So we have been on the farm for just over 6 weeks now, only 2 weeks to go now (not that we are counting)!! We cannot wait to be on the move again.

We wanted to let everyone know the jobs we have been doing over the past 6 weeks to keep us busy - mainly preparing the farm for the start of the strawberry season which is beginning to start in the next week or so. While some jobs may seem 'easy' it is made considerably harder when you are working under the typical 32 degree sun for 5 hours a day!

Despite the enjoyment of knowing the piggy bank is being topped up, we are starting to feel like the days are beginning to drag. The days are very similar, waking up at 6am, start work at 7am, get a 20 minute break, or 'smoke-o' as Malcom calls it at 9, and finish work at 12. As we do not have access to a car, we are stuck on the farm the majority of the time, however we do go on a few bike rides if we can muster up the energy after work :). We also look forward to Friday evenings as this is Pizza night, where we get to make our own pizzas - oh we do lead a wonderful life!!!

Week One

Our first job was irrigation, this involved digging in the middle of 20 rows of strawberries to create a trench for the big hose to run through. Then connect the trickle tape to this hose providing the plants with an endless supply of water. This meant that we had to make 4 holes in the big hose, attach the hose connectors then connect the trickle tape - a total of 20 times, meaning we had to create 80 holes and attach 80 connectors!! This job essentially ripped Curt's hands to pieces due to the brute force needed to attach the connectors. Oh and then we had to do this all over again in the other field. Malcolm told us that not many people are not successful in this job - which only made us more determined, with many of the hose connectors flying off when the pressure is added due to them not connecting them properly. When Malcolm went to turn on the water we crossed our fingers and toes hoping we had done a better job than previous people- HURRAY!! Only 2 connectors shot off out of a total 160 - the best result they've had.

Once this task was complete we went onto the brilliant task of weeding - but this is nothing like your back garden weeding. A block of 20 rows of strawberries had overgrown during the off season - each row is 250m long. First of all we had to walk up and down the rows using big snips (or officially called a lopper apparently) to cut off all the big weeds - which were more like trees, making it easier to pull out the remaining weeds later on. This wasn't too bad but took a lot longer than expected, with Malcolm telling us to leave the trees where we snipped them. After this was completed he then told us we needed to collect EVERYTHING we just snipped up!! This would have been much easier if we did this as we went along as we had to do another 5km walk, clearing it!! By the end of it, we had created two HUGE piles - was amazing to see how much we had actually done.

The next job wasn't too bad either - we had to fix the black plastic which had been blown off since they were laid. Therefore, mainly using the hoe to create a small trench, make sure the mud was cleared on the other side, there were no weeds in the bed and then pull the plastic over re burying it, making sure it didn't blow off again!

Week Two

This WHOLE week was spent weeding. Yes the overgrown block from before where we cut all the trees down we had to go through and weed. Doesn't sound too bad, as you just think of a few weeds here and there. However, this whole strawberry block was covered in weeds you could barely see the strawberry plants!! 5km of weeding needing to be done. Luckily the two German girls were still here so they were also doing it - although they may as well been sleeping as they were quite slow and hardly contributed much. But it got done and there was a small sense of achievement in completing it before the Germans left, knowing that we had no more weeding to do!!

At the end of the week the German girls finished working here and were continuing their travels down the east coast before returning home. Malcolm and Jenny had said they were not going to employ anyone else until the season started meaning it was just the two of us for the foreseeable weeks. This was rather frustrating as the Germans also had a car so in our spare time - when we weren't taking a nap after working SO hard, we ventured into Bundaberg to do some light shopping and browsing which we could no longer do, meaning we were basically stuck on the farm day and night!

After the girls left, Jenny and Malcolm took us on another drive along the coastline, this time further up north to explore the beaches. On our way back we stopped off at the Old Bundy Tavern in town for a cheeky pint. It was nice to spend our only day off in the week off the farm.

Week Three

Just the two of us!! Emily's first job was to clear the weeds (yes you read right MORE WEEDS), from the two new blocks of strawberry rows (yet to be planted). So Curt could then burn holes down the plastic ready to plant. Curtis spent his days walking up and down each row three times!! Burning holes 30cm apart - resulting in approx. 80,000 holes burnt once completed! The job would not of been that tedious if the burner (which Malcolm made himself) worked 99% of the time.

Once the weeds had been completed - this time there wasn't as many weeds, Emily went onto her next job. She helped Jenny tidy up another strawberry block (luckily the two Germans had weeded this block before we had arrived). Basically clearing all the dead leaves away from the strawberry plants, and cutting off the 'runners' - part of the plant that starts to grow away from the main plant (running away) to essentially grow as a new plant elsewhere. This made for better presentation, and apparently it brings the strawberry plants back to life so they can grow all bushy again.

