We have had a busy autumn here on the farm with our three amazing interns. They left us last weekend after presenting their fabulous design projects.

After 10 weeks on the farm they have learned a ton about permaculture design.

Now, for the first time in eight months we do not have interns on the farm. It is a welcome break from continuously having to manage a group of eager helpers. We’ve shifted gears to a slower life with easy chores like drying apples. We had a very large harvest of Monty’s Surprise apples this year and are processing many of them through the solar dehydrator.

I made this a few months ago out of salvaged timber and an old shower door.

Before the interns left we made a good push to plant out our strawberries…

… but we had so many that I’ve had to pot a few dozen up this weekend. Too many strawberries? That’s my kind of problem!

We also made a good effort of planting garlic, but the process is not quite halfway done so far. I enjoy planting garlic and can take the next fortnight to chip away are the remainder of the 4,000 + cloves that we’re planting.

Other early winter things happening on the farm: ducklings?!?

We have cockerels to process once there is enough space in the freezer.

And the first lot of poplar poles was delivered by the regional council. But those can wait until the August internship begins.

Peace, Estwing