Autumn has really made her presence felt in the Victorian Central Highlands lately and she is particularly beautiful this year! I think most of us Daylesford/Glenlyon/Hepburn locals would agree it's the best time of year around here. 

Grape vine at Cliffys' Cafe/Providore.

For most of the past month (bar a couple of brief cold, wet snaps) we have had lovely warm, sunny days in the high teens to mid 20s. Hazy and almost balmy on occasion...yum!

The late afternoons cool soon as the sun dips and the nights and most mornings have been crisp and rather dewy. This morning on the way to our farmers' market in Melbourne there was heaps of fog along the highways and by-ways, eerily blanketing the surrounding landscape as the descending cold night air (well 5.30 am!) met the heat ascending from the still-warm soil. 

The light at this time of year has a gentle, misty, 'bathing' quality to it, even during the middle of the day, and it shows off the natural beauty of the region.

We got the new (i.e. 2012) garlic crop planted out a few weeks ago and it's shot up lovely, healthy green leaves very promptly...aaah photosynthesis, what a pal! 

Just gotta keep on top of the weeds...on top of the weeds...on top of the weeds for the next 7 months!! It might look pretty weed-free right now but actually we will begin 'chipping' them off very shortly, as it's most effective (and easier) to weed when they're small.

Wishing for a sunny spring this year...

Dear Sun please return as brilliantly and reliably come next springtime, pretty please...

The change over to the cooler season also heralds the end of many things for this year, such as the zucchinis (above) and other summer vegies and herbs. You can see here how the powdery mildew is really getting 'stuck in' to the zucchs now and the plants are seriously dying back. A few last zucchs and their flowers have just been harvested. Cucumbers are completely done for the year and eggplants are all but spent, the last just picked. It's been an horrendous year for our tomatoes (too much cool weather during summer, esp. night temps below 10 + a couple of cold snaps)...some of our heirloom tomatoes which we've had under cover soldiered on but to much lower yields and the field tomatoes were literally a 'right off' for the first time in our 6 years farming. "You win some you lose some" and as us farmers say "there's always next season!". The basil 'curled up its toes' last week after one too many cold, moist nights/mornings but we managed to get some picked just beforehand and a batch of end of season pesto has been made and some frozen in small containers to use during winter for the odd burst of summer memories/longings.

Carrots coming on...

Carrots recently picked...

Loads of luscious Italian parsley.

There's also some robust cold climate crops powering along. Various types of carrot are set to go for many months to come, the parsley is going 'nuts' and coriander and dill aren't far off. There's heaps of  beetroots and kales fast approaching and more to come plus a few other morsels.

Jerusalem Artichokes.

'Royal Blue' spuds

Dutch Cream spuds in the foreground.

We've just started lifting 'truck loads' of spuds and Jerusalem artichokes.

Mother nature has been doing her thang with the wild mushrooms...a good season this time I hear but as much as I admire these essential little ecosystem-groovers, I alas can not eat them (except shitakes).

What can I say? We do a damn good autumn 'spread' around here don't you think? Well it's colourful and tasty if nothing else :-) .

Hope you are enjoying the change of season where ever you may be?

Yesterday our farm was 'first cab off the rank' for the Day On The Land Farm Tour of Daylesford-Macedon region sustainable farms, a regional event on the 20th Melbourne Food and Wine Festival program. 

Our visitors were bused in from a meeting point at Kyneton railway station.  

Farmer Tim explaining all things organic farm related.

We hosted a fun hour or so on what was a beautiful, sunny autumn day with about 34 enthusiasts from all over Victoria and a small posse from Japan too. We shared our story and a range of information about what we grow and why, about the fact we are primarily soil farmers (because from conservation and building of healthy soils grow healthy plants), that we embrace science and tradition in our farming methods and how we work with the seasons and with &/or around our a unique and often unpredictable local climate.

Farm dog Billy fraternises with the guests, bumping up his pat quota!

The tour was organised by local chef Gary Thomas from Spade To Blade and event coordinator Simone Gordon our local Daylesford-Macedon Produce (DMP) group coordinator & of Long Grass Projects.

The vibrant Simone Gordon, one of the events organisers.

Towards the end of the tour, our guests had the opportunity to purchase some of our produce.

Some of the other information covered during the tour was about the advantages of growing different varieties of vegetables, herbs and fruits (e.g. heritage varieties)and why some produce is more expensive to grow and therefore costs more to buy. After visiting 5 organic farms (including Captains Creek Winery) and Istra smallgoods the tour group would have been full to the brim with lots of interesting info.

It has always been our desire to host farm tours and generally take whatever opportunity we can to educate people about organic, small-scale, sustainable food production and hopefully watch their eyes light up with inspiration and ah-haa moments! Being able to 'plug in' to this kind of event makes it accessible for us and we thank Simone and Gary for putting it together.