Letter from the farm – May & June 2025

Hey there,

How are you? We have been well here on the farm and you wouldn’t believe the changes that have happened on the farm over the last couple of months. My last letter was the end of April and it was so dry, multiple dams had dried up and the sheep needed to be moved just for access to water. Now, we are green and wet, enjoy beautiful misty and frosty mornings and using plenty of fire wood to keep warm!

We have had just over 100mls of rain and the landscape has transformed. Has it been similar where you are? Did you notice how fast the green ‘peach fuzz’ of newly germinating grass seemed to appear over night? On the side of the road and in paddocks that seemed to be all dust, now vivid green.

The grass doesn’t grow long and fast at this time of year, it is more like a short carpet that covers all the bare ground. It won’t be long until the grass does start growing, Grandma’s brother Uncle George always said that the grass starts growing after the shortest day of the year. Have you heard other farmers say that?

The rain has given the grass an opportunity to grow and we can see that the sheep are eating it as fast as it is growing. What this means in reality is that we can’t see much change in the paddock, but what we do see is that the hay bale is lasting a little longer now. We are still trail feeding the sheep with our own oats using a trailer behind the ute. The ewes and lambs keenly follow and find a space to eat as a long line of oats fall on the ground behind the slowly moving ute.

Our oats and mixed annuals crops planted for winter feed were delayed due to the hot dry April and we do not have as much feed on the farm as we would like (and had prepared for). We will have enough crop to wean our lambs onto in July and that is really important. This means that the young lambs will be given the best quality feed on the property and as a result should grow to their full potential.

Avalon Farmstay has been keeping plenty of guests visiting us and we are preparing ourselves for the busy holiday season. Our priority is keeping up with firewood so visitors can enjoy the ambiance of a warm glowing fire in the loungeroom or outside with the stars. Over winter our guests enjoy seeing vivid green landscapes as the crops grow, ewes and lambs grazing together across misty morning paddocks and unreal night skies on crystal clear evenings. Couldn’t ask for more, right?

On the home front life has been busy, the daily commitment of feeding livestock causes a shift in priorities. At the moment my team mate has somehow squeezed 25+ hours a week into repetitive feeding tasks that are on top of his usual farm responsibilities. Those extra hours of labour don’t just magically appear; they are consciously consumed with a price. The exhausting juggle comes from constantly questioning what is important, what is achievable and what is realistic? Talk about decision fatigue…

I’m managing well, I know you are wondering and I know you care. Thankfully I know what fills up my ‘love cup’ and make sure to take a small dose daily. For me that is a pot of tea with the sunrise, time outside in the garden and moving my body. In reality it means that I have picked up more of the tasks Joel and I usually share and surrender to the fact that I can’t do everything (perfect place to mention the missing May letter!). We have the most amazing family and friends that have helped, especially when one available parent and four kids worth of after school commitments squeeze a little too thin! To my team – thank you!

I can recognise that there are so many moving parts that impact the running of a farm and family business – scale, infrastructure, cashflow, appetite for risk to name a few. Every farmer has a different experience during a tough season and so do their loved ones and extended family. It’s like any challenge I suppose, you never really feel the full weight of the situation until you are in it! I also know that it is not isolated to farming alone. Are you Okay at the moment? Do you need more help? The mile I walk in my shoes might be different to yours but I’m happy to share the journey, we can grow and learn together as we walk our own path.

To finish off my letter make sure you look after yourself. Never be afraid to add more people to your team and know what fills your ‘love cup’, it’s a game changer! Enjoy the winter season and what that means for you. Our version is hours by the fire bin and too many marshmallows, ice forming on the tops of puddles giving 4 farm kids hours of fun and my non-negotiable pot of tea with the sunrise! If our version of winter sounds good to you, make sure you come and visit us at Avalon Farmstay – we love to share what we have!

Until my next letter, sending my love from the farm.

Em.