The Veggie Patch

Way back in September I posted a couple of images of the new veggie patch and in answer to 59’s query I thought I should post a progress photo.  It was very exciting a couple of days ago when my brilliant steel guru Bill arrived at Wombat Hollow to install the steel hoops that when covered with a high quality Bird Netting will protect the veggies from the marauding bird life!!  Bill and Rachel and their two sons drove 3 and a half hours from Young in the Central West and when they arrived at Wombat Hollow the heavens opened.  We recorded an inch of rain over the four and a half hours it took them to install the hoops.   After hot showers all round and a change of clothes they then turned around headed back to Young.  What troopers!!

Bill and his Dad were the steel fabricators who worked with me 21 years ago to build Wombat Hollow and over the years I have called on them from time to time to do anything that required steel construction.  They are absolute geniuses in my opinion.  Anyone who has visited the property will appreciate just how much steel there is involved in the house, right through to the checker plate metal stairs and the metal sign that greets people at the top of the driveway.  It’s been a wonderful collaboration and I know I can enter into an agreement with the family knowing I’m going to get a brilliant job.

I have to confess when they started installing the frame I nearly fell off my perch, they looked so incredibly high and in fact ME (Maureen) suggested that perhaps we could have a pet Giraffe if we ever felt inclined :). However now that they’re in place it is a wonderful feeling to stand down there, I almost feel like I’m in some amazing art installation.  Once the final rails and netting goes in some time in the next few days and the netting is in place we will be able to go away knowing that the veggies will be safe and sound from the wildlife that abounds out on Shipley.

I’ve added an additional image from the bottom of the block looking up at the veggie enclosure and the house.  By the way, I can report that since we planted our veggies we have been feasting on them for weeks now.  It’s such a wonderful feeling to go out late in the afternoon and harvest the salad or veggies that we want to eat for dinner that night.  Can’t get much fresher than that.