Fencing off the fruit orchard

It's been a drawn out job this one, but finally, after rain delays and Hanno feeling a bit under the weather himself, the fence is set to be finished this morning. The chooks and I will be really happy as it means they can free range again and wallow in their favourite spot - under the palm trees.  These trees are their summer retreat - we keep the soil damp for them so they nestle in under there, stay cool and out of sight of any bird of prey flying overhead.

Hanno removing the original fence in late August.

But we really needed to ramp up our fruit production and if we were to do that, the chooks had to be kept away from the fruit trees we'd already planted and those we hoped to plant. Our solution was to move the already build picket fence from the front of the vegetable garden to fence off the fruit, which is at the other side of our back yard.

New posts had to be cemented in to keep the fence upright for the next 20 years or so.

When the new posts were in and set, the fence was brought over in pieces, ready to attach to the posts.

The old fence only covered about two thirds of the length, so we had to buy another fifty dollars worth of posts and pickets.

Hanno built the new fence from those raw materials and it matches up very well.

When I came home from the Neighbourhood Centre yesterday afternoon, he was placing the final section. So I grabbed my camera to show you the excellent work he's done. Today the gate will be put up and the small opening on the other side of the shed blocked off, and the job will be finished. Then I'll open the gates for the chooks to roam free again. We might have a lemon cordial to celebrate. :- )

We have a big backyard and a lot of hard work and effort goes into it, most of it is done by Hanno. I'm thankful I have such a capable husband, but I know that we're both slowing down now so it's great that a job like this is still within his capabilities. In there now are bananas, grapes, loquat, oranges, loofas, passionfruit, mandarin and pink grapefruit; I have a vanilla orchid to plant near the loofas and a Reed avocado ready to go in. Hopefully we will find a suitable raspberry to plant as well. We'll really concentrate on that mixed fruit orchard now and hopefully reap the benefits of it for many years to come. I can already see the day when I ask Jamie or Alexander to come with me to pick bananas and oranges. Maybe when we do that the first time, I'll tell them about the time Opa moved the fence from the vegetable garden to create the orchard.

I know women like seeing other women's sewing rooms and craft rooms, so I thought my gentlemen readers might like a glimpse into Hanno's work shed. This was taken yesterday afternoon. In there, Hanno makes and mends a lot of the things we use and over the years it's been a garage for cars our sons had. It now stores our trailer and hay pile, old furniture and bits and pieces that don't fit anywhere else.

~~**~~**~~

If you're in Brisbane or on the coast here, you might be interested in coming to the first Real Food Festival in Maleny this weekend. Maleny has some incredible primary producers and artisan food makers, they'll be featured at the festival. There will also be workshops, cooking classes and farm tours.  Here is the link for more information.

Have a lovely day.