Re-emerging
Late in 2022 the Goulburn River merged for a while with Somerset Heritage Farm – it swept away fences, tore through a polytunnel and a packing shed and ruined a season’s crops.
Last week the river returned flowing through Chloe Fox’s coolroom, packing shed and polytunnel. Not as bad as last time but everything in the ground or on the vine was lost again.
In 2022 forty-five friends; ex-employees, customers, farmers market crew, beautiful blokes with big machines helped clean up and get Somerset back on its feet again.
Chloe’s put out a call for help tomorrow, there’ll also be another working bee later in the month.
“We’d love some help on Monday if anyone’s free. We’re hoping to start around 9am and finish around 12pm.
We’ll also have another working bee in a few weeks for a bigger planting day as soon as we can get some more seedlings.”
The flood at Chloe’s has also affected growers and other farmers across Victoria. Brown rot and hail damage has wrecked the end of what was looking like a good stonefruit year. Grape growers on the Murray are worried about powdery mildew and most of the state’s wheat crop has been downgraded.
This week looking over Fair Food’s produce lists there are already a few “out-of-stocks” and it’d be a safe bet that there’ll be more to come.
Somerset Heritage Produce is located at 1 Emily St, Seymour.
You can find updates on their Instagram page.
Life resumes at CERES
The farmers at Joe’s Garden worked through the end of year break but the Farmgate crew took a couple well-deserved weeks off.
They came back this weekend and you’ll find them each Saturday between 8:30am-1pm on the banks of the Merri Creek in Coburg with their delicious coffee, baked goods and of course the freshest produce anywhere. You can even pick-your-own flowers right now too!
Fair Wood has also reopened its doors – after 5 years establishing itself, the Fair Wood warehouse is becoming Melbourne’s go-to place for ethical building, furniture-making and landscaping timber. Fair Wood is open Monday to Saturday at 31-33 Raglan St, Preston.
Then there’s the CERES course to rule them all! The famous 14 week, hands-on Complete Urban Farmer with the beloved Justin Calverly – covering everything from seeds to chooks to bees it starts this February 15th.
And finally, I’ve been wanting to thank the beautiful soul who sent this Christmas Beetle Card on their Fair Food box insert – that’s it below.
There have been some very special pictures and messages on Fair Food boxes and inserts over the past couple of years – this one bought smiles and tears. We absolutely love it!
Have a great week
Chris
