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14 September 2010

Ducks.

Last September we brought home 26 Khaki Campbel ducklings.

They were so cute and fluffy and we looked forward to watching them grow and learning all about them.

So its been a year now since they've been living at Daylesford Organics and we're learning more about them everyday.

We do know that they are hardier than chickens, their poo is disgusting and sloppy, they love to swim, they make everything dirty especially their drinking water, their eggs appear to drop out of them wherever they are, they are extremely shy and wont come anywhere near us and we know that we can herd them from one area to another.

We still don't know how to get them to lay in any sort of nest. We have seen them swimming on the dam late at night and have no idea if they sleep there or if in fact they sleep at all.

This is the shed the boys built for them a while back. They take the wheels off it whenever they move it to ensure the ducks don't lay underneath. They don't sleep in it and they don't use the cozy, straw filled laying nest on the right side either.

We do know that we love hanging out with them and their bossy, quacky sisters.

And we do know that there are some women that buy duck eggs off us at market and adore them. They get so cross with us if we forget to bring them their fortnightly supply. And we do know that Chef Hat winning chef Andrew Dennis of A Perfect Drop in Daylesford, loves our duck eggs too. He uses them to make the most divine pastries.

Happy first birthday duckies!

04 September 2010

Flooded farm.

Happy spring!

Its been raining and pouring here.

We've had 40mm of rain since midnight last night.

A dam up the road has broken its banks and the bottom of our property is under water.

This photo shows one of the reasons why we close the farm gate stall over winter. You'd have to get your bathers on to get to that little shed stall today.

The last time we can remember it raining like this was in 2003 when we'd just spent a small fortune redoing our driveway only for it to be washed up stream.

So today we are thinking about organic trout or organic rice.

And we are optimistic about the coming fruit and vegetable season.

Have a wonderful weekend wherever you are.

Oh, and thanks so much Mitch for the great pics. X