Struan Farm

The Bully in our Midst

It's quite a circus of former pet lambs in the mob of ewes here at Struan Farm. At times when I go up to a paddock fence I am surrounded with faces and personalities I know well. Some all too well!

Here's one:

Ruby. She's in the same class as Rosie, Pip and Pepper. Rosie remains the head diva, and will sometimes give me a wee kick if she thinks I'm ignoring her or shortchanging her apple treats. But Ruby is the largest ewe in our mob here at Struan Farm. And when she wants something, like apple treats, she can get a wee bit rough with the others. The ewes have learned not to mess with her.  This week I watched her head butt one of this year's pet lambs, Fig, up in the air and quite a distance. Fig will know better next time I'm assuming. Ruby has never tried to get rough with me, but then I communicate with her when the apples are running low to avoid a situation. I don't think she'd hurt me, she's always been respectful of her adopted mum, but I don't want to test that. I always give her a pat if I don't have apple treats, and she seems to understand. Kids!

 

 

 

Staying on Track

Sometime today we should find out if NZ stays at Alert Level 4 beyond April 22, or if we move into Level 3. If we do, the current version of Level 3 will be considerably stricter than the previous one. But it will allow some businesses to operate provided they do so safely, as defined.

As for me, Level 3 still means I'm restricted to home base here at Struan Farm due to my compromised immunity. This is looking like it's going to be for quite awhile. John will be working from home when he can, but as an essential worker he may go out for certain council meetings as required to do so. I suspect most will continue to be done on Zoom.

I've decided that the gardens will be my Level 3 project. After the drought and now rains it's time for their seasonal clean out, and one is definitely required! It will take me weeks and trailer loads. At this point I need something physically exhausting to help my head. I've been inside too much for my liking these past few weeks.

Things are looking reasonable if you don't look too closely! I'm loving the brilliant crepe myrtle juxtaposed against the leucadendron "Safari Sunset," aren't you?

And the cercis with their heart-shaped leaves are always interesting at this time of the year as they change colour too. 

Bubbles Hits a Speed Bump

You will of course remember Bubbles. She was a triplet born by caesarian at the farm next door to Struan Farm. Her mum died, and I rescued brothers Elvis and Ajax along with Bubbles. They spent the night wet and shivering in front of the roaring fire, me sitting with a bottle of colostrum in hand, willing them to live.

Sadly Elvis died. Bubbles and Ajax  recovered and moved to the pet pen, but later that season John forced me to send them to his sister in Taranaki after his arbitrary limit on my pet lamb numbers was reached. Unfortunately Ajax also died several months later. But Bubbles thrived in Taranaki, even greeting visitors to the garden during the fringe garden festival. 

This past spring John's sister asked us if we'd take Bubbles back. They are selling their property and building a house, something complicated enough without a fat pet hogget who thinks she's a person.So Bubbles made the trip back to Struan Farm.

It wasn't an easy adjustment. She was overweight and wasn't used to walking around, sat and ate the grass around her. I think she was also missing her "Mum" terribly. Thankfully pet lambs Sugar and Spice decided to adopt her, teaching her how to walk around and be a sheep. For awhile they were a trio. Most recently Bubbles joined the mob that was out with the rams. She lost some weight and was acting like a sheep. All good.

Until last week. John went to move the mob into our front Pet Paddock, which had quite a bit of feed. He noticed that Bubbles kept sitting down, and when she stood up she coughed. She didn't look and wasn't behaving well, so he kept her isolated in the paddock behind the Cottage and moved everyone else. He returned to tell me that "one of my brown faced sheep" was having a problem, and that I needed to check it out. He didn't think she was going to survive. While I went up to check on which of "my brown faced sheep" it was, and to try to figure out what was happening, he rang his sister to break the news that Bubbles wasn't well.

When I found her in the paddock she was sitting quietly, but when she stood up she had a wheezing cough. I left her to settle down and returned to ring Farmer John. His diagnosis: pleurisy. He instructed us to leave her, that stressing her wasn't good for her. And so we did that. I also discovered that it might be infectious, so we left her on her own for a number of days.

