Wednesday 16 November 2016

Where to Begin?

Hello dear reader. I have so much to tell you I hardly know where to begin, so this will be a pictorial "slide show" so we can catch up.
Our main focus for this month of November was centered around the Bio-dynamics Field Day that we hosted last Sunday.
As we've been hosting events regularly over the past few months, the farm and garden were pretty much up to scratch, so no real need to spend a lot of extra energy, apart from the regular tasks of grass mowing and maintenance. I need to maintain a certain level of tidiness (control) at all times for my sense of calm and well-being, so I'm always happy to share our surroundings with whoever walks in at any time.
However, the house internal did require some spring cleaning to accommodate two bedrooms for speakers John Hodgkinson from BAA Headquarters in Bellingen NSW,  Shane Joyce and Po Mei from  Queensland who were our house guests for a few nights. I felt like I was vacuuming three years of dust from under the bed in one of the spare rooms/store room, which magically became a very comfy bedroom without any clutter at all. Don't look in the cellar though!
Food preparation was another issue, as our guests were all vegetarians, so the lamb we slaughtered in their honor, looked like remaining in the freezer.  I prepped things like pastry cases, that I froze ahead of time to quickly whip up quiches, and made spinach and feta pasties from the garden and home made cheese, vege dishes and fresh salads. I wanted to spend as much time with our guests, and not get stuck in the kitchen.


When they saw our farm and learned about our ethics for growing animals for food and preparing our meat in a stress free environment, these vegetarians happily decided to eat our meat. I fully understand where they were coming from, as I would also be a vegetarian for ethical reasons if we couldn't grow our own meat. So a huge leg of lamb was enjoyed, as was breakfast of nitrate free bacon with home grown eggs, on fresh baked sourdough.

 They had other Field Days around South Australia to present over the week, so it was business as usual for Brian and I during the days.

 Our piglets were ready for collection at weaning time last Saturday. 

 Three perfect little Landrace / Large White cross breeds from Peggy and John's free range piggery at Saddleworth.


And while we were in the vicinity, we drove a few minutes further up the road to Auburn to collect Mulga Bill from his three month working holiday at Mick and Krystal's beautiful property. It's clearly evident they have looked after him well,  he's looking so healthy and his attitude was relaxed at loading time and when he returned home to his own territory.  Fingers crossed they get lots of top quality calves from their cows, so they will want him back again next year. These are the kind of people who share our thoughts on animal treatment, so we want to remain in touch with them.


Our farm Field Day was on Sunday, and being such an intense and busy day with crowds of people beyond our expectations (38plus), I only got a chance to snap one photo. Po Mei snapped lots of pictures, so I'll post some when she sends them.
What an incredible experience to be surrounded by so many interested people, at our farm, with these two gurus of Bio-dynamics.


Monday morning came around all too fast ad it was time to bid them farewell. This is what I wrote  on Jembella Farm Facebook page about how I was feeling in the hours after they drove away to catch their planes.
"Returning to a normal day on the farm this morning as our most wonderful house guests have departed. Feeling tired from late nights, not wanting to miss a precious moment in their company, but feeling re-energised by their presence. Precious relationships have been formed, there were tears with our goodbyes, but we will meet again."

Love, light and peace. :-) XX
 


20 comments:

  1. That all sounds so wonderful Sally. What a shame we live so far apart, I would have loved to have attended your Field day.

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    1. Thanks Sherri, I feel sure that all of my like minded blog friends would have jumped at the chance to be here to listen to the gurus of BD. :)

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  2. Oh Sally it sounds perfect! I'm so pleased you got to share some of your lamb! That's a high acknowledgment of your hard work I believe. Much love. Xx

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  3. Amazing! I am so happy to hear that you had this incredible event on your farm and hosted the speakers too. You are doing such good things.

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    1. Thanks Zena, it feels right to share our knowledge and we get so much back from other folks too.

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  4. What a busy time you have had, Sally. The Field Day sounded fantastic. I imagine you had a good sleep after everyone left.

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  5. What a great event. The garden and animals look so healthy. I've met Po a couple of times in Maleny. She's a lovely person.

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    1. Rhonda, we have a friend in common. How wonderful!

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  6. Sounds like an amazing weekend. Your place looks so alive, thriving and inviting. It must feel so good, to know you are doing it right. Thanks for sharing, Guida.

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    1. The wetter than average season has helped too Guida.

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  7. Isn't it wonderful how being surrounded by like-minded, interested and beautiful people can energise and enrich us. I wish I could've come and seen your amazing farm, Sally. I'm sure I would learn so much. Meg:)

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  8. i am blessed to have Shane Joyce in our community here, he has helped immensely with getting our market vegetable gardens off the ground & introducing new & wonderful vegies into the fold also. he knows so much!
    glad the field days went well

    what is that gorgeous crimson flower there?
    thanx for sharing

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    1. Selina, it's such a small world and you feel closer to me now that we have a friend in common. Shane is quite new to Kilkivan, having spent many many years on a huge cattle property out of Theodore. We were fortunate to spend a few days with him there a couple of years ago. Do you live in Kilkivan?

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    2. The crimson flower is a very old fashioned Geranium. Tough, survives our summers with very little water, but comes back with such vigor in spring.

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  9. It all sounds wonderful. You're dong something very right to get vegetarians to eat meat. 😊

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    1. It certainly makes meal prep a bit easier Sue. ;)

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  10. yes i live in kilkivan, been here for 16yrs now, though still struggling to get things to grow here.
    the pinky crimson flowers at the foreground of the last photo, doesn't look much like a geranium? i have actually started to collect scented geraniums & pelargoniums & plains to put back in my gardens for their hardiness, they certainly are wonderful plants. (use the scented peppermint in tea)

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    1. Oh sorry Selina, that pink flowering plant is what we call Kiss Me Quick, but is a type of Valerian. Geraniums and pelargoniums are perfect for dry gardens, so many wonderful fragrant ones too.

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  11. thanx!
    yeh, i am slowly giving up on those that are needing lots of water, even though they are so lovely & great for the bees & butterflies.

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