts specifically for the guests to feed the sheep with. These hanger-abouters had even been known to chase cars down the driveway when they see guests arriving, so eager are they for hands holding out stock nuts. They gather around the car like a welcoming committee when it pulls up. God have mercy on any child that may get out of the car with something that resembles food in their hand.
That reminds me, I need to find a ‘shut the gate’ sign as those eagle eyed sheep would always know when a guest had not shut the cottage gate and find their way into the garden.
The deer is still hanging around, mainly with the sheep now – I think the alpacas gave him the boot!
I have been out in the kayak a few times as well as doing a bit of swimming. Dora has started coming with me on the kayak, although she does rock the boat a bit.
Richie showed CJ how to use the ride-on mower, and ever since then she has been expanding the parklands and outside the house yard, but the big winds of late have left branches galore, and as fast as she stone picks, the branches are moved and she has to start all over again.
After the incubator fiasco last week I am pleased to say that two guinea fowl keets hatched under a modern game hen. The rest of the eggs vanished, most likely taken by a goanna.
Remember Yves, Monica, Abel and Indigo who stayed with us last winter before they were able to move to Tassie? Yves is currently at the Australian Open doing his amazing sand sculptures. How lucky is he! I can’t wait to wait go and visit them in Tassie, hopefully in the next few months.
Next week I am off to deliver one of my old pet ewes to Roger at Killarney who has a few delightful animal tales to tell me of a newbie farmer.
I am also along with the other RBTA directors having a phone hook-up with the Livestock Conservancy in Canada, where we discuss ideas about how we can help each other and raise awareness for rare breeds.
Have a good week.
Judy
