Aracaria Work Diary

Stefan, Ian, Linda
Warm, dry, 24 (120mm of rain over the weekend). Moon: 28% of Full
Shadehouse area clean-up.
Hoop Pine Reserve brush-cut
Main paddock east, toro.

Stefan, Tewe, Stacey, Linda
Yasu visits
Very, very dry, windy, warm, 24; Moon 1% of Full
Watering mostly on east, creek area, slope, brush-cutting of eastern slope finished (5 days)
citrus weeded and watered

Warm, overcast, few drops of rain, 24; Moon New
Stefan, Tewe, Linda, Ian
Brush-cut west upper, middle dam area.
Toro: west, top area
East: new watering one into western slop bank where we had many losses (about 17 palms).
Weeding watering mandarins, Yankee creek plant-out

hot, 36, very dry
Stefan, Tewe, Linda, Stacey
Brush-cut_ slope, upper third
Mulch collecting, eastern dam area (4 cages)
olive hill, watering, weeding mulching

Hot, dry, 39
Tewe, Ian, Andy, Linda
Brush-cutting: western gully, olive hill, farm house area
Toro: eastern dam area, pecans, upper golden gift
Watering, various

Warm, dry, 26, Moon 99% of Full
Stefan, Tewe, Stacey, Linda
Toro, brush-cut, west and east.
Tea shed area, pecans, maccas.
Watering.
New plant boxes planted out with roselle

Warm, overcast, no rain, 24. Moon 99% of Full
Stefan, Tewe, Ian, Andy, Linda
Brush-cut western gully, eastern border plant-out, toro eastern section on slop.
Toro wheel damage.
Eastern drive, middle part, plant-out weeded and mulched.
Potted lamandra grasses from GH. approx 100.

Stefan, Tewe, Stancy, Linda
War, overcast, dry, 26. Moon: 64% of full

Brush-cutting west: around lotus dam, feeding Bird of Paradise, weeding Yankee Creek gully, mulching.
East: brush-cut gully, half finished, toro top section. Watered grass tree plant-out, top area, east.

Warm, little morning rain, sunny, 24. Moon:45% of Full
Stefan, Linda, Tewe, Andy
Some lilie planting gatehouse.
Brush cutting western gully, lotus dam.
Mulch collection fig tree paddock, west, top area. 8 cages.
Palms on eastern top area mulches and weeded.

Stefan, Tewe, Stacy, Linda
warm, 24, dry, Moon, 15% of full.

Toro, brush-cutting, mulch harvesting, east and west.
Potting and re-planting around tea house.

Stefan, Tewe, Linda, Andy
dry, hot, 39, maybe a storm late avo, but probably not. Moon: new
Watering, brush-cutting, toro work all day.
Lemon myrtle harvest. Getting very dry again. Rein urgently needed.

Stefan, Linda, Tewe, Andy, Stacey
warm, sunny, dry, 24 - Moon 22% of full

Weeding, brush-cutting and clearing upper western area, top dam, middle dam. Big plant-out above top dam. 1/2 finished. Palms, banksias, grass trees.

Stefan, Tewe, Linda, 2 woofers
overcast, dry, 24 - Moon: 92% of full, waning

Big lean-up in top dam gully. Also around middle dam. Trees freed from weeds, lantana, crofton, camphor re-growth cull etc.
Hard prune. Some replacement planting.

Stefan, Linda, Tewe, 2 woofers
warm, sunny, dry, 24 - Moon just past Full
Clean-up in western gully, pump repair, various fence removal.
Brush-cutting tea-house area, some palm planting in western gully.
Inspection run with Linda.

Stefan, Tewe, Muzz (last day), Linda, 2 woofers
Overcast, dry (after some good rain 200mm in three days). Moon: 79% of Full, waxing
Clean up of eastern rock piles, planted 60 bangalow palms as a bed on eastern top area. Palm planting in Yankee Creek gully.
500 stirring.

