burnside organic farm...

walking up the driveway i catch sight of 

some large and content chooks

strutting about and digging for grubs

the way nature intended

and before that the large organic and biodynamic vege garden

bursting with life

tuscan cabbage

 silverbeet

rainbow chard

cauliflower

giant beetroot bulbs

carrots

lettuces

garlic chives

parsley

thyme

rosemary

passionfruit vines

all ready to be picked and eaten

the clever folk at Burnside Organic Farm

also produce commercial crops of

eggs

avocados

olives

capers

macadamias

zinfandel wine

on arrival we were given some freshly laid, still warm, free range eggs

we set about harvesting some gorgeous greens, herbs, beetroot and carrots

and feasted on a lunch that was every bit as nourishing as it was scrumptious

think a big herby frittata

sauteed kale and silver beet

crisp salad of lettuce with grated beetroot and carrot dressed with

honey from their nine hives, and 

unfiltered, freshly pressed olive oil from their neighbours

the vegetarian in our family declared it the best meal that had ever passed his lips

besides all that we were inspired by their self sufficiency and passion for organic produce

and are now planning our humble vege patch at home and how we can produce more for ourselves

the kids played and laughed and explored to their heart's content

they fed the frisky pigs

 dexter cows and their calves

noticed all the little things

leaves

flowers

insects

and muddy puddles

oh yes

they loved the muddy puddles

plans are already in the making to return

Nature's Marvels..

In September last year, my love and I travelled to Margaret River to celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary. One of the things we wanted to do together, as much a symbolic gesture as for the pleasure for it was to hike a part of the Cape to Cape trail. I wondered if I should bother lugging my camera, as it can be quite a weight when I also had to take a decent bottle of water and a day's worth of snacks. "I might regret it if I don't.." Never a truer word was said. 

During our hike I lamented about the lack of wildflowers to photograph and walked for kilometres snapping at rocks and the sky ( yawn ) before sitting down for a snack and rest. When I looked down to see if there were any interesting insects around, I spied this magical, other-worldly looking bloom. Its about 7-10mm long, so tiny that when I stood up, it appeared quite unremarkable. But look at it - a little Angel looked up at me! Isn't she heavenly?