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From Spring’s Green to Summer’s Gold

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As surely as the sun rises in the morning, spring slips to summer. The flush of green has turned golden, with the grass rapidly setting seed and going off. The paddocks feel different now—still beautiful, but carrying that familiar hint of dryness that reminds us the hot months are here.

The bull has enjoyed his time on the Rock Farm. He bonded well with the girls, and even though it took him a little while to get used to the layout of the farm, he happily followed the cows through the gates. Watching him settle in has been a quiet pleasure, one of those small farm moments that mark the rhythm of the year.

Our minds have now turned to summer preparedness. We’ve tested the fire pumps, refreshed ourselves with training at the RFS, and even attended our first fire of the season. It was a stark reminder that the landscape is shifting quickly. We’ll keep our fingers crossed, stay alert, and hope for a gentle summer. That balance between readiness and optimism is part of life out here, and it shapes our seasonal routines.

Some genuinely exciting news hit the cattle industry in NSW this week with the approval of virtual fencing technology. Described as a smart watch for cows, it uses GPS and audio cues to guide stock without the need for physical fences. For producers, it opens the door to new grazing strategies, improved pasture management, and far more flexibility in how we move animals across the landscape. It’s early days, but the potential is enormous, and it’s encouraging to see innovation that supports both animal welfare and land stewardship. More details can be found here: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-12-14/virtual-fencing-legalised-nsw/106128536

We will be looking at purchasing a virtual fencing system in the new year. Whilst our place has lots of small paddocks, this will allow us to managing our grazing more precisely, establish more trees without the need to construct expensive tree guards, and more effectively manage severe weather events such as flash flooding.

Summer may be settling in, but there’s always something new to learn, something to prepare for, and something to look forward to on the Rock Farm. As we wrap up another busy year on the Rock Farm, we’re grateful for the small wins, the lessons learned, and the steady rhythm of life on the land. From our family to yours, we wish you a peaceful Christmas and a safe, gentle start to the New Year. May the season bring good rain, good company, and plenty of reasons to smile.

Spring on the Rock Farm: A Seasonal Transformation

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After a long, bitter winter of feeding out cattle daily, the growing season is finally upon us. Spared the ferocious storms that battered regions further north, we’ve been blessed with regular light showers and glorious sunny days. These have transformed the Rock Farm into a lush green paradise. The paddocks are thriving, and the cattle are loving it.

Our calves are growing quickly—ten in total this year. With their attentive mothers looking on, marking and vaccinating was swiftly attended to. We had an even split: five bull calves (now steers) and five heifers.

General maintenance on the Rock Farm has slipped a little this year. Our weekends are focused on renovating the house and catching up with the kids, friends, and each other. I still move the cattle frequently to fresh paddocks, which is usually a simple morning task. Occasionally, urgent jobs crop up—like when a tree falls on a fence and I’m out early to make it stock-proof again.

We have a saying on the Rock Farm: “There are jobs that have to be done now, and there are jobs that can wait.”

The house renovation continues, albeit slower than the project manager would prefer. I gratefully accept help from the lads when their play money runs low. Progress comes in fits and spurts. Thanks to their efforts, we now have a sub-floor in most of the house. The bathrooms just need the villa-board set and cornice installed before tiling can commence—hopefully before Christmas.

But it’s the moments in between that make the Rock Farm truly special. We had a ball hosting my city cousin Kath and her family. Dave was a great sport—he managed to get his car stuck on one of the tracks, which caused great mirth among the kids. It reminded me how precious family time is, and how important it is to share farm experiences with children. Not just for the fresh air, but for the smells, sounds, and rhythm of country life.

Through winter and into spring, I was working regular weekday hours—a big change for us. The routine was handy when we were feeding every morning. As the season shifted, so did our mornings—Jo and I now take peaceful sunrise walks around the farm. I’ll miss these early starts when I return to shift work in late October… though probably not as much as Sapphire, who relishes the chance for an early morning run!

Spring also means it’s time to lease a bull again. This handsome fellow came down from Crookwell and wasted no time getting to know his new herd. He’s settled in quickly and seems quiet—which, as far as I’m concerned, is the most important trait for any animal weighing over 600kg!

It’s a wonderful time to wander around the farm. The cows are content, with grass reaching to their bellies. The changing of the seasons brings constant delight—and makes me so happy to call this place home.