This week was full. Really full. Sometimes I wonder how we actually get it all done! Tuesday brought us a pretty big meeting with our farm consultant. There was a lot to cover, and having someone from the outside sit down with us is always helpful. We were able to nut out some of the bigger, longer-term things, as well as the decisions that matter right now and sometimes need to be made almost instantly. Some of it is exciting, some of it is hard, and some of it is simply bus

I knew I had another week of negotiating with the weather in front of me, and I wasn’t wrong! But we made it through, and somehow it’s Friday night again. Did I say I had finished pruning the orchards? Well… a few more fruit trees decided otherwise. They needed some attention, so I sharpened the pruners once more and got the job done. I’m definitely calling it finished this time! A while back, I ordered some rootstock and have been keeping a few scions along the way. With tho

Last Sunday we welcomed another wonderful group to the barn for our sourdough bread making class. It was an afternoon spent talking all things flour, dough and bread, with plenty of questions, hands-on learning and, of course, the smell of fresh sourdough filling the room. Monday brought our usual trip into Warrnambool, delivering a few orders before the girls headed off to their music lessons. In the evening we held our final winter workshop at the Warrnambool Community Gard

Last Saturday we welcomed more than 50 guests to the barn for our very first Patch to Plate roast dinner. It was a wonderful evening, with plates piled high with roast meat, seasonal vegetables and a whopping 12 kilograms of potatoes. To finish, we served a traditional Swiss Bee Sting cake—a little taste of my homeland that was the perfect ending to a winter meal. A full barn is something we never take for granted. We see it as a real blessing, and we’re incredibly grateful t

This week began with a job that seems to grow a little bigger every year—pruning the roses. When I first planted them a few years ago, it didn’t feel like there were that many. Now, as each bush has matured, winter pruning has become quite the task. It’s satisfying work though, knowing the effort now will be rewarded with plenty of blooms in the months ahead. Alongside life on the farm, we’ve also been busy working on another project. A nearby farmhouse is slowly being transf

A new financial year, a new milk processor, and the shortest day now behind us — it feels like we’re stepping into a fresh season with plenty to look forward to. One of those things is a little holiday in August. More details on that another time! The week began with finalising the financials, followed by something we don’t do nearly often enough — taking a day off. I managed to coax my husband into Warrnambool while one of our vehicles was being serviced, and we spent a coup

Last Sunday we welcomed 15 participants to the barn for our Butter, Yoghurt and Labneh workshop. It was a wonderful afternoon, filled with plenty of laughter as we churned butter, learnt how simple it is to make yoghurt at home, and everyone took home their own freshly made labneh. These workshops are always a reminder that traditional skills don’t have to be complicated—they just need someone willing to share them. The rest of the week was spent enjoying the slower pace that

After a slightly quieter Patch to Plate dinner, Sunday was enjoyed at a gentler pace — and with fewer dishes to wash, which was a welcome change. Monday evening brought us back into teaching, with another workshop held at the Warrnambool Community Garden. This time, I shared our fermenting course, and it was wonderful to see it so well attended. There’s something special about passing on these skills and seeing others take an interest in traditional ways of preparing food. T

What a difference a week makes. After last week’s downpour, this week opened up with clearer skies and a return to a steadier rhythm. Monday saw a full house at the barn, with a booked-out brunch followed by welcoming 20 ladies from the Timboon Garden Club for coffee and cake in the afternoon. While the garden wasn’t quite ready for wandering after all the rain, it created the opportunity to slow things down and share more of our story — what we do here and what drakesfreshpr