Letter from the farm – December 2025

 Hi there,

How was your Christmas? How is the family? We celebrated Christmas with Joel’s family this year and it was everything we expected.

As a nurse and firefighter rostered shifts on Christmas day have always been part of the deal and before kids we were living a long way away from family. In those days one of us would usually offer to work Christmas day if the other was rostered on.

This year Christmas was all about family and for Joel and I, we knew and treasured every moment.

December on the farm flew by with our shearers returning to shear 1000 lambs and the rams removed from the ewes to keep our lambing window as planned. Maintaining optimal ewe and lamb health is our priority in the hot weather and we want to make sure the ewe’s fertility is not impacted, nor the lamb’s growth.

Harvest came and went and Joel did an amazing job of collecting great drone footage as the machines were working through the paddocks. I have to say that I let the team down and didn’t share that content as intended. It’s so frustrating when a thought and plan doesn’t get finished. It’s a reminder to me of what is important and how serious I am about how I spend my time.

Do you do that sometimes? Do you say you want to do something but your actions show otherwise? I would like to think that the priorities I say I have usually align with my actions but at times there is a considerable gap between the two.

The Say-Do Gap is my reminder that my priorities will always be best reflected in my actions, and to just finish the job – the last push has to happen!

When I wrote to you in November I mentioned that Avalon Farmstay was a finalist for the Lockhart Shire Business Excellence Awards and just in case you missed the updates on social media – we won!

The day of the awards was a rollercoaster of events from last minute school closure due to a catastrophic weather forecast, day one of shearing complicated with 4 kids now at home and a fast moving grass fire next door. I wrote a blog post with a few photos here if you are interested in reading a more detailed version!

December on the farm right now is hot and dry. We have paddocks of golden grass and wheat stubble that are slowly reducing in height and bulk as the sheep graze early in the mornings and late evenings.

Hay and oats are offered to the lambs encouraging them to grow into beautiful big strong animals and our green lucerne paddocks are not quite as vibrant as the long hot days draw away the moisture.

My apricot trees have finished fruiting and the peaches, plums and figs are not far away from being ready to enjoy. There are lots of small apples and pears growing and somehow still asparagus spears shooting.

The vege patch is abundant with tomatoes, zucchini and basil ready for picking. Watermelon, pumpkin and eggplants are not far behind. Something has been eating my bean and cucumber seedlings but I refuse to accept defeat and just keep resowing seeds!

Sunflowers, zinnias, cosmos and dahlias are my summer flowers and I’m happy when I’m in the garden!

I love writing to you each month and sharing what is happening on the farm. Thank you for listening and giving your precious time and attention. I know how valuable that is and how strong the demands can be!

Look after yourself and enjoy the break and reset that this time of year brings.

Until my next letter,

Sending my love from the farm, Em.