Work in the orchard

Our regular work parties continue, usually on the second Sunday of the month. In May, our scheduled Sunday morning work party was postponed due to heavy rain - amazingly the first time we have ever had to do this! The following week gave us great weather, and we raked up grass following Julian's complete strim of the orchard. We used it over cardboard to mulch the shelter belt hedge.

In June, we got a lawn mower the week before our work party and managed to get it through the grass that was already longer than we'd have liked. It was ready for another trim this Sunday too, but we are thrilled to finally be able to maintain distinct paths through longer meadow-style grass and flowers. We also pruned the stone fruit - it gets done at this time of year to give the best chance of avoiding disease entering via the pruning cuts. We just took away branches that were crowding or rubbing against others.