WET WET WET!

[Heidi]

Hi,
Starting a new thread rather than hijacking the "how's your garden going" thread about the weather...

So, so, sick of the rain, the sodden pastures, the water hyacinth that's acting as excellent mulch over about two acres of our pasture... (left by the flood)

We have been on this property for going on 12 years, and this is the wettest its every stayed after a flood (and we've been here for three major and one minor flood in that time). I hate farm drains, but oh, what I'd give to have an earthmover to dig a few around the fencelines!

Unfortunately, the aquatic weed in the local water/drainage lines in the locality is preventing proper drainage, but also, its just been incredibly wet!

We have got our flood mound though, so that's something that this weather has been good for...helping it compact, and also giving us the drive to have it done in the first place.

I need to go down to the local produce shop and buy some grass seed to spread over the paddocks, so we have some winter grass to come through.

H

[Shadowgirlau]

Heidi Heidi Heidi the joys of being a farmer (lifestyle or not) ,
Send some of that wet weather over our way, here it is just so dry that I am almost convincing myself that it could rain all winter and not make a dent in it. We did manage to see some rain here last week - a whole 3 mls over 2 days but it didn't even wet the ground, when you walked on it and kicked it up the soil was as dry as underneath.

We had to order a truckload of water for the animals and garden Monday and we had so hoped that our previous order would see us through. Garden watering is down to a minimum as we have pulled out everything that wasn't doing well or was finished for this season. Only have 2 tomato bushes in the beds now and have refurbished the other 7 ready for the winter plantings which we really should have started but I am worried about the water.
We also still have the perennial parts of the garden such as the berries, rhubarb, some herbs and so on as well as the orchard so we must still water.

So start blowing and send that wet West please

Kathleen

[minnie]

Hi Heidi,

I feel the same, I've lived in rubber boots all summer and am still in them. DH got the tractor bogged yet again last week, thank god for the winch and while walking through the paddocks you hit spots where you sink in the mud, the cattle are so used to going down that they don't run.

I've got two pumpkin vines that have gone nuts with heaps of pumpkins but they keep rotting off, may get one or two off one though!

Kathleen, would love to send you some, each time it rains we go 'oh no not more' and it just doesn't and can't soak in any more.

Of course all the bad stuff has gone nuts as well.

Mind you if it stops for long I won't be happy either... just no pleasing me.

Vicki

[dggoatlover]

We are the same with the rain - very over it! We have grass in our unfenced area that is up to our heads. We got the salsher bloke in to cut it and he almost got bogged as well. The ground underneath is still soaking wet. Will probably take a couple o f months to dry out properly.

[minnie]

And it's raining here again now!!!

We at long last got our pool sorted, had a very small dip yesterday and thought we may get a couple of days before it's too cold... and it's cold and raining, so I'll have to get my blow up chair of the pool and put it away.

Were hoping to do some tractor work as well... but....

Vicki

[Shadowgirlau]

Sorry it has turned cold over there for you Vicki and that you didn't get to dip in the pool more than once this year so far. Maybe later in the year it will be better.

Terrible load of whingers we are as people who live on the land (lifestyle or otherwise) are never satisfied with the weather.
Seems it is often too wet, too dry, hasn't rained at the right time or wasn't enough rain, and so on. Am very guilty of this myself and with my parents being farmers I grew up with it too. As they say, when it is good it is very very good or great but when it isn't well its the pits.

We had rain last night, a whole 5.4mm so very happy here although DH promptly said - it isn't enough will be good if we get more today though me - well I wont hold my breath for any more today.

Kathleen

[minnie]

Guess what Kathleen,

We started the day with fog and as often happens with fog it's lifted to a sunny day!

Pool looking good for a quick dip!

Vicki

[Heidi]

rain, again... don't know what's happening with the drainage system in this locality, but its obviously blocked somewhere.

[minnie]

And COLD!!! I'm freezing today, wrapped up in flannette shirt, cardigan and the fire is on!

Oh I'm not going to enjoy going to collect Fatima from 'cow school' and feeding late today.

Drainage, is there such a thing these days.

Vicki

[huxter09]

Its not often Victoria can boast about the weather but we have had some good rain this month so the dams are still full and the garden is watered .Then its been sunny and about 24 every other day here so everything is still growing .I'm actually looking forward to some cooler air for my winter crops .The turn of the season is upon us as the leaves on my fruit trees are just starting to turn ,yet my new mulberries are still in full green leaf .All the roses are doing the autumn flush but some birds are still nesting .Make hay (or babies ) while the sun shines ! I saw a new lot of ducklings on the dam the other day and I'm sure its the 4th lot these ducks have hatched this season -she must be exhausted .
I have native nardoo growing here very profusely ,the first time in 12 years .It responds to inundation ,and the seed-case ( actually the spore case as this is a fern ) is edible .It was an important food source for local indigenous people .They made flour out of it and cooked it like damper .I'm dying to try it when the land dries a bit .Common Nardoo -Marsilea drummondii .
I feel for all of the flood affected people .We were lucky but were well prepared .Others in Victoria are still badly affected by remaining high water and resultant damaged pastures and wrecked houses .Not as bad as Queensland as we don't get flash flooding .We watch it rise for days ,slowly but inorexorably doing its damage .Its bee a tough year !!

Cheers

Paul

[Heidi]

Paul,
We are doing a land swap, I'm heading south, you can have my land/water package! Great water views! Your place sounds glorious at the moment.

I keep reminding my DH what it was like when we were in drought, and how our place was one of the few places that still had grass growing because it does retain the water. So... one must take the good with the bad I guess.

H

[minnie]

Yep Heidi, I have to admit I keep saying all the rain is better than the alternative.

Old times say it's back to how it was, so hopefully we get some respite for winter and don't go to drought.

Paul, it sounds wonderful down there for you this year... much better than surrounded by fire as you were a couple of years back. That's something, it's a bit hard to start up a bush fire at the moment.

Vicki

[Shadowgirlau]

Ladies and Gents I see it is still wet over on your side of the "Black Stump" which means you haven't been blowing hard enough for it to reach over here to us on the West. Now come on get off your laurels and try harder

Kathleen

[minnie]

I am Kathleen, really I'm blowing like crazy.

Vicki

[Heidi]

Sorry Kathleen,
Something about all that hot air over your way just won't let us get the rain to you!
I have to keep saying to myself, "better wet than drought" "better wet than drought". I just can't believe my paddocks are ever going to be dry again.
H

[minnie]

I'm with you Heidi,

Chanting "Better wet than drought"

But oh I'm sick of sinking...

vicki

[Heidi]

Yes Vicki,
That sinking feeling, is actually, because one is sinking! Not some vague feeling in the pit of your stomach!
H

[minnie]

Hey Heidi,

Did you get a frost this morning?

I was racing out to water the strawberries and DH's 'triffords' (pitcher plants)before the sun hit them.

But frost when it lifts is at least a warm sunny day.
Vicki

[Heidi]

Hi Vicki,
I'm actually not sure! We were out late last night doing a school fundraiser, and we overslept. I can't remember the last time we slept in.

I don't think there was frost, but for me, it doesn't matter because I have nothing in the vegie garden to save!

H