DianaFire on the Stubble...
April 18th 2008 23:16
Tis so dry dry dry......
We have woken up to a lunar landscape. Poor old Emu. The land is tinder-dry. Not a blade of grass to be seen, at least in the paddocks around our house.
And remember what we said about longing for the fresh, clear country air?
Forgot about the old-fashioned habit of stubble fires.
The air is filled with smoke which lies low to the ground and seeps into the house. Farmers have set fire to the stubble (not that there would be much left after the animals have grazed all summer) in preparation for sowing, which will occur after the 'autumn break'. Traditionally this happens on or around Anzac Day.
The still autumn days are perfect for these slow-burning all-encompassing fires which smoulder for days and provide supposedly a nice layer of potash upon which to sow oats.
Not that this is cropping country around here; much more suited to sheep.
But many young gun farmers are 'going for broke' with the crops, can't be bothered with sheep, have diesel in their blood, as the saying goes, and hey, look at the world price for wheat!
Back at our dwelling in the city we have re-cycled our water onto our garden and it is so lush and green we could be growing rice. Lavender, roses and honey-suckle are all thickly growing, enhanced with sheep and chicken poo and lots of pea-straw from the chook-run.
This arid dusty dryness here then is a shock to the system.
But we'll get over it. Gotta go and get organized. Prise the kidlets off the tv. Go up the paddock and get the horses, check the sheep, etc.
Talk later.....
We have woken up to a lunar landscape. Poor old Emu. The land is tinder-dry. Not a blade of grass to be seen, at least in the paddocks around our house.
And remember what we said about longing for the fresh, clear country air?
Forgot about the old-fashioned habit of stubble fires.
The air is filled with smoke which lies low to the ground and seeps into the house. Farmers have set fire to the stubble (not that there would be much left after the animals have grazed all summer) in preparation for sowing, which will occur after the 'autumn break'. Traditionally this happens on or around Anzac Day.
The still autumn days are perfect for these slow-burning all-encompassing fires which smoulder for days and provide supposedly a nice layer of potash upon which to sow oats.
Not that this is cropping country around here; much more suited to sheep.
But many young gun farmers are 'going for broke' with the crops, can't be bothered with sheep, have diesel in their blood, as the saying goes, and hey, look at the world price for wheat!
Back at our dwelling in the city we have re-cycled our water onto our garden and it is so lush and green we could be growing rice. Lavender, roses and honey-suckle are all thickly growing, enhanced with sheep and chicken poo and lots of pea-straw from the chook-run.
This arid dusty dryness here then is a shock to the system.
But we'll get over it. Gotta go and get organized. Prise the kidlets off the tv. Go up the paddock and get the horses, check the sheep, etc.
Talk later.....
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