Hope returns

17.2.2010
For the first time it is possible to see some hope that order will one day be restored here. The new drive is in place with the stones on it that Craig rescued from the pipeline waste materials. The drive circles around the edge of the flat area above the dams that will form the new house site. The topsoil has been replaced and it is possible to image it green with grass. Steve and Johno are now putting up walls on Edd’s tool shed, and David is tackling the weeds on the bank in the old house site.

I have felt quite ill this week but with so much achieved my spirits are rising. The electricians connected up the new meter yesterday so we have been able to move the dodgy temporary overhead line. I have contacted the electricity ombudswoman and begun the process of trying to sort out the mess over the last years none existent bills. There is plenty more to tackle but knocking off one item feels very good.

The first of the fire babies has arrived. Almost on the anniversary of the fires too. Erin has a little boy, much to our relief they are well but I have not seen him yet and have my news second hand through Bo. I am so happy to have babies in Steels Creek again. It is not a happy situation when pretty countryside becomes too valuable to be brought by young families and the spirit of the place declines. We need these lovely new community members.

The remains of our old garden continues to feed us. This year we had good crops of apples, plums and nashi pears. I am having big rabbit problems but the silver beet fights on. We ate most of the lettuce in the hot weather beating the rabbits too it. We are now also eating the self-seed yellow tomatoes. This is a triumph; I was pretty sure that after years of drought and the fire we had finally lost them all. Apparently they are really tough survivors.

I have ordered sleepers because my longer-term plan is to make raised (rabbit proof) beds in the old house site garden so that all the watering is condensed into a small area. The old garden will eventually become an orchard area with chicken grazing. It should really have a netting roof as well as sides to keep birds off the fruit. My poor chooks have been very neglected and look very much worse for wear.

Our plan is to put up a flash new chook palace on the concrete floor of the old studio cottage so that the roof can collect water for the big concrete tank still in position up there. Then we can expand and fence in the old tree run so that the chooks have a shady safe area up there too. Most of my trees in the orchard survived the fires because the chooks had cleared down to bare earth underneath them. Really fruit trees and chooks make a good firebreak that is useful and looks good.
It is so frustrating having a broken finger because I get so little achieved personally. I have caught the paper work up to date and keep food up top all the men working here but I would like to be more active.