I can’t really call this early winter because cold weather has only just set in. The Indian summer and long mild autumn has caused the muscovy ducks to think it’s spring. These were born last week.

These males think that it is mating season.

These bantams were born two weeks ago.

But now the rains have come and we need to keep all of the animals dry and out of the wind. We built this shelter for the kune kune pigs last weekend.

Hilda is testing out her new bedroom.

Our previous interns, Heloisa and Marina, started these willow cuttings about 8 weeks ago.

Our current interns, Mike and Sophie, planted the willows this week.

Hilda supervises the planting.

The willows will surround a pond that we have been digging by hand for the last six months. The pond will collect water in winter and store it high on the property.

The pond is in the middle of a paddock where the goats live and the pigs spend the day.

Next to the paddock we are planting a windbreak of willow and poplars.

Speaking of windbreaks, these harekeke flax have taken hold well. They were transplanted 20 months ago.

We have started our Black Boy peach stones.

And we are preparing this bed to be planted as a market garden next spring.

Peace, Estwing