Driving into the hills from Byron Bay towards Lismore. The sea in the distance and a marvellous amount of hills and valleys meeting me up ahead. Simply amazing.
I had arrived at a beautiful, small-scale, organic farm, with bushtoilets and a rainwater system, and my own little extended camper in which I could sleep the coming week. Met the whole family, and went out to watch Will play Aussi-tag (offseason rugby, no injuries).
First working day was spent digging out lillies, weeding and rearranging the plant-nursery. Replanting the lillies to reclaim the natural riverside flora, and after that prepared beds for tumeric. When Vanessa came back from work, and the kids from school, they took me out swimming at some waterfalls near them. Early to bed, because Will and Vanessa are up early - me as well, but not at 4:30...phew!
Next day more tumeric planting and growing blisters on my soft little computer hands. Started clearing the shed for the harvest as well, and did a 'testpull' of a hundred garlic plants to see in what condition they were. Listened to some raggea/ska in the evening on the new sound system which had an ipod input - had to try that of course!
On Saturday there's farmers market in Lismore, so we loaded up and went there. Had some time to walk into the town itself, quite big actually...watched the movie Rio with the kids in the afternoon, Will had trouble with the pump, but I couldn't be of much help there, had an awesome curry for birthday dinner and apple pie after.
Sunday Will dropped me off at Minjon Falls, at 8 o'clock in the morning, hiked down (2 ours) swam in the pool at the bottom - freezing cold - just as I got out people startted showing up, and I met more on the hike up (1 hour - sweating my ass off) and as I got back to the top the car park was full...perfect timing for my walk :) Caring for the tumeric in the afternoon and met Will's rugby team which came over for pizza party - pizza oven in the back of the garden, so home made stone oven pizzas for dinner!
Harvest started the next day at 7:30, been trimming garlic most of that day and to bed before 9, because we'll be doing the same tomorrow!
Got blisters on my fingers (yes, again) from pulling garlic - did a speedrun with Jason - it's not a race (knowing me, yes it is) then some more trimming, and then some more pulling. Phew! Last full day of harvest though, I'm being picked up the next day by Terry - turned out Terry & Chris had lived right across the street from Will and Vanessa, at the old postoffice in Corndale. It's a small world after all!
Amazing experience, the whole Boomerang Creek Farm made me feel part of the family (even the dog accepted me - no barking) and I was sad to leave this beautiful place. I'll be sure to go back when I have a chance!
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