Stefan, Tewe, Linda, Andy, 2 woofers
30mm of rain yesterday. warm, 22
Built 4 tree-guards for shade trees in main eastern paddock.
Big shade house clean-up.
Various re-planting of lost trees.
Bangalow palm re-potting

Stefan, Tewe, Muzz, 2 woofers, Linda
Warm, dry, 25. Moon 18% of full.
Mostly watering. Shade house clean-up, shade house nursery re-organisation.

Stefan, Tewe, Muzz, Andy, 2 woofers, Linda
Warm, extremely dry, 24. Moon: new
Various watering. Brush cutting east, preparing areas for grass tree planting.
30 grass trees planted on eastern look-out.
Eastern drive: start of 100 grass tree plant-out.
Big sort out in shade house.

Stefan, Tewe, Muzz, Linda, 2 woofers
Warm, dry, 25
Lantana clean up, west, camphor maintenance western creek area, replaced palm above rose tea tree.
Compost pile in old garden, watering creek area, Yankee creek plant-out mulched and watered.

Stefan, Tewe, Linda, Muzz, Andy, 2 woofers (England/Japan)
Very warm, 28, some rain overnight (8mm), Moon Waning, 29% of Full.
Re-meshed buffalo fly trap, general clean-up around shade house area, Yankee Creek plant-out finished, brush cut along Yankee Creek planting, mulched trees. Few losses, most have done well. Harvest lemon myrtle, rose tea tree.
Toro in workshop for re-welding.

Stefan, Tewe, Muzz, Linda
Warm, dry, 23 - Moon 87% of full
Yankee Creek area plan-out nearly completed. Over 300 trees planted.
Watering east.
The driest the farm has been in 7 years.

Stefan, Tewe, Muzz, Andy
Warm, dry, very dry, 25, Moon waning, 95 of full

Cleared and maintained drive garden below terraces, build rock steps, built second herb bed.
Muzz watering west, top area and gully.
Andy veg garden.

Stefan, Tewe, Muzz, Linda, Andy
Warm, very dry, 25, Moon 92% full.
Watering, re-arranging watering system, tea house pump problems.
A frustrating day.
Conditions extremely dray, possible the driest in 8 years.

Linda, Tewe, Muzz, 2 woofers, Andy
Creek area planting, watering

Linda, Tewe, Muzz, 2 woofers, Andy
Creek area planting, watering

Stefan, Linda, Tewe, Japanese Woofer, Andy
Warm, very dry, 24, Moon 15% of full
Cleanup of former netted area, de-rocking and preparing for toro.
Tea packing. Watering.
6 large frangipani along top eastern drive.
Sighted 6 snakes today. 3 browns, 2 pythons and 1 not sure, maybe night tiger. Two brown snakes were mating.

Lifted BD community horns today. 360 horns on Aracaria and about 130 horns at the Shearwater Steiner School. About 15 people turned up. Nice day. Quality of 500 is good. Not as much root invasion as last year.

Linda, Tewe, Muzz, Andy, woofers
Warm, dry, 25
Cow pat pit, brush-cut gully, toro, mulching drive, east,
Werner: privet clearing in lower eastern gully

Linda, Tewe, Jap woofer, Andy
Warm, dry
Citrus mulched, fed and weeded.
Toro golden gift pecans
Watering

Stefan, Linda, Tewe, Muzz
Warm, 24, very dry, Moon: 98% of full, waxing gibbous
Clearing western part of slop, preparing for planting, approx 1 acre mostly now cleared by JB.
Watering, middle part of slope, west top gully, gardens.
Extremely dry, top dam nearly empty, will need to swing to middle dam for pumping.

Stefan, Linda, Tewe, Andy, Isha
warm, very dry, 26. Moon: 90% of Full
NAASA inspection day.
East: clearing western area of gully. camphors, lantana, crofton. JB with bobcat. Hundreds of small camphor laurel trees. About 1/4 done.
Watering

Linda, Tewe, Muzz
hot, dry
Watering, planting drive east.

Stefan, Tewe, Linda, Christina, Andy
Unseasonably hot, 28, very dry. Moon, waxing crescent, 30% of full
Mostly watering, east, slope plant-out.
Continue eastern drive planting, banksias and tea tree.
Fire on ridge. No photos, camera failed (for the first time).

