DISPATCHES FROM THE FARM

Well, only 3 more sleeps until Christmas Day...hard to believe another year has flown by so quickly.

A lot has been going on at the farm lately even though I haven't been writing to you much (that's why not much blogging has been happening!). We're still cleaning the new season's garlic bulbs in earnest and a lot of time over the past week has been filled with harvesting and other preparation for farmers' markets, doing our wonderful market stalls (bumping in!), packing up (bumping out!) and then returning  to the farm, unpacking the van etc and then doing it all again. It's a vibrant time of year and many vegies (& many more weeds...) are growing rapidly with the regular warmth and the blessed regular rain we've so luckily had.

Last Saturday morning we did our first Hawthorn Boroondara F.M. and rushed back home to do the Daylesford Xmas Twilight F.M. from 4pm. Our inaugural Boroondara F.M. was a ripper! Very busy and very welcoming...we had a great day. So lovely to see some regulars from our other Melbourne f.m.s and to meet lots of new people, passionate about locally grown, good quality organic produce, especially real, un-messed Australian garlic.

  

Our stall at the Hawthorn Boroondara Farmers' Market last Saturday.

  

The Daylesford Xmas Twilight F.M. was pretty laid-back and not really busy but we did get to catch up with and exchange Christmas greetings with our fellow stallholders and a number of local friends, which was a very nice added bonus. Plus, Santa rode in on the Daylesford CFA No. 1 fire truck, which all the kids loved and to be honest it 'tickled me pink' too! Some of the French WWOOFers who helped us clean garlic the other week were helping out on Don & Sue's stall and we commented that Santa's fire truck entrance was a uniquely Australian Christmas event and they thought it was great!

 

Our stall & Tim at Daylesford Xmas Twilight F.M.  

 

Tomorrow arvo / evening (Wednesday) is the super-dooper Slow Food Xmas Twilight market in the grounds of the gorgeous Abbotsford Convent in Melbourne, between 3pm & 8pm. It's promising to be smashing, with loads of great stalls (including us!)...great Xmas fare and gourmet gifts and a festive Xmas vibe :).  Come along if you can and join in the fun.

I won't blog you until after Christmas now, so from us to you and your families and loved ones, WE WISH YOU A SAFE & BEAUTIFUL CHRISTMAS. MAY SUMMER BE A GOOD & RELAXING TIME FOR YOU & US, FREE FROM FIRE DANGERS & MAY 2010 BE A PARTICULARLY FABULOUS YEAR FOR US ALL! :)

Best wishes from Deri-Anne, Tim & Billy

 

Tim bunching some just picked garlic in the field.

 

The trailer getting filled with garlic bunches to be transported back to the drying shed and out of the sun.

Piles of garlic bunches awaiting their spot on the hanging rack!

  

Fresh 2009 garlic just hung for drying and curing, Glenlyon dirt intact. 

 

First lot of garlic stems cleaned for plaiting. 

 

Let the plaiting begin...plait-meister Cheryl in action (not just another hand model!). Cheryl is our dear friend and occasional farm hand. A lady of many talents, a fellow garlic and fine food groupie with the biggest heart who is my plaiting guru/buddy. She also brings a large dollop of love to our mix in Angelicanian creations!

 

Plait-o-rama well under way (...and already 'sold out' online!) .

  

Then last week we were blessed with the French and Italian 'Connection' for a day to help kick off the garlic bulb cleaning festival! Our mates Don and Sue from Timber Benders shared their  WWOOFers (Willing Workers On Organic Farms) with us for the day, which was a great help and good fun. 

Billy got spoilt with loads of extra love and cuddles! Unfortunately my dream of taking him out for dinner in Paris was dashed when the guys broke the news that it wasn't likely to be able to happen in reality- oh pooh! 

We got our first lot of online garlic orders posted out the other day and all has reached its destination in good shape and with fabulous feedback coming in- thank you :)

And back on the 'ranch' the garlic bulb cleaning continues in earnest....

The Daylesford (1st sat.) and then Collingwood Children's Farm farmers' markets have been fantastic the past couple of Saturdays (sorry no pics!). It's great to be back in the f.m. 'saddle' for the new season.

Please come and visit us this coming Saturday at the Hawthorn Boroondara Farmers' Markets (8am-1pm) or the Daylesford Christmas Twilight Farmer's Market (4pm-8pm) and maybe pick up a gorgeous garlic braid as a Christmas present to-boot?! :)

      

Hello All! Here is a wee preview of the 2009 garlic crop.

    

As you will see from the various website updates, THE GARLIC IS IN NOW...woo hoo!!