So far this year, the one thing that’s remained as constant as a well-worn pair of work boots on our farm is... you guessed it, rain. And as I sit here writing this, it’s raining again. If only we could bottle it up and sell it—at least then we’d make some money off all this soggy madness!
We all have those people who leave a mark—not just on our careers, but on how we think, lead, and grow. For me, that person was a truly remarkable boss who somehow managed to be part mentor, part motivator, and part philosopher-king. He’s since retired, but the lessons he left behind still echo in my head, often in his voice (with a side of dramatic flair).
Rob and I love working on the farm, enjoying the peace and spotting the occasional local wildlife like kangaroos, bush turkeys, and black cockatoos. But once in a while we need to step away and explore the broader horticulture world. Recently, we travelled to Melbourne to attend the Hort Connections 3-day conference.
We’ve got some grand old pecan trees on our farm that have a cool backstory. These old-timers are the last of their kind from a bygone era. In this local area, back in the day, soldiers returning from the Boer War planted pecan orchards on their soldier settlement plots.
Get ready to wave goodbye to our dragon fruit season in the next couple of months! The cooler weather is putting a chill on our buds, flowers, and fruit production. The plants themselves? Well, they're not going to win any beauty contests. These cacti are prickly personalities, with enough spikes to ward off an echidna. Even though I suit up in long sleeves and gloves, I can't escape a few prickles and scratches on my arms when picking the fruit.
Do you know much about holes, especially those that show up on a farm? On our farm, they seem to appear overnight. They could be from our clever farm dog, Vader, digging up a bone he buried earlier or maybe from bandicoots burrowing around, as we have plenty on the farm. Or perhaps the holes are created by pesky hares that, after gnawing on our irrigation lines, decide to dig around in the dirt instead.
Did you know World Bee Day buzzes around on May 20th? It's like a sweet celebration of the little winged wonders that keep us and the planet in tip-top shape! Our farm couldn't do without them - they’re like tiny flying matchmakers for our lychee and dragon fruit orchards. Without them, our fruit production would go downhill fast.
Hey there. Rob and Karen Martin checking in. Delighted to virtually meet you. As proud owners of Yanalla Farms we're not afraid to roll up our sleeves and dive right into the dirt... literally! Whether that be propagating, planting, picking, packing, pruning or pest control. But let's be real, the greatest challenge nowadays is not getting our hands dirty - it's trying to gracefully stand back up afterward!
