Autumn Leaves Arrive

Overnight, it seems, the colours are changing - and the jobs change with them. Turning the page on a new month reminds that there are tulip bulbs to plant while the reddening leaves surprise.

Packing Stories

Many hands make light work, which meant hilbarn boxes were packed in double quick time when three generations of the Boundy family came to visit us recently on packing night (read Ken's review here). Thank you to Rhonda and Beryl (left) and Ken and Catherine (right). Ken's dad Keith (not pictured) was shy on the day, although is not shy in life. It's amazing how the boxes start out, stark empty, and over the space of a couple of hours, through random conversations and silences, the contents build slowly until, passing a certain point (and, who can say quite what that point is?), they start coming together, and suddenly, someone will remark, "Now, this is a good box!" We hope you think that too. All of them are packed with love, and if one or two things happen to make it through that aren't quite up to standard, please don't hesitate to let us know. Beryl's love of fresh fruit and vegetables was noted with great appreciation, and her country Victoria upbringing was evident in her every comment: "Are these early Royal Galas? Are they sweet enough?" "Here, try one," we said. And a smile followed her sweet consumption of a slice. Thank you for your joy, Boundys, and congratulations to Beryl and Keith who recently celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary.

Make Coffee, Hug A Friend

Some days, when the world is topsy-turvy, only coffee and hugs will do.

Fruits of Lalla

Thank you to our neighbours Suzanne and Alvaro from Lalla for inviting us to pick Williams pears from their immaculate orchard this week. Their organic market garden is one of the most cared for and most productive we've seen in our hilbarn travels.

Hooray for Pete's tomatoes

It's been the trickiest of seasons for our local tomato growers with too few hot days to ripen the fruit. But greenhouse producers have proven their value as summer came and went. We collected this weekend's tomatoes from Pete in Lilydale. "How's your season been?", we asked. "Well, a three degree night in Lilydale this week didn't help much," he said. "It stopped everything." At least you have tomatoes!

She's Apples!

Local organic farmers Lyndy and David supply hilbarners with organic, free range eggs. Much to their surprise this week, one of their prize hens, the beautiful "Goldielocks", has taken to not only making a perfect nest under one of their apple trees, but is currently so-ooo broody she's trying to hatch windfall apples! Says Lyndy, "David came in the other night and said 'I think that hen is going to be sitting for a long time....she's sitting on an apple'. Last night he came in and said, 'Now she's sitting on two apples!'." Points for trying! Latest update: Lyndy says she's banished Goldielocks to the broody box to give her a few days to get over it! Unfortunately, when hens are broody they stop laying which means hilbarners might have to be a little patient with their organic egg deliveries in the coming weeks...