November 2014

The spring winds have arrived with a vengeance.  Thankfully Madame Cholet has withstood the onslaughts, though there are a few branches down around the property perimeter.  Using straw as a mulch has been wonderful in so many ways, but creates other issues when it’s dry and windy.  The base layers have mostly stayed in situ, while the looser top layers are all over the place, often swamping new plantings.  Temperatures are becoming balmy and the wind-free days are generally glorious.  Wild life like this beautiful dragonfly is profuse, but pigs remain elusive, though not for want of trying.  Perhaps it’s too early in the season for them to be widely available.  If necessary we’ll pick some up from Christchurch, but that’s a long trip which we’d prefer to avoid for their sakes.

We’re missing the serene presence of Aphrodite and Persephone.  So are Athena and Zeus who seem to be wandering around rather more aimlessly than before, and getting into less mischief (hope not famous last words).  They were trucked away to homes near Christchurch.  We’ve kept in touch with Persephone’s new owners – she was a gift for a family member and they’re delighted to have her.  They’ve said they’ll send us a photo of the new calf when it’s born.  We’re watching Hera and Athena carefully to see if they’re coming on heat.  They’re possibly overdue, meaning that either we missed their last heat, or that they’re already pregnant.  The latter would only be possible if we stuffed up Zeus’ castration – totally possible of course, though a convenient mishap if that’s the case.

The sheep are in the process of shedding and look really untidy. The paddocks are equally messy, with blobs of wool lying around everywhere.  In places there are big mats of wool, looking from a distance like we've got some dead sheep.  A couple of the sheep have shed pretty much completely, some barely at all.  One lamb (in the photo) has shed in a very unusual pattern, and unfortunately earned the new nick-name ‘Monk Mullet’.  It’s hard to believe that the boy lambs are just 4 months old.  They’re increasingly robust, less playful and look as big as their mums.  One ewe separated herself in another paddock from the rest of the flock for a few days, probably in an attempt to wean her boisterous twins.  They’re all back together now and seem contented enough.  We’ll look at processing 2 or 3 of them in January, rather than do all 7 at once later.

Bees are very happily buzzing everywhere.  Lots of bumble bees, as well as our own honey bees, are enjoying the flowers and blossoms.  I managed to get hold of several queen bee cells, and have separated my hive back into two.  It’s too soon to go back in to check, but there’s lots of activity around both hive entrances.  Hopefully a new queen emerged and has returned from her mating flight.  Brood in the form of eggs will confirm that – can’t wait to get in there and see.  The original hive was chock-a-block of bees when it was separated.  There were even new honey supplies, so it should survive the loss of a few frames of brood which were transferred into the new hive.

Madame Cholet is now packed to the rafters with seedlings.  All of the straw bales are planted up with tomatoes, chillis, aubergines, basil, cucumbers, peppers and melons.  They are watered twice a day most days, and the bales are compacting nicely.  The melons are being seriously nibbled by something, but everything else seems to be hanging on.  There are still a few seeds to tend, but most can be directly sown outside now.   

We’re down to 6 rabbit kits, and the buck.  There was another run of rabbit deaths, so there are now several buried beneath newly planted natives (mostly cabbage trees) in the wetland.  Those remaining are still skinny and raggedy, but otherwise seem healthy enough.  We were pretty much resigned to losing them all and had kind of made a decision about our rabbit-keeping future, but now we’re not so sure what we’ll do if these 6 make it to adulthood.  In the meantime they’re enjoying excess greens and various other crops from the veg garden. 

The veg garden is beautiful.  There’s an impressive volume of veg growing in there, some of which we’re eating.  Leeks, spinach and silver beet are going to seed so are being replaced with seeds, rather than seedlings.  Carrots are popping up (don’t deny it Karyn – you’ve seen them), as are beans of many varieties, spuds, snow-peas and peas.  Seedlings of tomatoes, lettuce, basil and corn have been planted out.  Corn was a flop crop last year, and so far this year it’s not looking promising.  Rodents or birds ate the corn in the tunnel house, so I’ve ended up growing them in a tiny heated mini-cloche in the house, then potting them on for a few days before planting out.  Some have survived, others have succumbed to being swamped by straw-mulch.  The rest are yet to be transplanted, so fingers crossed there is something of a crop to share with the chooks.

The mother hen is doing a great job with her 4 new chicks.  They're adorable bundles of fluff, growing rapidly.  She's a strict mum, and mostly they do as they're told!  None of the other hens are broody - hopefully that'll change because we'd love a few more chicks.

The wetland water level is very low.  There’s only one smallish pool of wetland water left.  Sam had been commissioned to take a few photos for this blog, and literally found himself thigh deep in the bog when trying to get shots of the resident eels.  The Marlborough region is generally low in water for this time of year.  There are threats of water bans, which shouldn’t affect us as our supply is pumped up from a well, but is worrying nonetheless.  

The orchard is experiencing an explosion of growth – trees and pasture.  It’s open to the sheep in the hope that they’ll whittle away at the grass and we won’t have to mow in there.  Alas that’s way too optimistic, but they do go in there from time to time to munch.  A fair crop of fruit is setting, which is really exciting.  The soft fruits in the veg garden are also looking pretty abundant, and some may even be ready soon.  Redcurrants are colouring up, and gooseberries are fattening. 

Christmas is coming but short of sending a parcel to the UK and topping up our alcohol supply, it hasn't really hit my radar yet.  I have been granted my request for reduced teaching hours next year – hurray!!  That means I’ll be teaching on average 3 days a week, and will be taking up opportunities for clinical practice the rest of the time.  That’ll include Blenheim and the West Coast.  I’m keeping fingers crossed that financially it’ll all work out, and that I’ll feel like I have a better life work balance.  And of course, that I’ll have more time to spend at home pottering around at home and on the farm. 

Hey ho, roll on 2015 and its promise of reducing the life sentence feel in favour of the life style. In the meantime - welcome glorious summer and the chance to relax.