Harvest

Varro wrote a book on farm management ( Rerum Rusticarum Libri Tres) that suits my climate. Sadly, to the extent that his instructions are timed by reference to the rising of specific stars, it is of more value to those in the Northern hemisphere rather than me. Still, I cast an eye over his advice as the seasons change.   

His instructions to me at this time are:

"XXXIII. During the fifth season between the rising of the Dog Star

and the autumn equinox thresh your straw and rick it, continue the

harrowing of your fallow land, prune your fruit trees, and mow your 

irrigated meadow the second time."

On Leadership

To Catilius Severus

While detained in the Capital this week I enjoyed your company and that of junior counsel. I thank you both for your time, which I treasure.

Australian Badlands - Tinderry Ranges - Michelago, New South Wales

Haunt to bushrangers in the 1860s, the Tinderry Ranges rise 700m above the Michelago valley.  I traveled there to scope locations described by old timers and in old papers, in preparation to riding to some of the more remote locations in the coming weeks.

The ranges themselves have been recently decimated by bushfire.  Although there has been some regrowth, the range looks even more unforgiving than usual.

Bushrangers (the Clarke brothers and the Long Tailor) took cattle and horses from stations at the bottom of the ranges at Michelago and, to the North, at Foxlow, driving them up into isolated bush camps high in the Range.

Tinderry Range

State Banks - worth reconsidering?

I have sent the attached correspondence to the Australian Capital Territory Chief Minister, Katy Gallagher.

Dear Chief Minister

...

I am writing to draw your attention to a development in the United States.  The proposal may be worth considering as local economic conditions change over the next twelve months.

Wild nettles

Tonight I came across some old notes.  I had chaired a committee of local water users sharing one of the high mountain streams.  In that role I met a group of amazing people.

Straw flowers - native to the mountains.

One brief unlikely friendship emerged.  I met her only a couple of times, to talk about the stream and then the past history of the place, before she passed away.  The notes I found were of our conversations.