Wilder Farm in Blackwood Creek, Tasmania | Farm

Wilder Farm

Locality: Blackwood Creek, Tasmania

Address: Hop Valley Road 7301 Blackwood Creek, TAS, Australia

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25.01.2022 Yay. Some positive news. And remember to come along to hear about climate activism if you are free in Launceston tonight.

24.01.2022 Farm update - broadbeans and more broadbeans. Champion growers, surviving lashing winds, freezing rain and super warm start to spring. Even when blown over the keep growing. Super delicious. Sold out at Liffey market. But heaps more on way.

22.01.2022 Niche market in full swing. Over half sold. Here is a good story illustrating the importance of craft, care and a little activism.

18.01.2022 Farm update: all good things come to an end... After much angst and thought the farm is for sale. Please share to those that might be interested and contact my friendly real estate agent if you have any questions. Thanks for joining me on this adventure.

17.01.2022 Farm update - ready for market. A heap of new felt critters are ready for Niche market this Saturday (30 Nov). Theme is Christmas. Therefore reindeers, pengiuns and snowpeople have been created. Also among other creations some new farm animals - just finishing a little pink pig now. Please come along if you are free. Some amazing talented artists and crafters work there. In other farm news there are still loads of broadbeans, garlic just about ready to harvest and strawberries about to go crazy. Message me if interested in any.

16.01.2022 Farm update - social life. Aside from the endless puggles hanging out in the back paddock, it was great to have a heap of amazing people visit the farm. Fantastic group of permaculture folk got a farm tour and shared loads of knowledge and food. Tassie spring weather was even well behaved.

15.01.2022 Pre-farm update - failure. After surviving the depths of winter the brussel sprouts tripped before the finish line. After six months of growing, in one week they went from nearly ready to the crazed beasts in the photo below. Other failures have been trying to grow daikon over winter, carrots that don't want grow where planted, and cauliflower that is now sending out odd half grown heads. Best laid plans of attending Liffey Market have had to be put on hold now until next month! So hope the strawberries or something performs.

13.01.2022 Farm update - lessons and (maybe) glimmers of hope. After a bit of terrible week with many plants not enjoying the rapid change in season. Resulting in not attending the market. Hopefully -here a few signs things might improve. The beautiful blossom is on the old apply trees that I am attempting to salvage. Undertook some dramatic pruning earlier this year. Fingers crossed it works. The boardbeans are starting to develop. Flowers are dying off and little beans can be spotted. The star performer are the strawberries with flowers developing... Let's hope the trend continues. Lessons so far are (1) you can never have enough compost, (2) same for mulch, and (3) if people give you trees it should come with help to plant. Okay the last one is being cheeky but there has been alot of digging, watering, etc. and tree care this week.

12.01.2022 Farm update - Ruby's birthday. Not a standard update this week as it has been a celebration of Ruby birthday. It is a bit of a guesstimate date for a birthday but any date is good enough to celebrate. Last year wonderful friends braved the Melbourne stormy spring weather to celebrate her birthday. Ruby still has many of her gifts and is possibly the only farm dog with a unicorn food bowl - thank you Nikki. This year was celebrated with an extra long morning bushwalk, pizza fo...r breakfast (once a year can't harm her), a bone, toys and treats. She has adapted well from her inner city courtyard to paddocks to roll in. Someone recently said 'she is a dog, not a human.' I am very aware. She is sweet, loyal and dependable companion. The first noise in the morning is her tail waging in anticipation of pats. Thanks Ruby. You are the sweetest. Aside and final note, thanks to everyone who came to the sustainability in the pub session on climate activism or sent messages of support. Much appreciated. See more

12.01.2022 Farm update - things I have not killed this week! Spring has hit hard. Rainfall has been only 10 to 20 percent of the monthly average and the temperature have been well above average. Little seedlings that have been nursed in the hot house have had the shock of their life entering the garden. Some have not made it and others are just clinging on. Watering has had to start already (and of course the water pump refused to work but that is another disaster). On the positive, as...paragus are popping up, as are all the leaves and buds on fruit and nut trees. Strawberry, raspberry and blueberry are bulking up and the apple trees are getting even more blossoms. Even the fig tree is getting in on the action with first signs of little figs appearing and first quince flower (below). Boardbeans are holding strong against the wind. Volunteer tomatoes and potatoes look like they will be plentiful. But the ones I actually planted have refused to grow. Yeah its interesting times. See more

12.01.2022 Farm update: the Great Western Tiers somewhere... The devastating fires are reaching everywhere. Smoke is regularly obscuring the tiers. Smell in the air everywhere. Fightening now and as a sign of future to come.

11.01.2022 Interested in maintaining the momentum on climate action? Come along to this event and hear about climate activism and action across all sectors of society. The farm as a site of putting theory into practice might even get a mention ...

08.01.2022 Farm update - so many trees to plant. Birthday presents this year have been trees, trees and more trees. A neighbour even turned up tonight with another two trees (just being a great neighbour with no knowledge of birthday). Photos of the trees will be posted once they are all in the ground. In the meantime I have included photo of the first almond blossom - very pretty. Everything takes a little longer to bloom, sprout, grow, etc. here. But hopefully as the saying goes 'good things take time'. Veggie garden is embracing spring. Asparagus spears have started rising, strawberry flowers are appearing and peas are sprouted everywhere - that were never planted!

07.01.2022 A really saddening and intense report that needs to be seen.

07.01.2022 Farm update: Darkness (and a black cat). As it was Halloween of course I had to make a black cat to celebrate the occasion. The cat was a bit of a backup as my sewing skills failed in making Ruby a thylacine costume... there is always next year. Anyway on to the theme of darkness. One of the many lessons learnt is that the Australian sunlight - even it Tasmania - is just too intense for many plants. Following this thought I have been experimenting with planting spinach and lettuce in and behind broadbeans. Thus far working well and more plants to experiment with other mircoclimate, etc. planned. I even have the failed carrots now serving to protect the peas from too much sun and wind. Oh and if anyone is interested I have heaps of boardbeans coming. Let me know if you are keen.

06.01.2022 Farm update - garlic, garlic and more garlic. Garlic harvest in full swing. Thus far I have pulled, dried, tied and hung hundreds of bulbs. Some bulbs are as big as apples and it is all looking good. Lots of work. Only two more rows to go.

04.01.2022 Extra update - Niche market is on again in time for Christmas. Lots of cute felt reindeers, pengiuns and snowpeople have been created. Please come along. Loads of talented crafters and artists will be there.

03.01.2022 Farm update - the philosophical challenge of vagueness. Raspberries have just started rippening and when is a handful a handful... Can't wait to be producing a heap or a pile (whatever these terms precisely mean). Peas are also producing. Sadly the broadbeans have ended. They were delicious while they lasted. Garlic is happily hanging. So glad that job is complete for now. But the garden did not stop for the harvest. Hence now playing catch up on all the other weeding, watering, tending tasks...

03.01.2022 Farm update: Staying cool off grid in 36 degree heat. No air-con, no fan, no shade trees near the house (reduce bush fire hazard). So what one to do to keep herself and Ruby cool ... Endlessly explore the creek and contemplate which the mist beautiful formations along the way. Happy New Year everyone. Hope your are safe, cool and ready.

02.01.2022 Happy holidays.