Mother Nature [1]. Previously I’ve called her ingenious [2], grand [3], angry [4], and mercilessly vengeful [5]. Even muscular [6]. But that’s not all she can be. This growing season’s been a tough and cruel one for most, and maybe nearly all, Australian primary producers. Including darling Brendon and Kate at Daylesford Organics. In the last few months floods [7] (on at least two occasions), locust plagues (ditto) and fungal diseases have reduced their farm’s produce to almost zero – apart from eggs. (Apparently the chooks have continued to lay eggs, oblivious to the adversities just mentioned.) Of couse that’s a huge setback – compounded because in the previous two seasons their produce had won national awards, and they’d been supplying top restaurants. It’s hard not to take all this personally – even though, of course, there’s nothing personal about it. I know [8]. Brendon and his farm team have made plans to ensure future seasons like the present one won’t result in such massive production losses. One must learn by one’s experience and do what one can. But as people in Brisbane and Christchurch can confirm, Mother Nature can’t be totally controlled. She’s perverse, she’s contrary, and she has wry senses of irony and humour. Yesterday darling Kate and darling Jarrah picked some giant blackberries (pictured). As if Mother Nature created these giants as a reminder of who’s boss. And to signal that she’s not a bitch after all.