Stefan, Tewe, Linda, Muzz, Andy, Christina, Torhoto, Japanese woofer
Warm, dry, 20
Finish cleaning up after electricity trenches. Removes many toro unfriendly rocks on middle paddock.
Started big camphor clean-out on west band gully, top end. This will take a few weeks. Hundreds of young camphors. We are using a bobcat but will have to upgrade to a backhoe for the steeper parts of the gully.
Tea making in tea shed.
Citus pruned, fed and mulched.
Bankis and tea tree replacements on eastern drive, 20 plants.
Massive amount of watering.

Stefan, Tewe, Linda, Andy, Christina, ??? Japanese woofer
Warm, very dry, little overcast. Moon: 6: of Full
Refilled electricity trenches and new water-pipes.
Ginger harvest. Tea house tea drying.

Hello Claudio!!

Stefan, Tewe, Linda, Andy, Claudio, Christina
Warm, dry, 20. Moon: waning gibbous, 75% of full

Electricity trench digging and related issues most of the day.
Mulching and watering on East.
Start with pecan pruning.
Soil very dry. we need some rain soon.

Stefan, Tewe, Linda, Muzz, Claudio, Christina
Dry, warm, 20. Full Moon
Re-planted two big frangapani trees on East, top area.
Ginger harvest.
Brush cut & toro lemon myrtle hill.
500

Stefan, Tewe, Linda, Andy, Claudio, Christina
Warm, dry, 20, Moon 97% of Full.
Big burn-off camphor pile west, top area, first gully.
Camphor pile neear milking shed.
Various mulching and weeding, planting in old garden.

Stefan, Twe, Linda, Claudio, Christina, Muzz
Burn offs:east lower paddock, upper area and bottom of slope.
Brush cut: eastern look-out, eastern dam.
Mulching: palm plant-out, slope, east
Two sausage trees, east top area

Stefan, Twe, Linda, Claudio, Christina, Andy
Dry, warm, 20, Moon: 44% of Full
Starting to dry out after 1 dry week. Checking on all the newly planted trees, watering.
Tewe & Stefan, construction of water articulation system at the GH.

Stefan, Tewe, Linda, Claudio, Christina, Andy
Warm, sunny, dry, 22, Moon: 1% of Full

Toro: fig-tree paddock, East: lower slope, hoping to collect mulch Thursday
West top area gully: continue clearing camphors, planting and mulching. Almost finished. Big shed clean-up.
Harvest turmeric.

Stefan, Tewe, Linda, Muzz, Claudio, Christina, Andy
Warm, sunny, 20
Some brush cutting east.
West, top area and gully, continued planting palms, various trees. Removed big stand of camphors in center gully. Camphor, privet and lantana control into lower areas.

Big server crash, included back-up. Will take some time to restore. All blog images are lost and need to be re-issued. This will take some time.
Still can’t upload images.

Lecture by Frank Adcott on native bees. About 60 people, terrific lecture and pleasant day.

Sunny, dry, bit of cloud, 20. Moon: 78% of full, waxing gibbous
Stefan. Tewe, Linda, Claudio, Japanese woofer
Tea House: tea preparation
West: continue clearing, weeding and mulching top-area plant out. Terrific growth in most trees. Very few losses.
Started clearing fence-line gatehouse/farm. Lantana, camphors, privet.

SUnny, dry, bit of cloud, 20. Moon: 59% of full, waxing gibbous
Stefan. Tewe, Linda, Claudio, Andy, Japanese woofer

East: finished lower stage of slope plant-out, all trees guarded and mostly mulched. Fireweed collection
West: tea production in tea house, top-area burn-off and plant-out weeding and mulching.
Ginger harvest.