Good news: Bubbles has recovered, phew! We don't know if the dust from the drought we've had, the weight she's lost, being put with the ram, or all of the other changes she's been through in her life these past months, weakened her immune system. But she's better now. Yesterday she was sitting by the gate wanting to be moved with the rest of the sheep. She's now rejoined the mob.

Mum was updated.

Inkcaps Down the Drive

John has been harvesting proper paddock mushrooms in the mornings here at Struan Farm when conditions have them popping up. He now knows the spots to check around the property. Once they're cleaned I pop them into the food dehydrator so they can be dried and stored for later use. We've already had one dinner of mushroom risotto using them (re-hydrated) that was delicious.

So we keep our eyes out for fungi and mushrooms around the farm. I was happy to see the regular seasonal colony of Shaggy Inkcaps (Coprinus comatus) at the bottom of our drive yesterday. These black spored mushrooms are edible (provided that's done without drinking any alcohol), but I'm not going to test that. As they age they "auto digest," dripping a black liquid.

And yes, they have a distinctive shape. We won't go there, will we?!

Into the Bush

John and I are both trying to take walks around the property each day here at Struan Farm during the COVID-19 lockdown, for however long it may continue. I head down to the Pet Paddock each afternoon to gather walnuts and fallen feijoas and to check the ripening figs. John has been charged with "mushroom patrol."

But we also try to get out and have a wander to clear our heads. We went down to the river together one day, and yesterday went out to the QEII bush reserve near the pond.

It's reassuring to see the kererus (native wood pigeons) sitting quietly in the trees and hear the tuis croaking away. And it's almost time to gather kahikatea berries, both for growing native trees and to eat!

We use the kahikatea fruit, which is called "koroi," in salads for pops of juicy flavour (think of using them the way you would pomegranate arils). Last year I also made jam from them, which was interesting and fun, the consistency ends up almost candied and slightly chewy. The jam is delicious warm on ice cream, but making it was exceedingly tedious given the need to remove the black seeds. The upside was that we did use those to grow hundreds of young trees in our native tree nursery.  

A Hedgehog's Hero

Yesterday I went out back, beyond Veggie World, the tawa grove and the new shed here at Struan Farm, to check one of our "Huia" heritage fig trees. This one get lots of direct sunlight being on a relatively exposed point. On a clear fine day we can actually see the snow capped tip of Mt. Taranaki from this part of the farm.

The figs on this tree are almost ready, hooray. The ones on the older, larger tree in the Pet Paddock are not.

On the way I walked past one of our cattle stops (these are barriers that stop sheep from walking into an area, avoiding the need for a gate), where I discovered a large hedgehog. She'd fallen or wandered into the cattle stop and certainly wasn't going to get herself out without help.

And then I realised: it was Mrs. Tiggywinkle! She thought perhaps that going into lockdown here at Struan Farm might be a good plan. I enlisted nephew Mike to get her out and send her off into the bush. The cattle stop was not the place for her to be in lockdown. She had no food down there.

Every hedgehog needs a hero in these testing times!

 

 

A Good Deed Gets Rewarded

A few days ago Farmer John arrived here at Struan Farm to drench my five remaining pet lambs following Chalk's recent unfortunate death. A drought provides the conditions for all sorts of bad things to happen to pet lambs and sheep, and we're doing what we can to minimise that.

Only one problem: pet lambs can (sometimes) be discipline problems. They tend to ignore working sheep dogs entirely, knowing better of course. When Farmer John tried to round up the five lambs from the paddock into the yards for their drench, pet lamb Spicy decided to jump over the fence and into another paddock, the one with the ewes. You may remember that Spicy has been a jumper from her early days, when she used to jump up over the retaining wall onto the front lawn and into the garden to munch my roses. It was her party trick.

Farmer John dealt with the four well-behaved darlings and left Mike and me some drench to deal with naughty Spicy. We found her hanging out under the trees in the shade with the ewes. She came over when called, but wouldn't move along down to the Cottage paddock and yards until I convinced (former pet lambs now pet ewes) Rosie and Cookie to help me, lured by a huge bag of apple pieces.

I also had to recruit nephew Mike on the quad bike to open the gate at the yards and keep everyone moving along from the back while I was leading them down the track in front. We finally got the three into the yard, Mike drenched Spicy, and we released her into the paddock with Sugar, Peaches, Fig and Pickle. I led Rosie and Cookie back up the track to join the ewes.

