Only food we’d feed our own

The threat of El Niño breathing down our necks is enough to make most farmers from the mid north coast reduce their herds before they run out of grass. I have not done so which is making me nervous but despite hubby pushing to increase herd numbers during verdant months, I have not done so either. My aim is to find the right balance between under stocking in summer so I can take a reasonable risk in winter. None the less I’ve ensured back up fodder.

Four paddocks planted with frost friendly cover crops to keep fattening my paddock to platter herd and a protein mix in the cattle canteen to supplement a lot of lignified grass in the pastures for the 90 or so breeding herd. So good so far but there’s still 6 weeks of winter to go and no certainty that Spring rains will turn up. That would mean selling off a large chunk of the breeding herd and most of the weaners which are held and grown out for another year to fill the necessary 2027/8 Farm Thru supply.

I’ve never seen the appeal of gambling but looks like it’s a major component of the farmers lot. Every one of course has an opinion which way the weather is going to go and it’s scary when most are cashing in their chips while the markets are high. Still many farmers are looking for more consistent returns than a fluctuating market and often meagre returns. Cutting out the middle men of a long supply chain and selling direct is a way that a number of regen family farms like mine are choosing to go and I’m supplicating with gratitude to those that contributed to our Farm Thru crowd funder.  And to Mathieu and Sean, the two founders of Farm thru who, so passionate about the provenance of food, have poured heart and soul into getting this venture off the ground. It really is thrilling to imagine we can grow a business that connects values of both city and country.

In other news I have a new part time farm hand. For those taking on farming in later years to find the right fit for you is essential and I think after I few misfires, I’ve found him. His name is Haymon. Also found a new butcher, Matt in a small town called Gladstone. I’ve never met a disagreeable butcher but it’s hard to find one that has enough space to hang meat for two weeks. Essential for muscles to relax and the meat to tenderise.

In other news a tree fell on my perimeter fence and, despite writing in my todo list, I forgot all about it and several cows escaped and hid out in the forest for a week before returning. I was especially happy to get 232 back. She’s my very affectionate red matriarch.

Joe, my son, works with Pauly, a very experienced timber cutter and fence builder. They cut timber from the forest, spilt the posts, and are rebuilding many of the farms fences and using a mobile saw mill, about to take on a new barn. Can’t believe my good fortune to have my son living down the road. He’s a refugee from the noise and technology overloads of city life. Hangs with his goats, his cat and six geese while raising grass fed meat chickens which he would be supplying to Farm Thru if all our small local abattoirs hadn’t closed as is the case all over Australia. That’s another urgent farming story to share another time.\

• Rachel