Stefan, Linda, Tewe, Muzz, Claudio, Suronco (Jap. woofer)
Dry, overcast, 20, still very wet from last week’s heavy rain. Moon: 9% of Full, waxing crescent
West: tea cutting in tea house
East: continue Bangalow plant-out eastern gully (approx 120 today). De-weeding old creek bed and rock lining it.
Brush-cutting eastern drive , middle section

Stefan, Linda, Tewe, Muzz, Claudio, Suronco (Jap. woofer)
Dry, overcast, 20, still very wet from last week’s heavy rain. Moon: 9% of Full, waxing crescent
West: tea cutting in tea house
East: continue Bangalow plant-out eastern gully (approx 120 today). De-weeding old creek bed and rock lining it.
Brush-cutting eastern drive , middle section

Stefan, Linda, Tewe, Claudio, San. (Japanese woofer)
Morning rain, afternoon sun, 20. Moon: New Moon

Tea House: tea cutting, pecan sorting
East: continue bangalow palm planting (aprox 100 today) also davidson plums and lamantra grasses.

Stefan, Tewee, Muzz, Claudio, Japanese woofer, Linda
Little rain, cool, 19. Moon: 26% of full, waning crescent
West: tea house, tea production, drying, cutting
East: big palm plant-out lower eastern gully, approx 120 bangalow palms grown from seed.

Stefan, Tewe, Andy, Claudio, Linda, Japanese woofer girl
War, sunny, dry, 24. Moon: 46% of full, third quarter

East: some replacement planting, mulch collection 8 cages)
West: elderberry patch (15 plants), down from east/west gate, top area
Big clean-up working wood pile, fig-paddock pile burned.
Lamanta grass seedling potted.
Tea work in tea-shed.

Stefan, Tewe, Muzz, Claudio, Linda
Cool, sunny, dry, 18. Moon: 89% of Full, waning gibbous

West: construction of first special growing box. Last of the 500 burial, 10 clay horns.
Brush-cutting top gully plant-out.

East: Replacing of perished plants on slope pant-out. Finished top area drive plant-out weeding.
Toro: top area, middle paddock.

Stefan, Tewe, Muzz, Claudio, Linda
Cool, sunny, dry, 18. Moon: 89% of Full, waning gibbous

West: construction of first special growing box. Last of the 500 burial, 10 clay horns.
Brush-cutting top gully plant-out.

East: Replacing of perished plants on slope pant-out. Finished top area drive plant-out weeding.
Toro: top area, middle paddock.

Stefan, Tewe, Andy, Linda
Warm, sunny, 20, dry. Moon 98% of Full, waning gibbous
Ginger harvest in (former) netted area.
Tea cutting, tea house.
Olive tree pruning for leaves.
Lemon Myrtle pruning for tea.
Planted Drumstick Tree (Moringa oleifera), olive hill, eastern side, near drive.
East: continued weeding top area drive plant-out.

Stefan,Linda,Tewe,Claudio, Muzz
Morning showers, afternoon sun, 20. Moon: 87% of Full.
Finished re-organization of old Netted Area.
De-rocked. Will be ready for planting after ginger harvest.
Big tip-load.
Afternoon: clean-up of drive plant-out. Replaced all dead plants.

Stefan,Linda,Tewe,Claudio, Muzz
Morning showers, afternoon sun, 20. Moon: 87% of Full.
Finished re-organization of old Netted Area.
De-rocked. Will be ready for planting after ginger harvest.
Big tip-load.
Afternoon: clean-up of drive plant-out. Replaced all dead plants.

Stefan,Linda,Tewe,Claudio, Muzz
Morning showers, afternoon sun, 20. Moon: 87% of Full.
Finished re-organization of old Netted Area.
De-rocked. Will be ready for planting after ginger harvest.
Big tip-load.
Afternoon: clean-up of drive plant-out. Replaced all dead plants.

Stefan, Tewe, LInda, Muzz, Andy, Claudio
Mild, couple of small showers, 22. Moon: 73% of Full waxing gibbous
West: continued taking down netted area and clean-up, shifted caboose to old garden, brush-cutting top area gully, continued. Nut sorting shed, citrus collection for market.
Andy: old garden work, planting, maintenance, looking very good.
East: some weeding , top area plant-out.
Aracaria 500 burial, approx. 100 horns, including 6 clay horns. See BD section on this blog.

