What’s in a name?

Naming the characters in my books is one of the most important jobs to me. Actually, naming anything, be it land, child, dog – you get the gist – is really important. When we bought our first farm, we named it Cape View – you could see the Cape Arid from out kitchen window. The…

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Sidonia Hills Natural Pasture Grazed Beef

‘Good things take time to grow’

Introducing Paul, Ross, William, Sam, Benjamin and Danielle of Sidonia Hills Pasture Grazed Beef. Sidonia Hills is located 19 kms northeast of popular foodie town Kyneton in the Macedon Ranges, Victoria. This is the 46th story I have featured recognising the farmers who work hard to supply this country with food in celebration of the Australian Year of the Farmer.

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Happiness

  I love a good sunset or sunrise. Last Saturday evening, I was hurtling back from the other farm, after showing mum and dad the header and how it can swath canola. Coming from the mid north of South Australia and them being sheep graziers, they have no idea about cropping! Anyhow, I had Mum…

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Busy, busy…

The farm is well and truly looking like it’s summer, even though we’re only in mid-October!  Some paddocks have a gold/white tinge across the tops of the plants, indicating it’s done its time. Saturday was a warm 35 degrees, so the crops won’t take long to turn, ripen and harvest will be started before we…

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Pasture Hay in Bales

Fifty bales of hay…

This time of the year is when the craziness starts. The moment we cut the pastures or oats, to make hay, it’s like some gremlin inhabits the farm and makes everyone mad. To get really good quality hay, it’s best if it doesn’t get a rain on it, before it’s in bales. The Boss is…

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Whales, whales, whales!

  Heading on from my previous post,about wildflowers and tourists flocking to WA to see them, Whales are also on the tourists wish list of things to see. These whales were at my local beach, last weekend. Now I have to confess, I didn’t see them and it was only a chance conversation with our…

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‘No life without bees’ by Andrew Wyszynski

Introducing Andrew Wyszynski, of Maya Sunny Honey in the Mudgee region of NSW.  Andrew is the 38th farmer I have featured this year in my quest to feature 52 farming stories to celebrate the Australian Year of the Farmer.   Summary of our farming enterprise: Maya Sunny honey is a 100% raw honey range, handcrafted wholly by Andrew and…

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Sunsets galore and Silver Gums!

We’ve been having gorgeous sunsets over the last week or so. Spring tends to throw breath taking weather events at us, including these amazing, nightly spectaculars. I love it when I’ve got time to stop and look at them.   And between trying to get Silver Gums finished and a few family things, stopping and…

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Who made your dinner last night?

Introducing the Maitland Family from Clare, South Australia, their story is number 35 in my quest to feature 52 Farmers in 52 weeks in celebration of the  Australian Year of the Farmer.  Summary of our family and farming enterprise: The Maitland family own and operate a farming business, on the family property, 15 minutes north…

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Eat healthy, eat local by Warren Pensini

Introducing Warren Pensini of Blackwood Valley Beef from Boyup Brook in Western Australia. Warren’s story is number 33 of 52, in my celebration of  The Australian Year of the Farmer.  Summary of your family and farming enterprise Blackwood Valley Beef is located on 1640 acres in the gently undulating countryside of the Blackwood Valley in…

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