Quite the operation, phew! The things I get myself into here at Struan Farm. I suspect if someone had witnessed this parade they would have laughed themselves silly. But now the pets are drenched which should help them resist anything else bad that comes along.

And as I walked back to the house through the garden (panting somewhat after trotting around up and down), I was thanked for my efforts: a Monarch Butterfly drifted by! Not many of those around at all this year; I took it as a sign from the universe that good deeds do get noticed and rewarded.

 

The Slightest Relief

The night before last we had some much needed rain showers here at Struan Farm, also during the morning yesterday. Not much, but we are very thankful for what has been received.

I checked the rain gauge we have on the fence in the backyard, and it looks like 9 mls. fell.

The gardens, sheep, and we are jubilant for some moisture. Pretty please, Mother Nature, can we have some more? We promise to behave, we really do. We've got a long way to go to recover from this drought. Hopefully a corner has been turned with weather patterns and ocean currents.

 

Some Sad News

Over the weekend I drove by the front roadside "Pet Paddock" here at Struan Farm, where (coincidentally) we've put this year's six ewe pet lambs: Peaches, Fig, Pickles, Chalk, Sugar and Spice. This is to keep them sequestered from the rams, who will be put out with the mob shortly. 

I noticed one pets curled up against the fence, far away from from everyone else. I was worried she might have died, so stopped to check it out. She was quietly curled up, sleeping, but wasn't acting terribly normal. I gave her some rubs, and went to check on everyone else. They were at the other ending of the paddock, eating away, but everyone said hello. Sugar and Spice came up to sniff me and get pats.

I returned to Chalk, who had walked over to the water trough for a few sips before sitting down again. I went and cut some photinia branches, which sheep love to nibble, and brought those to her. She remained down but did nibble them.

You may remember that Chalk's twin sister Cheese dropped dead during the season. And so I was worried. Later that afternoon I returned to the Pet Paddock with John and sister-in-law Anna. They agreed she wasn't well. I returned with cold water for her to drink and photinia to nibble try to help her. I also put a call into Farmer John.

Unfortunately Chalk died overnight. The verdict is that she had facial eczema, which happens in this sort of dry conditions when there is a brief rain shower. Spores are released from the ground that infect the sheep. Her ears were drooping, apparently is a telltale sign.

John seems to think a few of the other pets might have the same problem so we are watching them. We have moved them out of this paddock, but if they are already infected there's not much that can be done other than to keep an eye on them. John will also contact Farmer John tonight to have a chat.

I don't want to lose my pet lambs 2020, it would be an absolute tragedy.

 

In Solidarity with the Flowers

The lack of rain is starting to get serious here at Struan Farm. John has been keeping an eye on the spring from which we get our water, while all of the paddock water troughs for the stock are fed from roof tanks which are still okay. There has never been a problem with the spring in over 80 years, but the longer this goes on that could change. There is also still enough feed/grass for the number of sheep on the property, Farmer John hasn't had to reduce numbers as yet.

Given the situation this summer we've talked about getting some extra small water tanks to capture water off those roofs we currently don't, like the workshop and a shed or two. In case this summer isn't an aberration but rather the new norm.

I'm not watering the flower gardens, obviously. This pains me, and I feel for the flowers. When I see a perennial or flowering shrub that truly looks like it's dying I do grab a bucket and give it a very deep drink. John has been carrying water to my sister's white oak tree every few days, and I have been doing the same for the two wee "Peter the Hermit's Golden Delicious Apples" I grafted onto rootstock this past winter.  We are wanting special things to eke their way through this dreadful weather if at all possible.

I'm not weeding or deadheading. Everyone is so stressed with the heat and dryness I don't want to push them any further.

May the rains come pretty please Mother Nature.

A Curious Kereru

I pulled into the entrance to our drive off the main road here at Struan Farm the other day, and was stopped dead by a rather curious sight:

A native wood pigeon, "kereru," standing on the concrete cattle stop on the track/drive that heads down to the pond. I popped the car into park and decided to watch the bird with camera (phone) in hand. It wasn't at all fussed by my presence, so is most likely the same bird we've had munching on plum trees in the orchard this past spring.

