"Balmoral Park" farm garden

We have two old pear trees that were here when we bought the place. One a William variety I think and the other a Beurre Bosc. The second year we were here there was a massive crop. However they were all infested with coddling moth. The next year a smaller crop and I tried various things to defeat the coddling moth to no avail. Earlier this year an old local gardener published a remedy for coddling moth in the Eugowra news. Quite simply it involves mixing treacle or molasses with wine and putting this mixture in traps made of old soft drink bottles in the trees when they are flwoering. I did this and later on put fruit fly excluding bags on the fruit as we only had a very small crop due to the drought. Two weeks ago I picked three dozen perfect William pears with no coddling moth! They tasted terrific. Lets hope for a bigger crop next year.

During our long, hot dry spell in January most of the summer vegetable crop died. Cucumbers and Zucchinis wilted and vanished into dust. After s light shower of rain in late January two of the Trombocino vines reemerged. With good rain in February and March they have grown into the most enourmous vines and are cropping prolifically. They are pleasant too eat, firmer than a Zucchini and less watery, nice steamed or grated through pasta. They also make good fritters. We have given lots away, frozen some and eaten them practically every day for two months. i am sick of the sight of them. This is yesterdays harvest! A laundry basket full! I will have to find some more ways to use them. Maybe I can turn them into soup and freeze them.