Stefan, Tewe, Linda, Muzz, Claudio
Warm sunny, dry, 22. Moon 20% of Full (waxing crescent)
West: Finish big clean-up after last week’s storm.
Burned big pile, fig tree paddock.
Mulched, weeded YC Gully trees.
East: continues weeding, mulching slope, middle section. Start on new plantation site clearing.

Stefan, Tewe, Linda, Muzz, Claudio
Warm sunny, dry, 22. Moon 20% of Full (waxing crescent)
West: Finish big clean-up after last week’s storm.
Burned big pile, fig tree paddock.
Mulched, weeded YC Gully trees.
East: continues weeding, mulching slope, middle section. Start on new plantation site clearing.

Stefan, Linda, Tewe, Muzz, Claudio
cool, dry, bit of sun, 20, Moon: 5% of Full
Big clean-up after storm.
Pecan harvest, mostly done now. 3.5 bags today.
East: slope plant-out weeding

From Tuesday the 19th to Saturday the 23 we had some very heavy rain and flooding. On Thursday the 21th there was a massive storm with winds up to 130ks.
Damage on the farm was surprisingly little. A few trees blown over, the drives washed away a little.

Stefan, Tewe, Muzz, Linda, Claudio
Warm, sunny, 23
Ladu had a girl calf.
West: cow pat pit, pecan harvest (Golden Gift), tea cutting, toro top area, top gully.
East: continue brush cutting, weeding and mulching gully plant-out. All perished plants replaced.
Toro: south facing slopes.
Groundsel control in southern section. Only one plant, amazing. But lots of privet to be dealt with later.

Stefan,Tewe,Muzz,Linda, Claudio (German woofer), Andy
War, sunny, dry, 21, Moon: 91%of full
West: pecan harvest, lower orchard, pruning of rose tea trees with Mike, tea prep in TH, CP collection
East: continue of gully weeding, mulching, about 1/2 way up now. Most trees are good, a few replacements.

Warm, dry, 22, Moon 97% of full
Stefan, Linda. Tewe, Muzz, Andy, Claudio
West: started to take down netted area, Old Garden seedling planting, broccoli, boc choi, rocket (240 seedling), path finished,, weeding, looks good. Garlic planted.
East: continue on eastern gully, most trees have grown very well, few losses, all replaced. Now maybe 1/2 way up.
Good day.

Linda, Stefan, Muzz, Tewe, Andy, Claudio (German woofer)
warm, dry, sunny, 23, Moon: 85% of Full

West: Pecan harvest, Golden Gift main trees. Some trees, especially along drive edge with good crops, further down the hill far less. Yankee Creek area ok, similar to 2008.
Rose Tee TT plantation, weeding, feeding, pruning loer branches.
Lime harvest.
Old garden initiative resumed.
East: mulch collection: main paddock.
Eastern gully from dam up, palm weeding, mulching, brush cutting about 2/3rd up. All trees looking very good. Few losses. Panted 3 Yang yang trees along toro line, western gully slope.
Very productive day.

Stefan, Linda, Muzz, Tewe, Claudio (German woofer)
Warm, sunny, dry, 24; Moon 33% of full
East: toro main paddock, brush gut dam gully (2/3 done), mulches, composted lychees, mulch collection finished, top area.
Red and white clover seed on western part of main eastern paddock.
West: Tea shed ready for weekend workshop. mulch collection figtree paddock (4 cages, solid)

Stefan, Linda, Muzz, Tewe, Claudio (German woofer)
Warm, sunny, dry, 24; Moon 33% of full
East: toro main paddock, brush gut dam gully (2/3 done), mulches, composted lychees, mulch collection finished, top area.
West: Tea shed ready for weekend workshop. mulch collection figtree paddock (4 cages, solid)

Stefan, Linda, Tewe, Muzz, Claudio (woofer from Germany)
Warm, sunny, dry, 24, Moon: waxing, 13% of Full

East: mulch collection, top area, brush cutting border plantation
West: pecan harvest, big tea shed, clean-out, weeding citrus, maccas and gully plantation
Old garden: rabbit damage, tried a line of blood’n bone around parameter.
Toro: fig paddock, yankee creek area, pecans, citus, maccas, shed area.