Given the lack of rain the cattle stop has dried out, so it wasn't in search of water. Especially since there are much easier places to find that: stock troughs, pond, even bird baths that we keep filled when it's dry like this. So there must have been some sort of tasty tidbit down there, that's all I can assume!

My Mad Monarch Mobile

There are reasons John rolls his eyebrows sometimes, this I know. And this would be one of those times! I returned to Struan Farm from a trip to New Plymouth a few days ago with some swan plants in the back of the car. Swan plants loaded up with Monarch Butterfly caterpillars!

I'd called into Big Jim's Garden Centre for some seedling beetroot plants and saw a Monarch butterfly flitting around the swan plants. Then saw that there were caterpillars all over the swan plants they were offering for sale. Which isn't a particularly good thing, since people who buy swan plants are wanting them to feed caterpillars at home, not to get more voracious swan plant eating caterpillars.

Except, that is, for Karen. I asked them if I could take the caterpillars home to Piopio, and they were overjoyed. I bought a few swan plants as transport media. One of the ladies and I spent about 20 minutes carefully pulling them off the plants and putting them onto the plants bound for Piopio.

One has already gone into chrysalis, so they seem to be doing okay. Doing what I can to encourage Monarch butterflies here at Struan Farm.

Monarch Discovery

This season the Monarch butterflies have been missing from around the gardens here at Struan Farm. I saw one fly over the house around Christmas, but it migrated elsewhere, did not stick around. It may still be a bit early, but I've been keeping an eye out for them. I did see a Painted Lady back in the veggie gardens last week.

This week I was excited to discover two Monarch caterpillars munching away on a swan plant up by our roadside edge, where I'd tossed out seeds for bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. There were only two "cats," but I'm happy they're here. I may have to relocate them in due course to the other swan plants I've got growing in the main flower gardens to keep them nourished, but we'll take this one step at a time.

Monarch butterflies are having a hard time globally at the moment. Predators like wasps and beetles kill the caterpillars. We haven't had a problem with wasps here, but last year those beetles were terrible--they look like brown grass grubs and are very sneaky. 

Like migrating flocks of birds, Monarchs typically return to the same areas, groves of trees, each year to winter. In many parts of the world those areas are being developed, threatening the butterflies. Here in NZ butterfly specialists tag them to track where it is they go. Christchurch seems to be one destination. 

I wish we could encourage them to stay in Piopio!

Musing On Chickens, More Fruit Trees, and Gifts from the Douglas Firs

John and I were out wandering around the orchard areas and gardens a few days ago here at Struan Farm, figuring out where I might be able to fit a few additional heirloom fruit trees and where to construct an area for chickens he's wanted to have for some time now.

Perhaps if we were to call the coop "Cluckingham Palace" or "Chateau des Chooks" I might be more enthusiastic. I've convinced him we won't be saving money on buying eggs, in fact having chickens is more hassle and expensive.

But I've been reluctant for a few other reasons. Mainly because more "pets" means less flexibility to go away without nephew Mike being available to look after everyone (yes, I know about feeders and waterers that they can be trained to use). But mostly because I suspect/know that after John's initial enthusiasm about the project, which involves designing, constructing and landscaping their area, wanes, that Karen will be the one left to look after them and deal with mites, moults, escapes, etc. etc. At this point in our marriage I tend to know how these things play out! I'm pretty over-committed as it is.

However. We're now planning an area for chickens where we'll also plant a few more fruit trees, most likely Peter the Hermit's Golden Delicious heritage apples from Mahoenui. My two grafted trees are still doing well and will be ready to plant out in winter. We've also agreed on a paving stone walkway out to our sculpture with wooden fencing on either side, with espaliered dwarf fruit trees running along the fences adjacent to Chook World. We've also agreed on space where I can plant Hester's White Peach and some of Sarah's Mapiu damsons in the existing orchard. After which we'll be out of space there unless one or two marginally performing trees are removed.

Which brings me to the gifts from the Douglas Firs. As we were walking around the sculpture I noticed that the fir trees were dropping their beautiful little cones. So I've gathered them up to use as fire starters in winter. 

