We are getting things ready again.

Shop is going in a nice simple manner. Coffee and biscuits. Icecreams and jams and chutneys available again. Quite a few orders coming in for our jams not just through the internet but also via our retail outlets stocking up for the summer. We have resisted price increase so far as we know a lot of businesses are hurting but will have to increase prices soon at the wholesale level due to all the price increases we have had to absorb.

On the farm side of things the strawberries are starting to look good although we have had lots of difficulties with water coming down the hill due to the extraordinary amount of rain we have had  this year.  We have put in diversion trains now which is helping in the area where the strawberries are growing but is causing water logging in the area where this water ends up.

This has made trafficking very difficult and mowing impossible. Also we have had a soil analysis done which shows that the soil in this area in addition to being nutrient deficient is showing salinity.

We will improve the drainage in the wetter areas soon and correct some of the soil nutient problems also when it dries out.

But the strawberry rows have all been tidied up and side dressed with compost as well as some fertilisers added. Another major problem will be keeping the wildlife out. This morning we found 3 wallabies in the paddock in the middle of the day. They are either jumping the fence or their is a weak spot in the fence. The top of the fence is electric which usually is a sufficient deterrent.