Fresh pistachios – a rare treat indeed

Fresh pistachios – a rare treat indeed Shane O’Dea remembers that when they first started growing pistachios people said Wahring was too far South and the trees wouldn’t bear. But Jenny, Shane’s sister, did her research and discovered during the 1970’s the CSIRO trialled pistachios about 80kms from the O’Dea’s farm, confirming they were viable […]
Meat

Last week I was talking to Amy Paul from Ruby Hills about her organic lamb deliveries into Melbourne and also saw Ben Falloon, from Taranaki Farm, successfully crowd-funding $111,507 for an micro-abattoir to process his pastured chickens on-farm. It got me thinking about organic and regenerative meat. Lots of people I know eat organic fruit and veg but eat […]
A delicate balance / Milk in glass

A delicate balance Every year around this time Jenny Indian emails from Stanley with an update on her and partner, Steve’s, chestnuts and quinces. This year I’m sharing Jenny’s message because it so honestly and humbly reveals what farmers are going through with the drought and a never-ending fire season. It also gives an insight into the constant […]
Feijoas / New Food Hosts up and running

Feijoas I realised my love for feijoas (aka pineapple guavas) was getting out of hand when our friend, Meg, pointed out I had planted 13 feijoa trees around our house. “Thirteen?” I asked, slightly startled. “Thirteen,” Meg confirmed. “Really, that many?” “That many”, Meg reconfirmed firmly. “That’s quite a lot.” “It is.” Feijoa are guavas […]
Fair wood for your fire / No box left behind

Fair wood for your fire On Friday Pete Smyth, Fair Wood’s manager, came back to the Fair Food warehouse with a truckload of firewood (that’s it above). After Pete unloaded the four and a half tons of firewood by hand he was heard to say, “I am very tired now.” Pete has been wanting […]
It’s very wet in Colac / Playspace Design Launch

It’s very wet in Colac On Friday night I gave Lliam, my neighbour, a lift down from Melbourne to Fish Creek. I drop him at his front door and as I turn to take my usual short cut across their hill top paddock, Em, Lliam’s wife calls out from the veranda that the field is […]