The only thing that gives me pause about this is the legend associated with Douglas Fir cones, basically how one is able to identify them. Legend says that during a great fire in the West animals trying to escape the flames searched for shelter. The only trees that agreed to help shelter the mice were the Douglas Firs, they scurried up the great trees and hid in the cones. You can see the mice tails sticking out from the cones if you look at them carefully.

So do you think it's okay to burn the cones? Would the mice be okay with that?

A Morning Walk with the Ladies

John is trying to convince the ewes here at Struan Farm to move into the new paddock we've taken over from the neighbour at the end of the Old Road near the river. Nephew Mike has finished the fencing, so it's ready for them. They're just afraid to go through the gate; they haven't been into that paddock before.

John has led them down, calling, on the quad bike. They've followed him down the Old Road but refused to go into the paddock. A few days ago we decided to take a morning walk and try to convince them once again.

Of course Rosie, Cookie and Ruby were in the lead. The whole mob came down, even Sugar, Spice and Bubbles. The other four pet lambs (Peaches, Fig, Chalk and Pickle) remain segregated happily by themselves in our front roadside pet paddock so they aren't anywhere near the rams when "tupping" happens in early autumn. 

But only Rosie, Cookie and Ruby went through the gate! No one else would go. And when John and I turned around to walk back, everyone followed us back up the Old Road. It was funny but frustrating. We want them in that paddock eating everything down. They love Queen Anne's Lace and wild fennel, so that should be a draw card.

These things take time it seems. Even a new paddock full of grass and good food. Rosie did suggest to John that he have Mike do some weed whacking of a better track through the paddock, and she may have a point. I was a bit hesitant myself.

On Pine Cone Patrol

We're doing some major clean up work down at the river here at Struan Farm. John and Mike have taken over a paddock still owned officially by the neighbour, but on our side of the river.

The neighbour gave up on trying to run stock over the old swing bridge many years ago now and had let the paddock go to the pack. It's full of weeds: blackberry, wandering jew ("tradescantia zebrina"), Japanese walnut, and other spread-y, bad things. John still needs to negotiate buying it for a nominal sum, but either way it needs to be re-fenced and cleaned up before sheep can go in there to graze. That's happening. This also allows us to do more clean up along the roadside and river, get rid of bad weeds and plant natives.

I'm staying far away from the associated chemical sprays and major weed whacking involved in this project, but have had a look to provide encouragement. At one time this area was part of the original farm, and for many years John's dad looked after it even when it wasn't technically his to look after. Just because. But at a certain point the neighbour said he wanted to use it. Until he didn't because of the bridge. The bridge is still structurally sound, but it's not worth the trouble confirming that either way for a small out of the way paddock on a huge property (such are our health & safety regulations). 

The Mad Mower has now decided he needs to mow the track from the picnic area at the river below Jim's Hut to the rapids, sandy beach, and this new paddock. It will make it easier for farmstay guests to see where to walk along the river. But the Mad Mower had a problem: pine cones on the ground along the route, which cause digestion problems for his mower.

And so I was enlisted to pick up the pine cones, which we use as fire starters in the winter. Bags and bags have been collected and are in the shed. The way is now clear for the Mad Mower to do his thing and for the project to continue. That's the kind of wife I am!

 

We All Need A Rainy Day Now & Then

I'm wanting it to rain. It's been hot and dry here at Struan Farm, the gardens cry out for water, and they prefer rain from Mother Nature over my sometimes feeble attempts at watering. They perk up visibly after rain. I can see it and feel it afterward.

In summer we water the veggie gardens and glasshouse each morning and night. It takes about an hour. If we have to water the other gardens at the end of the day that's almost another two hours, but we only do that when it hasn't rained for a week or so. 

When it's raining I can justify staying inside to make muesli for farmstay guests, to clean, and get the pile of ironing done (my least favourite job along with cleaning bathrooms!). When it's sunny outside I can always find other things to do, of which there are many. But when my inside jobs are done and not hanging over my head I relax and perk up visibly.

The gardens and I are much alike. We need a rainy day now and then. Once a week is perfect, that's what we've said to Mother Nature. We sure hope she's listening.

