Posts for Landscape

On a regular basis you need to check up on your animals, fences and water systems. But what is better than combining that with a dog goat run and some picnic?

Apart from the usual winter farm activities, there has not been much exciting stuff happening. It’s been a typical winter with lots of rain, lots of mud but rather warm in comparison. It looks like nature has decided that it is spring.

The weather has turned from somewhat wet and warm to rather wet and cold. The horses have been rugged up just like the goats. The rodent infestation has become noticeable, so we started putting up more traps on top of the traps and bait stations…

Within days, the hot summer weather had moved on and made space for moderate temperatures with rain and fog.

The warm and humid weather produced lovely field mushrooms to be harvested. Earlier we harvested basil, limes and potatoes.

We have not seen much rain in more than 2 months now but rather hot, sunny weather with wind. Both dries out the land, particularly the hillsides facing the Kaipara where the wind blows from and which the hot afternoon sun hits.

Lots and not so much happened. New ducklings, alpaca maintenance, Christmas, holidays and lots of animal fun.

Even on rainy days you can find a lot of beauty outside when you decide to battle the elements and get outside.

It’s been a few rather wet days. Some with intermittent sunshine but not enough to dry up the ground yet. The cats use the sunny breaks to go outside but other than that they seem to be in hibernation.

I picked a few pictures to keep you entertained and maybe – once we are out of lockdown – you may want to drop by for a stay and enjoy some time off. We will be opening in level 2.

This year was special and I had not yet seen the water that high. Kumeu and Waimauku townships flooded too and other suburbs in West Auckland. For some it was pretty bad and I feel sorry for the affected people – and animals.

If not doing office work, we fix fences, move animals around, collect, cut and chop firewood, dig trenches, build goat houses 😉 and fix all sorts of things that break over time.