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House Build Part 6
House build part 6. If you would like to read previous house build updates head here. Friday 16th August As week 1 of bricklaying wrapped up, we were amazed by how many bricks the two blokes had laid. Their progress was impressive, and seeing the electrical and plumbing being set up for the drywall installation made us even more excited about the build moving forward. Friday 23rd August We couldn’t visit the property until Friday, the 23rd, due to work commitments. During our visit, we met the new site supervisor. During this time Lanky raised some concerns with the build so far. Concerns we raised: Besides raising our concerns and…
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Biological Soil Test Results
On Thursday, we had an agronomist visit to conduct several tests, including a biological soil test. Soil health is crucial for the success of any garden or farm, especially when employing sustainable practices like permaculture, regenerative farming, and organic farming. These soil tests offer valuable insights into the microbial activity and overall fertility of our soil. Last night, we received our biological soil test results. I’ll explain what each reading means and outline my plan to enhance our soil ecosystem for improved health and productivity. Soil Test Results: 1. Microbial Carbon: 401 µg C/g What It Means: Microbial carbon refers to the amount of carbon stored in the soil’s microbial…
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House Build Part 5
Read along to see how house build part 5 develops. Friday, August 9th: We headed out to the property for our weekly cattle check, and to our surprise, we found the first set of bricks laid in place! The sight of those initial bricks set our hearts racing with excitement. It brought back the familiar conversations we’ve had, full of anticipation: “We can’t wait until we can finally move in.” With each new milestone, the excitement grows, and our patience seems to dwindle. I’ve always thought of myself as a patient person, but lately, I feel more like a child on Christmas Eve, counting down the days until the big…
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A visit from the Agronomist Part 1
This afternoon, we arrived at the property just after lunch to meet with Adam, our local agronomist. Lanky and I, with our limited experience in pasture management, were eager to tap into Adam’s extensive knowledge and expertise. We were particularly grateful for his insights, as pasture management is an area where we knew we needed guidance. Upon arrival, Adam wasted no time in getting to work. He began by carefully examining our pasture, pointing out the various grasses and clover that made up the bulk of the vegetation. He identified several types of grasses, explaining their benefits and growth patterns, and also noted the presence of clover, which he said…
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Gardens part 1
As winter comes to an end, and with three weeks left until spring. I’m diving into detailed planning for our gardens. I’ll hold off on transplanting any crops until the last frost date has safely passed which is early October. This waiting period gives me ample time to start seeds, take cuttings, and meticulously plan out each section of the garden. I’ve chosen to focus on the area at the front of our property, just below the dam. This spot gives us about two acres to work with—a significant amount of space for gardening. Rather than rushing, I’m approaching the process thoughtfully, staying flexible with what we plant and where.This…
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House Build Part 4
We are up to house build part 4 if you would like to read previous updates head here . The waiting game is such a painful game. Funnily enough, you don’t need to play it for that long. This past fortnight felt like months, not weeks. We left the house with gutters on, eagerly anticipating the arrival and installation of the Colour-bond roof the following Friday. When the roof finally arrived, rain had drenched the property, bogging down the delivery driver. He drove off the driveway, and got stuck trying to get back on, and tore up part of our driveway, which now needs repairs. see stuck truck here. On…
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House Build part 3
The past few months have been busy with earth movers and house builders. If you want to catch up, check out part 2 where we left off with the foundation ready for the cement trucks scheduled to arrive the following week. On Monday, the 27th of May, the trucks arrived early in the morning. The convoy was almost perfectly timed: the first two trucks arrived at the same time, and after that, one truck left as another arrived. By the afternoon, the crew had laid the slab, marking a major milestone in the construction. While the trucks arrived and unloaded, Lanky and one of the electricians removed the fencing we…
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Beef Bone Broth
Making beef bone broth is a simple process but requires patience for a long simmering time to extract the maximum nutrients and flavor. Here’s a basic recipe: Ingredients Instructions Tips For more beef recipes see here.or to view whats happening around our homestead head here.
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IBC Worm farm
For as long as I’ve gardened, I’ve always had a worm farm, something my parents also had for their gardens. They used an old wheelie bin converted into a multi-tier worm farm. They put a tap on the bottom tier, then placed two or three milk crates wrapped in mesh inside. The process starts with the bottom crate: you add your worm colony and organic scraps (food, lawn clippings, garden waste, etc.). The worms eat the scraps and convert them into castings, which you can use on your garden. A liquid byproduct also forms, which you can use as a liquid feed for your plants. When the first crate is…
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A new butcher less delays.
We bought our cattle with the idea of insuring the meat we dish up was raised as ethically as possible, unfortunately due to so many set backs of trying for 6 months to get the Holsteins sent off to the butcher, we returned from NSW to find the paddocks dry and feed prices skyrocketing, with the quality of available feed significantly deteriorating. Hard choices in hard times. Watching the steers eat poor-quality feed and their condition steadily decline, we decided to find a different butcher. We called around and found a local butcher who could book one of the steers within a fortnight. We chose to send off the smaller…
