Armature Organic Harvest in Croftby, Queensland, Australia | Farm

Armature Organic Harvest

Locality: Croftby, Queensland, Australia

Phone: +61 437 280 269

Address: Sawatzki Road 4310 Croftby, QLD, Australia

Website: http://Armature.net.au/

Likes: 111

Add/Update information

Reviews

Tags

• Farm

22.01.2022 Ten months since my last post, and so much learning, excitement, heartache and backache. Summer vegetables, winter vegetables, births, deaths, heat, cold, waiting for rain, getting drenched, slashing, mulching, building, protecting against rabbits, hares, possums, bandicoots and mice; seeing phascogales and rufous bettongs, eastern brown snakes and red-belly blacks, white-necked herons, rainbow lorikeets, and king parrots. We have had paying guests, and friends and family visit and usually get roped into a project. Here are some of the highlights.

19.01.2022 Have just returned from a glorious two weeks out at the farm. How nice to not have to drive back to Brisbane every few days. On Friday 25 September, we were privileged to witness the birth of the first Armature calf, and the second calf to be born here (see previous posts early September). What an extraordinary experience, and thankfully our beautiful cow, Gobbi, performed a textbook birth with no assistance. Wonder if my apple cider vinegar has actually been working? Wi...thin 12 minutes the little bull was up and walking. I also used the time to start out biodynamic soil and atmospheric spraying on the full moon (wasn't that amazing!) and commenced experimenting with growing seedlings from heirloom organic seeds purchased form Green Harvest, Maleny. It will be interesting to see how they cope with the unseasonal hot weather we have had over the last week. See more

18.01.2022 Though I'm not great at keeping Facebook up to date with our activities, I did think this week that anyone interested in what we are doing might be interested in a recent challenge I have created for myself. This challenge has come from some ideas which have been raised in permaculture articles about planning your gardens to feed you and your family (and friends). The thought which really struck me is that if you want to eat from your garden every day you need to be planting ...something every day. So I have challenged myself to do that and as of 21 February (waiting for the heat wave to pass.. ha ha) I have been planting seeds, seedlings or plants almost every day. This has also involved digging garden beds or tidying up existing ones, adding amendments and mulching so not quite as easy as putting a couple of seeds in the ground, well not yet anyway. By way of encouragement I would love anyone to post the question "What did you plant today?" on any day over the next 12 months and I will endeavour to keep rising to the challenge. I will aim to give updates on this process as well including seedling progress, harvests, tree planting, issues and successes. Thank you everyone for your support and interest. See more

18.01.2022 And there are others learning new skills as well. I wasn't driving at that age! Dad is keeping a check on her following on the motorbike (in Hazelton, Gayndah)

16.01.2022 Last week I completed work experience at a dairy sheep farm in the beautiful Scenic Rim. I am now an expert at raking up and shovelling sheep manure, and feeding baby lambs....oooh. I'm feeling a little more confident about the process of milking a sheep, but the ladies out there were amazing! And what a magical process seeing the milk be turned into cheese. I even experienced a day seeing these special fat tailed Awasi sheep being shorn. They look a little naked and about half the size after the visit to the salon. Just in time for the hot weather, girls!

14.01.2022 It's been a while since I posted. But oh so much has happened....school holidays; fence building; cleaning water troughs; more painting; cleaning up cattle yards; homestay visitors and friends visiting...and finally our cattle arrived on the 2nd August. I spent a little time this morning sitting on the homestead lawn talking to the cattle, and a young steer came right up to me for a scratch. Probably looking for a bit more Lucerne as well! It's hard to leave them. Crazy lady!! With all this learning of new skills, at least I'm keeping dementia at bay.

06.01.2022 I have just spent the weekend with my two sisters, my mum and our daughters and daughter-in-laws (in practice if not name) pampering each other and making amazing natural skin and cleaning products. There were haircuts, eye lash tints, henna tattoos, soap making, bathroom cleaner making, candles and face and body scrubs, tantrums, eating good food and drinking of the farm's first batch of elderflower champagne. I am hoping this is going to become an annual tradition and the start of getting closer again and sharing more time with each other in between. Sustainability, health and sharing our lives with those we love... This is what it's all about!

05.01.2022 What a surprise we got today when I took my friend, Barton, to see the farm. I knew one of our heifers was close to calving, but it was a bit of a shock when she turned up for lucerne obviously no longer pregnant. After a nervous albeit short search in the paddock, lo and behold a healthy male calf, our first one on the ground at Armature. Very cute and quiet, probably about 24 hours old by best guestimate. Her mum, Dumbo, belongs to Kirsty & Bob who also have a new bub of their own. So another congratulations on a healthy delivery. Will post some more pictures once he is up and walking. What a beautiful face!

02.01.2022 And a week later looking cute and healthy and just waiting for some mates.

02.01.2022 Just a bit more excitement to see the year out...two more additions to our little cattle herd, including our first heifer born on the farm.

02.01.2022 It is so heartening to read other's words which make you feel that you are not so alone in your thinking and, in fact, that there are far more knowledgeable people out there who are shining a path for you. This blog is always a joy to read.