Bubbles Makes a Comeback

I can't in good conscience title this post "Bubbles Comes Home to Struan Farm." While I rescued abandoned triplet lamb "Bubbles" along with her brothers Ajax and Elvis over a year ago now, John forced me to "whanau out" Bubbles and Ajax to his sister in New Plymouth when pet lamb numbers last year reached the arbitrary pet lamb threshold in John's mind (Elvis didn't survive his first night by the fire).

It was with a heavy heart that I transported Bubbles and Ajax south to their new home. Ajax died of some mysterious illness months later, but Bubbles thrived at her new home in Taranaki. She greeted guests coming to the Fringe Garden Festival, got used to lots of rubs and pats.

This week John's sister got in touch and asked if we would consider having Bubbles come back to the farm. They are building a new house and moving and a pet hogget wasn't going to be easy to manage with all that going on. Of course we said yes. So Bubbles made the journey back up the road to Piopio. 

I can report she wasn't happy about it.

Her mum led her through the garden out to the paddock below our house, where she joined pet lambs Sugar and Spice. Peaches, Fig, Chalk and Pickle are also wandering around this paddock somewhere.

Everyone is adjusting to a new situation. There was quite a bit of baaing yesterday afternoon, and we did our best to reassure her with pats and calls. I tried apple treats, which were a non-starter. At one point I stopped weeding to remind her that I was actually the one who saved her life originally. But we all know the mum that matters to Bubbles is down south. Even me.

She's hanging with Sugar and Spice at the back gate currently. Eventually we'll have her join Jam, Jelly, Bambi, Camilla and Fergie, 2018 pet lambs (now hoggets). Maybe she'll remember them. 

Rosie may need to have a chat with her to convince her to get with the programme. We all know who the Diva of the paddocks is at Struan Farm, don't we? Bubbles can't go getting any fancy ideas in her head about that or sparks will fly!

Christmas Haircuts

This week everyone got shorn ahead of Christmas here at Struan Farm. The weather has been warm and wet, optimal conditions for sheep to get "fly blown," so it was time for seasonal haircuts to minimise those potential problems.

Sugar and Spice came running back up to the back gate, their home base, to show me their new looks. 

I know they feel better because they keep rubbing against the fence!

Buzz, my only ram/wether pet lamb this year, has gone off to Farmer John's to spend some time on his farm with the other lambs from the mob, who are about to be weaned from their mums.

After seeing Sugar and Spice I decided to wander off in search of Peaches, Fig, Chalk and Pickle, since they'll also stay here at Struan Farm with the ewes. Rosie had been in the yard with them before they were shorn, and I'm sure helped to calm everybody down. I found them at the front gate, their home base. It's amazing to me how the lambs know where "home" is, even after they've been out wandering around the farm.

I've now put the six pets together in the house paddock. After having a big hello and pats all around I escorted Peaches, Fig, Chalk and Pickle over to join Sugar and Spice. We'll see if they mix or stay in their existing groups. Based on previous experience I'd say the latter, but maybe they'll surprise me.

Last Call

Pet lambs Peaches, Fig, Chalk and Pickle don't know it quite yet, but they'll be getting their last official bottle feed on Sunday here at Struan Farm.

Buzz, Sugar and Spice, the "Big Three," were weaned a few weeks ago, without much if any histrionics; except perhaps for Spice's vaulting escapades over the retaining wall, up onto the lawn and into the gardens.

We have guests staying in the Cottage Saturday night, and I don't want them subjected to wails outside their bedroom windows. So we're waiting to pull the plug until the guests depart on Sunday. I expect the lambs will get some random bottles over the holidays from visiting kids, but those don't count as "official." I'll be able to clean up the kitchen scale and clear off one entire bench/counter that's been the dedicated feeding station, with bag of powdered milk, measuring cups, whisk, and bottle drying rack. Affectionately known as "Mess Central."

As previously reported, feeding pet lambs is a major commitment. This year we started in August with six then five bottles a day. After three weeks it's down to three each day, but someone has to do it each and every day, three times a day, for months. 

And it goes without saying that feeding pet lambs is also a labour of love, at least for me. Much as I'm relieved when the bottles draw to a close for the season.