Struan Farm

Update from the Veggie Gardens

It's been a bit chilly, but things still seem to be germinating in the veggie gardens here at Struan Farm. As of today carrots, dill, coriander, lettuce, mesclun, beans, spring onions, parsley and several types of the edible flowers have started to pop up, along with the first signs of basil and beetroot. (Basil is also taking off in the glasshouse, so I can then plant out seedlings to get a jump start.) Corn is taking its time but I've just seen a sprout or two.

And p.s. the #$% rabbits ate my eggplant seedlings. I put them into a wooden planter at ground level, and have paid the price. Funny, I didn't think rabbits ate things in the nightshade family, but it seems they do. I'm going to start over from seed on those and put the planter up higher too. I'm worried they'll hit the corn next. A friend has just suggested the scent of mothballs deters them, so I'm onto that.

In the Spirit of Ella

We always used to make up Christmas lists as children for Santa, didn't you? So I was happy to see an early Christmas list appear from eldest granddaughter Ella, where else but on Facebook. She's definitely planning ahead!

She's got a mix of techie stuff, clothes, and baking things. I've quickly laid claim to taking care of those last two items, have advised Santa and the rest of the whanau accordingly.

In my family we distributed Christmas lists as adults too. It made everyone's lives easier.  You also were then less likely to have to make a contribution to the Op Shop in the New Year. (Although it's better than re-gifting, which I know some people do.)

So in the spirit of Ella, I've just emailed Santa John with a few suggestions for this year. I'm always happy with a round trip ticket to LA when he forgets to shop at the 11th hour, and he knows that too. p.s. Rest assured there isn't a bikini on my list!

 

 

Another Project

This one was John's idea, but I agreed. We've decided to re-edge the gardens by the main trellis down at the Homestead at Struan Farm. It all started when we went to give the garden trellises their annual paint jobs.

I hate messy edges, and really don't want to be spending all my time on my hands and knees trimming into my dotage, while John wants ease of mowing. We decided that enlarged edges using recycled bricks and concrete around somewhat enlarged gardens is the solution.

Enter nephew Mike on the brickwork, to be followed by Karen on the gardening. John did the layout. I'm getting more "Crepuscle" roses to grow up the back two posts, similar to the two in front, as well as another "Dublin Bay" red rose for the gardens (possibly two). Lots of surplus dahlias to redeploy too, so the garden component of this should be quite easy.

 

Scare Tactics

A week or so ago I noticed that we have little peaches and plums forming on a number of trees in the main fruit orchard here at Struan Farm. The plums are particularly exciting, since the trees haven't really fruited as yet.

Now that this is happening my mission is to make sure the fruit that is there matures, isn't eaten by the birds. Last year I netted one of the larger peach trees. That worked, so I'll do that again this year. I've netted two trees so far. It isn't pretty, but it works.

Since it may take me a week or so to get more netting and get it up on the trees, as an interim measure I've deployed "scare tape," a product that is rather cool. Rather cool if it works, that is. It's like mylar. It is tied on the branches and blows in the wind. Its reflective properties are meant to scare off marauders. Some people use CDs, but I've been told they don't really work.

 

We'll see. It does look a bit like jumbo sized Christmas tree tinsel!

Joy is Important

Perhaps I should have entitled this post "Ode to Joy." But that's already been used to great effect by Beethoven.

A few days ago in my post on "Tomato Town" I noted that John had accused me of being "childlike" in my enthusiasm, in this instance for making a map of my tomato bed with collaged images of tomatoes around the border. He was laughing when he said it, he enjoys my little tangents (every so often there's a raised eyebrow). He does wonder why I take the time to do certain things, like a silly collaged tomato map, and how I find that time given everything else I do around Struan Farm. But don't read into that the wrong way.

A friend commented after reading this post that childlike enthusiasm is a very good thing. I agree. For me joy is important, it keeps me happy and creative. 

But this had me thinking about my various enthusiasms, childlike or otherwise.

Here are just a few: going over the cliff growing tomatoes and fruit trees, veggies, flowers and native trees/plants from seed (or cuttings). Battling weeds like it's serious blood sport (top public enemies are thistles, foxglove, onion weed, buttercup, japanese anemone, arum lilies, violets), also waging war with wascally wabbits and snails. Choosing names for, looking after (coddling?), and talking to the pet lambs. Naming the gnomes. Chocolate chip cookies, the real deal Nestle's Toll House ones. Deploying my label maker where others fear to tread. Hiding jelly beans in a felted ginger bread house for the grandkids, and letting them pick out ONLY THREE to eat after they remember the secret hiding place. Committing to make needlepoint Christmas stockings for the grandchildren. (Three down, four to go. I'm probably the only grandmother on the planet hoping this is it.)

A knitting friend recently asked me what was on my needles, and I had to confess that I have nothing going at the moment. At some point guilt over my embarrassing yarn stash will overcome that and I'll be back at it.

Last but not least: one of my biggest enthusiasms, definitely in the childlike category, must be putting reindeer antlers on the pet lambs for our annual Struan Farm Christmas card. It's now an official tradition--we've had the photo shoot. I'll tell you that both Cookie and Buster channeled Madonna and struck a pose, but I won't divulge who has won "Piopio's Top Model" just yet. Watch this space!

 

 

Mrs. Preston's Peaches

A few weeks ago John and I travelled north to spend a weekend and catch up with friends in the Kaipara, where John has just finished a four year governance gig.

We had dinner one evening with the Preston family at their Ruawai homestead. Mrs. Preston, the family matriarch, told me about her heirloom peach trees. They don't suffer from leaf curl and the fruit is delicious. They also self seed like mad, she has lots of spare little seedling trees.

You know where this is heading don't you? Two little peach trees have arrived at Struan Farm from up north, John picked them up before he left town. We've decided to pot them up to grow them a bit this year before planting them out in the "peach" area of our orchard.

Not sure what variety they are, but they'll be called "Mrs. Preston's Peaches" from now on!