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You know you have really become a farmer when your main topic of conversation and main source of complaining is to do with the weather.
Living in an inner city terrace, I didn’t really give much thought about the weather (until the Sydney hail storm came through and removed our roof in 1999). Was I upset about the roof missing? No! I was angry at the Vineyard Manager for using my white Sheridan towels to mop up the mess. A collapsed ceiling emptied a hundred year’s worth of coal dust and rain into our living areas.
In 1998 when we bought our first farm down here, the grass was up to the top of the bull-bar on the ute. That was the last time we saw it that high until this year. For the past ten years we have been in a terrible drought. It has been heartbreaking watching many established old trees die, the dams empty and the land becoming so parched and thirsty.
The Kyeema Vineyard is a green oasis against the parched landscape, late 2009
Of course the rain always manages to come just as you don’t want it. The rain started to fall earlier this year in February during the 2010 growing season and many vineyards had fruit split and ruined. Whether by luck or through good management, the Kyeema Vineyard fared very well through the wet season. It did take a lot of extra work. The day after the big rains in February, the boys took all the nets off and re-sprayed the whole vineyard to protect our precious fruit.
Kyeema vines under net before the rain early 2010
Although it is delaying our building work on the Cellar Door, giving us extra work in the vineyard and a few nervous moments as we watch the Yass River rising, I love the rain. The dams are full for the first time in years and the garden and countryside looks so emerald green and pretty.
Old vine Kyeema shiraz against the emerald grass. September 2010
The Yass River breaks it's banks under the Gundaroo bridge, December 2010
Both drought and flood can be devastating for farming. At the moment we have managed to keep our beautiful vines free from any problems but it is only December and harvest is a long way off at this stage.
We hope it will dry up a bit for the rest of the growing season. Mother Nature is the boss, but I have worked out a way to outsmart her. I can predict precisely when the rain will stop. You see we just purchased and installed a new 140,000 litre rain tank for the cellar door. It’s not yet hooked up to roof catchment, but I guarantee the day it is, the rain will stop.
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“Truer words were never spoken. Love this
-- Chef robin white (December 9, 2010) ”
Not sure if it is Murphy's law or some other kind of law but it is true!
Cheers Jen -- Jennie