Linda/Tewe/Muzz/Stefan
Sunny, warm, 24; Moon 4% of full
East: toro top are slashed, still very wet
West: Hoop pine reserve brush cutting, clearing the creek bed, general maintenance. All Davidson Plums looking very well.
Main drive pruning.

Stefan, Tewe, Muzz, Linda, Isha, Andrew
Rainy, cool, windy, 20; Moon 16% of Full

West: pecan harvest, mixed results as usual, some trees good, others not so. No real pattern to it. Some trees (Yankee Creek orchard) are especially rich with nuts. Lime harvest.
Netted area inspection, prior to disassembly. Removes 3 figs and 3 blueberries from netted area and re-planted east, top area.
Brush cut YC gully. Toro: tea shed area.
East: weeded/mulched top area beds.
Moon / Saturn opposition. 500, two coppers, gardens, YC pecans, olives, mango hill, terraces, rose tea trees, lotus dam wall, maccas, shade house area.

500 burial, also nettle (504)

About 200 horns at Aracaria and 200 at Shearwater School.
Many thanks to everybody, especially Linda.

Stefan, Tewe, Muss, Linda, Terri
Sunny, warm, first dry day for weeks. 25, Moon 66% of full

Clean up, weeding around shade house and car park.
Palm potting.
Various brush cutting and toro maintenance.
First seedlings into refurbished Old Garden.

Stefan, Tewe, Muss, Linda, Terrie (French woofer)
Steady rain, 24; Moon: waning gibbous, 78% of full.

East: big weeding and clean up along Yankee Creek border path. Planted 80 bangalows. All the trees are looking good, no losses. Creek still up.

Stefan, Tewe, Muzz, Linda, Terrie (French woofer)
Steady rain most of the day. 24 - Moon 100% full.
West: Old Garden: green manure cut, beds mulched, ready for planting next week. Beetroot seedings in between the rosellas.
Prepared 500 pit for next week’s horn burial.
Rabbit pepper around Old Garden.
Aloe vera (behind shadehouse) weeding.
East: weeded, mulched eastern mangoes, mandarins. Brush-cut eastern dam dge and weeded lemandra grasses. Only one loss out of about 120. Productive day.

Stefan, Tewe, Muzz, Linda, Isha, Terrie (French woofer)
Heavy rain in the morning, clearing in the afternoon. 24 - Moon 94% of full

Finished brush cutting pecans, garlic planted
Seed trays in glasshouse
Bamboo support for passion fruit over eastern water tank.
Weeded an mulched trees an sculptures, east, top area.
Brush-cut east, upper slope plant-out.

Stefan, Tewe, Muzz, Linda, Terrie (French woofer)
Steady rain all day, very wet after nearly a full week of rain.
Brush cut around Golden Gift pecans.
Mulches east, most eastern plant-out. Very few losses. Some very good growth.
Abandoned work for the afternoon, too wet.

Stefan, Tewe, Linda,Isha. Terrie (French woofer)
Dry after three days of heavy rain,22; Moon 23% of full, waxing crescent

Big clean up around tea shed.
Limes olive trees
Weeded lower pecan orchard
Harvester in repair, needs re-welding

Stefan, , Muzz, Linda, Terrie (French woofer)
Warm, sunny, 25, Moon: Now Moon

West: raked olive hill and weeded, mulched all the olive trees.
Mulched and weeded the passionfruit along the upper olive hill fence.
Muzz: brush cut upper and middle dam area, rose tea tree plantation.
Toro: west top gully
East: brush-cut eastern border plant-out, collect mulch lower slope, toro dam and slope.

Stefan, Linda, Tewee, Muzz, Terrie (French woofer)
Warm, sunny, dry, 24; Moon 5% of Full, waning crescent.

