Chooks

I bought four pullets a couple of weeks off laying ($14ea). They are in a sturdy chicken tractor inside the fenced garden. Not too used to grass and haven't yet figured out roosting.

Possum

The possum is still munching despite my leaving food out for him (and it is a him) and his taste is expanding now includes bok choy, silverbeet and lebanese cress. I have started on putting a floppy top to the fence in the hope of keeping him out of the garden. At least now I've moved the van he isn't waking me up several times each night by jumping on the roof.

It getting cold

Despite carefully avoiding areas with lots of frost it turns out this area between Coffs and Grafton gets much colder than either - already below 5 degrees in Vinnie. The drifts of fog when driving at night is a bit scary too. A neighbour has recorded -13 in the past! Luckily my down sleeping bag is warm although getting out of it can be a problem.

Amaranth grain

Quite a lot of work for a small amount, not sure if I will try cooking any or just use as seed. It does apparently have weed potential but the caterpillars certainly gave it a tough time.

Survey map

Finally got the survey map. Unfortunately he recommends the floor level be above 104m to avoid floods (not the true height above sealevel), plus the waste water has to be 100m from stream - both of which mean only a tiny area in the top left corner is ok, and the council wants the house 20m away from edges - so it is very tight.

Roast chicken in camp oven

The chicken browned nicely but you have to add water so the veges were more boiled than roasted. Still yummy, though it took ages for the fire to burn down to ashes.