Belated Seasons Greetings and a Wet New Year!
This is our second update of things as they develop on the farm. Once again, if you don't want to receive these infrequent and mainly seasonal updates please reply to that effect via email. However, a much better response would be to forward this to someone who might be interested in clean, healthy and sustainable food.
The drought continues and in 2006 we received roughly a third of the average rainfall for a year. The old timers of the region tell me it’s as bad as it’s ever been – as bad as ’44 and worse than ‘82. So what are we doing about it? Well, we have three main priorities: maintaining ground cover to protect our precious topsoil, maintaining animal health (includes we humans) and watching the financial bottom line closely.
Without grass growth what’ll the cows eat? We purchased a failed wheat crop from a biological grower near Young that should do the trick and are supplementing that with some home made mineral licks. Water is now piped from the dams - yes we still have water!! We have also built several mobile feeders, modified trailers that the Ute pulls with ease, so we can keep the herd moving to fresh areas.
Christmas has come and gone and the website isn’t up and running yet, no one to blame or pass the buck to - I’m just slack. Could blame the drought I suppose, but don’t think it would help. Perhaps I’ll make it another of my new year’s resolutions …………….
New arrivals! We have ‘acquired’ a pair (we think) of Chinese geese. Actually they adopted us, moved in from next door when it was left vacant for some time and now they don’t want to go home. In temperament they are a lot like dogs, however a certain lack of bowel control meant they have been banished to the house dam.
For Elizabeth’s birthday two peacocks and peahens also appeared on the scene. Once these have settled in they will free range and be beautiful – not sure if they make good eating but that’s not their raison d’etre.
Wwoofers (willing workers on organic farms) will be a part of the scene soon, and we purchased a caravan to accommodate them. For those interested woofers are usually international backpackers that work for 4 - 6 hours a day in exchange for room and board, the cultural exchange and experiences are a bonus, see www.wwoof.com.au
I told Elizabeth that the selection criteria for wwoofers were: nubiles of Scandinavian appearance - she offered me post surgery accommodation with the steers.
The Yellow Boxes (E. Melliodora) are flowering and I’m told this means 2007 will be an average rainfall year – fingers crossed. We will be extracting honey sometime this January so contact us if you would like some, $6 for 385grams and $10 for 715grams.
Breaking News! Darren from DJ’s Family Butchery is our new butcher. Darren is not certified organic, however he will hang our meat in a separate area and for as long as we want. So gourmets rejoice, as it means properly aged red meat is again available. Darren will cut to our specifications and use natural casings and organic gluten free (rice based) filling for the sausages.
Incidentally two steers are ready to go, they are the best we’ve produced and in all modesty would be carcass competition winners. We will be offering our premium mince and sausages separately in addition to quarters and eighths. They will be ready after the Australia Day weekend so please contact us if you would like some. Attached is our new look order form, which we hope is clearer, and I’m always happy to discuss your needs.
Our new ‘old style country butcher’ is in Yass and this means I will now deliver all orders personally. I can do this after hours if this suits. For those of us worried about the carbon emissions of our new delivery system I have good news. You will get to meet my new German girl friend, a 28 year old of amazing grace, comfort and proportions. She’s a 1979 Mercedes Benz 300D (diesel) which I have modified to run on waste vegetable oil (WVO). The use of WVO as fuel means that my trips to you are probably carbon neutral and will smell like a fish and chip shop.
I am in the process of converting our other vehicle, a diesel Nissan Patrol, to run on WVO too. So the 300 kilometre round trip to the abattoir, and all other trips, should be carbon neutral as well. We are trying to reduce our energy and carbon ‘footprint’ in other ways, we are signed up to Country Energies electricity sourced from 100% renewable, eco friendly suppliers. Our choices create the future.
And finally, to our evangelistic friends old and new, again a big THANK YOU. Without you we couldn't do it. We really appreciate your spreading the word that there are farmers doing the right thing for the environment and the community. Minding the triple bottom line (environmental, social and financial) is made easier with your support. Please keep up the good work, and enjoy the good food we produce.
Our very best: Michael, Elizabeth, Katina and Briana Croft
www.mountaincreekfarm.com.au
Post Script. Should you want to speak with me my mobile 0413 387 686 is always on, however I'm generally not civil before 6am and after 10pm. Cheerio, Michael
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