West: weeded and mulched mangoes, persimmons, lemon myrtle hill.
Lime harvest.
Continued weeding lotus dam
Slashing, toro: olive hill.
Mulch collecting: middle paddock (largest amount of mulch ever)
East: brush-cutting top area, toro top area, mulching trees.
Loer slope: mulch collection.
Big day.

Hydrosol distillation

Hydrosols, also known as floral waters, hydroflorates, flower waters or distillates are products from steam distilling plant materials. Hydrosols are like essential oils but in far less of a concentration. When a distiller brews plant material with water in a large cooker the steam fills the pot and, as it rises, it causes the glands of the plants to burst and release the oils and essence of the plant into the steam. The oil rises through a condenser and collects in a separate vessel. This is what we know as essential oil, but what about all that fragrant water that was steamed with the original plant material? That is our hydrosol, or floral water.
Hydrosols are usually the result of essential oil production as a by-product but the highest quality hydrosols come from the devoted distillers who, with artist like precision steam the floral and plant material strictly to produce a hydrosol. (The Hydrosols offered by Mountain Rose Herbs are produced in this fashion) Hydrosols contain all of the essence of the plant in every drop, just like essential oils but in a milder form; making them suitable for all manner of applications where essential oils would be too strong.
Noted author Jeanne Rose is quoted as saying.

“The best comes from a distillation where it is the hydrosol that is being produced rather than the essential oil. Often the best comes from the earliest part of the distillation rather than the body of the distillation. This usually smells bright and pleasantly fragrant. Although, some of the therapeutic part of the hydrosol is also produced at the very end of the distillation, and usually has a rather grassy or vegetative note. As the plants are being distilled, micro-particles of essential oil are in suspension, they give the aromatic distillate its scent and will separate out as the hydrosol cools. There is approximately .02% essential oil in hydrosol".

Clinically, the chemical components in the hydrosol are primarily acids, which are hydrophilic (water-loving). Why do they work? Because they acidify the water or the product, which is beneficial to the skin or in the body. Thus the hydrosol acts as a healing anti-inflammatory and mild, but therapeutic antiseptic. Bacteria do not live well in acidic environments, which is why acidic liquids such as vinegar make good preservatives for food items like pickles, Chile peppers and Olives. Acidic environments are astringent and so the hydrosols are useful in skin care products as astringents constrict and contract the tissues. Hydrosols can be used externally in skin care products, internally as a douche, taken as a tonic or combined in a beverage drink. They also make lovely food mists as Rose water has been employed for such reasons for quite some time.

(from mountainroseherbs.com)

Linda/Stefan/Muzz/Tewe/Thierre (woofer from France)
Warm, sunny, dry, 24; Moon 3rd quarter, 45% of full.

Big clean-up, weeding mulching around woofer shed area.
Toro middle paddock
Weeding nettles. Yankee Creek frontage plant-out. Very good growth in trees, very few losses.
Continue brush-cutting east, top area.
First dragon fruit flowers & fruit.

Stefan/Tewe/Muzz/Linda/Isha/Luke
Warm, sunny, 24
Hubert’s second memorial day.
West: further work in Old Garden, green manure up
Weeding, mulching drive area, Hubert’s lookout.
East: weeding trees, top area, north, brush-cut.
Toro lower slope.

New girl calf born on Friday the 13th.
Mother Jarman, father Simbanandi.

Stefan/Tewe/Muzz/Linda/Isha
Overcast, little rain, 22, Moon 97% Full

Old Garden refurbishment proceeding. Removed all the overgrowing sweet potatoes, old weed-mat, shifted piles of failed compost, started a new huge compost heap and finished the boundaries of this new garden. Good job.
Toro: top area west, brush cut, top area, woofer shed.
Linda: weeded nettle bed, tea shed. Ground dried olive leaves.

Stefan, Tewe, Muzz, Linda
Warm, sunny, little rain overnight. 24 Moon62% full, waxing gibbous.

Big day.
Slashed Lemon Myrtle Hill. Very difficult, long grass, trees looking good. Mostly brush-cut.
Mulch collection: fig-tree paddock
Toro: tea shed area. limes, maccas.
Little work in Old Garden.