This week as we had no access to a car we decided to venture out on the bikes that Jenny and Malcolm kindly let us to use during our stay. Firstly we essentially did a square circuit, biking to the nearest beach (Innes Park approx. 3km), along the coast to Coral Cove and back to farm. It was nice to get some sea air, and let the breeze through our hair.

On Sunday we decided to venture further to a nicer beach further up the coast. We biked firstly to Innes Park, then took the Woongarra Scenic Drive along the coast. We ended up going along quite a few bike trails on the edge of the cliff with stunning views of the ocean, ending up at Kellies beach 5miles away from the farm. This is a lovely beach with even lifeguards on duty and was really lively compared to Innes Park. Many families were spending the day here swimming in the huge waves and having picnics on the beach. We set up camp for a few hours, underestimating the heat with only a 1 litre bottle of cold water between us - meaning we were gagging for a drink with no shop in sight! Luckily there was a lady with a trailer selling cold drinks and ice-cream meaning we quenched our thirst with a Coke and Fanta. We went into the sea where we played in the waves for quite some time as they were pretty big, with Emily nearly losing her Bikini on quite a few occasions, sunbathed on the beach and chilled reading our books - overall a really relaxing day. Before then realising we had to make the 5mile bike ride back bleurrgh!!

Week Four

Emily continued with her job from the previous week tidying the strawberry plants up. While Curt was in charge of the weed killer - going around each block of strawberries spraying all the weeds with this deadly poison in the hope this will keep them at bay for the rest of the season.

With all our weeding we have done, time spent, and money earned, you would think that they would maintain this over the off season for a more productive start to the season - but I suppose we aren't the farmers and they 'know' what they are doing.

Malcolm had also ordered in the runners (the strawberry plants), ready for us to plant them in the upcoming weeks. A total of 80,000 plants costing around $30,000 (approx. £16,000). With the idea of using them for the next two seasons.

Curtis then joined with helping tidying the current strawberry block.

This week we also ventured out a few times in our spare time. With Jenny and Malcolm taking us into town to deposit our earnings into the bank - without the need to spend money on groceries it was nice to see our bank balancing increasing rather than decreasing for a change! We also went to Target, while Jenny shopped we wandered around - mainly admiring the vast amount of Easter Eggs they had on display as well as a metre long toblerone! Also finding out they have pretty decent wifi, so we were able to start downloading a few movies on the iPad (unfortunately only being able to down half a film before Jenny was finished, but I think this is where we will come in future for a good connection).

On Sunday we cycled to Innes Park - we didn't fancy the long cycle to Kellies beach today as we were up late watching Les Miserables on TV (not the best means of watching it when there's an advert break every 10mins, although a pretty good film). We spent the day chilling in the sun and having a much needed R&R day. Luckily we managed to see the rain coming in over the sea so jumped on our bikes to race home before we got soaked! We made it, only getting caught in some drizzle.

At the end of another busy farming week we are HALF WAY THERE!!!! Four weeks to go… and counting!!

Week 5

We are both STILL tidying up the strawberry plot - safe to say Emily is getting particularly bored as its now her 3rd week. The only good thing is that it's not a very hard job, we get to sit down in a 'cart' and listen to our music, so we don't get too bored! Curt spent a few days brush cutting some of the strawberries off in another block - the idea being that they will grow into bigger and better strawberry plants if all the heads are taken off (guessing it is similar to when you cut your hair).

Luckily we finished this strawberry block by the end of the week. Felt like we needed a little celebration, only to be told we will be doing exactly the same thing to the block at the top next week! YAWN!!!!

We did however mange to have a fairly chilled evening, watching blended on the iPad, a pretty funny film with Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore. Malcolm and Jenny went to their friends for dinner so it was just the two of us.

Week Six

Luckily for Curt he managed to get roped into another job, so I was left to do MORE of the tidying up the strawberry block - very bored of this, with each day seeming to drag on longer and longer.

Curt helped Malcolm erect a new cold room in the shed. Ready to store all the fresh produce when they are picked, to sell directly from the farm and also get distributed to Brisbane to be sold in the supermarkets.

Unfortunately the weather took a turn for the worst this week with Emily getting soaked to the bone outside on more than one occasion - with one day only completing one hours work!! This meant for the rest of the week we needed to make the hours up, with us both working an extra hr a day. Also, as if it wasn't bad enough having to work Easter Weekend (Curtis did ask Malcolm if we get double pay, of which he replied with a laugh!), on Saturday we only managed to do 2 hours - resulting in us having to wake up early on Easter Sunday to do 2 and a half hrs work. No lay in for us this week :(.

But the good news is… we have not got long now, starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel…. JUST!

C & E x