Strawberries!

With all the rain we've been having, I worried that the strawberries would be a big, soggy, mushy mess this year. But thankfully, we've had our best crop ever!

Masses of the delicious, red fruit.

You can't help but smile whilst harvesting them, and eating them. Its a bit like 'one for the bucket, three for me...'

There are lots of picking helpers too when we are harvesting such a delicious crop.

Thanks Mum and Dad!

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

So far there's been many, many strawberries eaten, one and a half kilos turned into eight jars of jam and still more put aside for ice cream.

Is there a better way to start the day than with strawberry jam on toast?

I don't think so.

And don't forget we'll be at The Slow Food Farmers' Market at The Abbotsford Convent in Melbourne tomorrow evening (Thurs 23rd) from 3pm-8pm with the freshest, most delicious free range organic eggs and garlic.

Have a great Wednesday!

Picking plums.

I took my number one helper with me this morning to pick some plums.

She started off well and was excited to be able to reach the 'tippy toes ones'.

But soon lost interest and was happy to sit in the crate and eat her weight in plums.

Once home I made plum muffins from this recipe. Substituting the rhubarb for plums.

And a batch of blackberry and plum jam.

Will we see you on Saturday at Collingwood Children's Farm Farmers' Market?

Hope so.

Lake House producers day.

We had a fantastic day at the annual producers' market at Daylesford's The Lake House.

The crowds started pouring in before I got a chance to write the prices on the signs and didn't stop until late in the afternoon.

We sold a range of colourful heirloom vegies including sweet onions, snow peas, sugar snap peas, coriander, zucchinis and rainbow radishes.

We sold certified organic wild blackberry jam and quince jelly.

We sold garlic and eggs and meringues.

We met lots of wonderful people, had many, many photos taken, swapped produce, discussed recipes, growing techniques and twitter and had fun.

If you missed out, why don't you come and see us this coming Saturday at the Collingwood Children's Farm Farmers' Market.

Blackberry jam.

Ready!

Set!

Go!

We'll have some of this jam at The Lake House Producer's Day this Sunday seventh of February. Why don't you come and say 'hi'.

Mixed brambleberry jam.

Today I took these red, white and black currants and gooseberries,

I added sugar and stirred them over a hot flame,

and turned them into this jam.

Now I have to wash these dishes.

Blackberry flowers.

I am fully aware that blackberry bushes are a serious weed that threatens both agricultural and natural ecosystems. I am also completely supportive of the work we do on the farm to try to get rid of as much of these blackberry bushes as we can.

But I have to admit that at this time of the year, when the blackberry bushes are flowering, I start scouting out the rogue plants and become a bit protective of them as I start to make plans for the upcoming jam making season.

Market Break

We have come to the end of our Farmer's Market season.

We have a long, cold Winter in these parts where the growing and egg laying slows right down.

We have had a wonderful season, our longest yet (by a month) and we picked up an extra market (Castlemaine) bringing us to four a month.

We have shared the dramas of bushfire and drought with our fellow stall holders.

We have grown, preserved and baked a huge variety of produce each week.

We have enjoyed meeting new customers and loved the interactions we have had with our loyal regulars.

We have had brilliant helpers who turned up in hail and pouring rain as well as sweltering heat.

Thanks Viv and John.

We have shared recipes, ideas, dreams and gossip.

We have been thrilled and disappointed.

So thanks for all your support, keep reading the blog for updates on what we are doing on the farm and we'll see you again at a Farmer's Market near you when the weather turns warmer and the days are longer.

Autumn

The arrival of Autumn always makes me feel a bit sad. It means the end of warm, carefree, sunny days and, especially in this area, the arrival of a seemingly endless, cold and dark few months. But there are a few things I do love about Autumn...

I love the abundance of the harvest that is either sold or packed away in a cool, dark, dry place for use over winter.

I love making jams, jellies, pestos and sauces from berries, apples, quinces, herbs and tomatoes.

There is always something dripping through muslin or simmering on the stove. There are jars being sterilised in the dishwasher or heated in the oven.


It is most likely Autumn if you are asked if you want homemade blackberry jam, quince jelly or honey from our bees on your homemade crumpets.

I love that the stresses of bushfire and irrigation are minimal and that the worry about exact timing of planting and picking lessens.

Bren is inside more.

We cook and we bake more.

It is a calmer time.