Warm, slightly overcast, bit of sun, 24, few drops of rain. - Moon: 39% of full, waxing crescent
Stefan/Tewe/Muzz/Linda/Isha

West: palm potting, garden refurbishing, 2nd half start.
Toro: drive paddocks, fig-tree paddock

East: mulch collection, top area

Stefan, Muzz, Linda
warm, overcast, 22; New Moon
West: repotting palms, brush-cut drive, olive hill side, mulch collection, best paddock.
East: toro: top area, weed lower gully tress. very few losses, some lams are now 500mm up.

Linda/Stefan/Tewe/Luke/Isha
warm, dry, 24; Moon 0% - New Moon
West: new veg garden, green manure, paths, first half nearly finished.
Shadehouse area: prepared new bed, planted rosellas. Refurbished shade shelter and prepared it for palm pots.
East: toro main paddock

Linda/Stefan/Tewe/Luke/Isha
warm, dry, 24; Moon 0% - New Moon
West: new veg garden, green manure, paths, first half nearly finished.
Shadehouse area: prepared new bed, planted rosellas. Refurbished shade shelter and prepared it for palm pots.
East: toro main paddock

Linda, Stefan, Tewe, Muzz
humid, 25, little rain late afternoon, Moon 25% of full
West:L re-mulching Sofie garden, big clean-up preparation around shade house,
East: brush0cutting continues along drive, planting: paw paws, 6 pomegranate trees.

Stefan, Tewe, Linda, Luke
Warm, overcast, 24. Moon: Third quarter, 46% full.
West: big clean up in Sofie garden, various weeding processing shed etc.
Brushcutting upper drive
East: Weeding far eastern plant-out, first time for 10 months. Very few losses. Most trees growing well.
Brush-cut drive plant-out, start.

200 mm of rain overnight.

Stefan, Tewe, Luke, Linda, Muzz
Warm, humid,, 24, some rain later afternoon. Moon: waning gibbous, 90% of full

West: continue on Old garden refurbishment, first half weeded and ready
Slashing: Golden gift, lemon myrtles.
Started big Sofie Garden clean-out
East: brush cut east/west fence line plant out
Linda: weeding iris along eastern drive

Stefam Tewe, Luke, Linda
Warm, humid, 26, Moon Full
Started refurbishing of Old garden.
Rebuilt worm farm.
Good day.

Stefan/Linda/Tewe/Muzz/woofer Kylie
war, overcast, few showers of rain, 25; Moon waxing crescent 9% of Full
East: brush-cut gully, mulched all the trees on the slope. Plantation looking good. Lost maybe 8 trees. Many have grown extremely well. Best mulching ever. Hard work.
Afternoon: 500, spread west top area, east: most of slope.

Linda/Stefan/Muzz/Tewe/woofer Kylie
warm, sunny, little overcast, dry, 25. Moon 1% of full waxing crescent

Farm house area maintenance, weeding an making beds.
Collecting mulch: east
Potting various.
Brush-cut, Yankee Creek gully, eastern slope plant-out
Most trees doing well. Some losses.

Linda/Stefan/Tewe/Muzz/woofers: Kylie and Jay
Overcast, warm, 25, rain to come later
Moon: waning crescent 15% of full
East: finished slashing top area, main paddock, dam, mulch 16 cages, burshcut gully area, slope plant-out. Weeds are high.
West: mulch top area, fig tree paddock, shade house work.
Collected 25 cages of mulch today. A record.

Linda/Stefan/Tewe/Woofer Kylie, Isha with friend
Mulch collecting: east, 25 cages
Toro: west, fig paddock, top area, top gully
East: main paddock
Other: mulching, weeding various beds.
Lotus flower harvest.

Linda/Tewe// Japanese woofer Ela
28, dry; Moon 77% full, waning

Mulch collection, tree mulching, 1st mango harvest

Linda/Tewe/Muzz/ Japanese woofer Ela
Warm, 26
Toro: east, mulching,
West: Yankee creek area, brush cut, toroed

Linda/Muzz/Tewe
Toro: best paddock, Yankee creek area
East: top area