Autumn plans around the farm...

Happy Autumn to all those southern hemisphere readers ( & happy almost spring to the Northerners :).  It has been just a lovely summer here at Sunnyside~ beautiful temperatures, high rainfalls & the garden has been wonderfully productive.  With the ushering in of a new season it's time to sit down & ponder on what is needed to be done in the next few months.  

It seems every season has it's variety of jobs & since we're now in our 5th year of living here we are starting to get to know what is going to be required.  I thought it would be fun to share our list for autumn here with you (because if  you are anything like me you love a good list):

You can't help smiling at a beautiful pumpkin flower ~ they brighten up your day :)

AROUND THE FARM:

~Autumn is always a busy time in our farming community.  It is the time that the farmers commence planting their crops as we have a winter growing season here.  This is mainly due to our major rains being in winter ( although this year I would have to say summer has had a large amount of beautiful rainfall as well).  Since it is a dry farming area ( ie no irrigation) we rely on the rains to water the crops.  Thankfully with all the rain we've had the seeds should have a good start with the grounds already holding much moisture.  At Sunnyside we have ploughed  up our "Millers cascade" paddock & are planning on planting 50 acres of barley or triticale (I don't think Dave's decided which one yet & I leave all the farm decisions to him)~ this is mainly to clean up this paddock and of course it's always great to have your own animal feed (which we know has no nasty chemicals applied) & be able to sell some as well if we need to.  We will also undersow with clover to promote a good pasture which is our ultimate aim for our farm.  

~We will also be removing the rams from our ewes at the end of March (they were put in early Feb) with the intention of a July/August lambing season.

Today ~ it has been rain, rain, rain & we are loving it!

AROUND THE FARMYARD:

~Now is the time to purchase your half grown chicks for winter eggs.  I have just purchased 4 (since we didn't have any chicks hatch this year)  as I was in town earlier this week.  My intention was to purchase them early March, but  I am glad I was a little early  as the supplier only had 8 weeks old as opposed to the 12 weeks we usually purchase so they will be a little later in maturity than I was hoping, but should still come to maturity in winter ( when chicks come to maturity they must lay ~ this is how you get eggs during the middle of winter when you other hens are having a break).  I'm thinking 4 eggs a day would be a blessing in those cold days ahead.

~ Dave has requested that I investigate meat chickens with the intention of having our own.  I'm not sure yet what varieties are available here in New South Wales or where a supplier is located ~ looks like I'll have to do some searching :)

~We need to get an electric fencing system for our pigs.  We love having pigs, but at the moment they free ranging completely ( which means they come & go over the farm as they want to).  We are hoping to reduce this with an electric fencing system so we can select where they will roam .  

~Bessy should return to us in mid- March.  We have been missing her face around the farm ~ she is such a lovely affectionate animal.  Hopefully she will be quiet & calm with pregnancy hormones :) I also need to investigate the nutritional needs of an expectant cow.

AROUND THE GARDEN:

~ Harvest & process our grapes ~ the vine is heavy with fruit at the moment & this needs to be done this weekend.

~ Clean out the used summer garden beds & add decomposed manure.

~ Draw up a garden plan for this winter.

~ Start seeds of oregano, onions, cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, lettuce, spring onions & coneflowers into punnets (I have already done this, but the heavy rain has flooded them out ~ sigh).

~ Plant chives, watercress, pak choy, radish, roquette, coriander, broad beans, peas, beans & nasturtiums directly.  

~ Purchase & plant garlic (garlic should be planted by Anzac Day traditionally)

~ Begin to select fruit trees to plant at the end of Autumn ~ I'm thinking apples, pears, a  lime & a lemon this year.

~ Transplant the peach/nectarine/ apricot ( not sure which) trees that I found growing wild in one of the 'North Lakes' paddocks (I had cleaned out the chicken coop there a few years ago & obviously some seeds have taken root with all this rain.)

~ Weed, weed, weed ~ with all this rain we've had the weeds are taking over the flower gardens ~ want to come & help?

~ Purchase & plant bulbs for spring flowering ~ I have an old washtub that is crying out for some pretty bulbs in it :)

~ Mulch  gardens & young fruit trees to protect from frost.

~ Plant out our kiwi plants ( I've had them in pots for the past 8 months as they were so tiny when I got them)

~ Order strawberry & rhubarb crowns to add to the strawberry patch ~ I'm going to try a different variety as well as get some more Cambridge Rival which are the sweetest strawberry I've ever tasted, but I was disappointed in the short length of their fruiting season).

~ Continue working on big garden in centre of driveway ~ plant runners or seed to get grass going (this is going to be an ongoing project for the year I expect ~ my aim is to have it done by Christmas ( when all my in~ laws are coming!)

~ Continue to harvest garden produce as it comes to maturity.

Sneak peak ~ Dave had just finished the ceilings in this area ~ please ignore the washing up & the dirty table
AROUND THE FARMHOUSE:

~Plaster the ceiling that has been replaced ( kitchen/dining/entry & hall).

~ Install  trims

~ Paint ceiling & walls of these areas

~ Lay the flooring that is currently taking over the spare rooms.

~Decorate ( isn't that a deliciously delightful word ~ even for someone who is decidedly lacking in the creativity department ~ oh pinterest you've given me some wonderful ideas :)).

 Every spring I decide it is my favourite season & then every autumn I think I was wrong  it must be~ maybe that's as it should be, appreciating every day the Lord has given us!  I hope you have a  productive coming season wherever you live ~ no matter how busy don't forget to slow down & notice how beautiful God's creation really is and all the blessings you've been given!

God bless you my friends

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