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!

With rain, comes the inevitable: wet work boots, soggy hats, and clothes drenched to the point of no return. You might be thinking, “Well, why not just wear a raincoat and some gumboots?” A solid suggestion, but here's the thing—often, when you start your farm day, the sky is a perfect blue, the sun’s shining like it’s ready for a picnic, and you’re all set for a productive day. But then, like Melbourne weather, the forecast has a change of heart, and bam—storm clouds roll in faster than you can say “I should’ve packed the rain gear.”

And even if you do have a raincoat and gum boots on hand, the real dilemma is whether it’s worth it. On some days, you can’t even get your gear on fast enough before the storm passes. So, we soldier on with soggy clothes, slippery, muddy areas, and the occasional risk of getting bogged down in the farm vehicles (which, let’s be honest, isn’t exactly part of the fun). But hey, it keeps things interesting, right? Between the water, puddles, and the unpredictable weather, it's like we’re farming with a side of adventure every day.

Quite often, I get a call from Robert (aka the hubby and unofficial farm engineer) sounding a bit sheepish, asking me to meet him somewhere on the farm—usually at the farthest possible spot. The conversation usually goes a little something like this: "What are you up to? Can you bring the tractor, a couple of tow straps, and a shackle... I’m bogged on the mower!"  After a good chuckle at his expense, I arm myself with the equipment, hop onto the tractor, and set off on the slow, bumpy trek across the farm. It’s like my very own personal rescue mission, but with added mud and laughs.

There was this one time when Rob had just ploughed up one of our blocks, getting it all prepped for a new batch of custard apple trees. The soil was freshly turned, soft as a sponge cake, and there wasn’t a lot of grass between the rows yet. Enter: the rain. Again. Because of course it rained.  Late one soggy afternoon, two of our lovely backpackers decided it was the perfect time to take the golf buggy for a spin—and let their dog have a bit of a run.

Spoiler alert: it did not go well.  Within seconds, the back wheels of the buggy were doing their best impression of a disappearing act, sinking straight into the oozy mud. The backpackers weren’t far behind—literally up to their ankles in it. So much for an afternoon joyride! Lesson learned: never trust freshly ploughed paddocks... especially when they look like chocolate mousse after rain.   

Would you believe it – I got bogged in that same block too (different day, same drama). Vader, our four-legged farm supervisor, was not amused. He gave me his classic ‘Are you serious?’ stare and spent the wait time looking personally offended about having to sit on a lean until Rob came on the tractor came to bail us out!

It’s not glamorous, it’s not always fun, but you’ve got to love the chaos that comes with working on the land. And anyway, if nothing else, the plants are thriving—guess they’re loving all this rain.