It is mid January 2016 and Lukas from Nurmburg, Germany arrives to help on the farm for the next month. First up is getting some calves through for a regular weight gain assessment.

During his time with us Lukas becomes a very capable fencer.

Clearing away leaf litter from the wallaby exclusion wire around the outside of the property.

In the words of Lukas, "a Beautiful fence". Yes, a great job done around the sweetcorn and mostly by himself.
Oh! I have to tell you this, Lukas said to me "don't you have a machine for doing this?" and I said, " Yeah! your holding it"   that's why he is laughing. 

A day off from the work at "Touchwood", Lukas visits the Badger Head National Park for a ride along the beach today.

Good fresh oaten chaff always gets the attention of the stock in this drought season.

Another day  at the beach  this time to try some fishing after work.

Lukas helps with moving some calves for strip grazing a paddock.

Time for another round bale in this ring feeder.

Late in December 2015 we hosted Matt, a ship designer from Wuhan in China.

Just checking the tank before starting work for the day.

Time to move the electric fence wire to another paddock.

Matt, helping with getting fire wood for the winter

 This hydraulic 6 disc mower ( 8 foot or 2.4 meter ) built in Holland makes mowing very easy.

Early December in Tasmania means it's hay season.
SO! , where are all those backpackers when you need them?
Lying on a sun drenched beach somewhere I hope.

This year Jack wants to supervise from the front seat, of course.

It is a difficult season now, so square and round bales are taken up where ever conditions are best suited.

                          Josh and David arrive in late October 2015 from Oregon in the USA and get
                          straight down to work.     
                   Here Josh is getting the bale ready to feed out, and concentrating on getting it right.

                               Clearing away pin rushes from a spring

                               Collecting pine cones for winter.

                               Fencing, rolling up the old fence.

                              Splitting wood, Josh and Dave made it look easy.

 An old tree on our property we think had been hit by lighting a long time ago is hollowed out almost to the top. We have swift parrots nesting in a tree next to this one.

                                 Planting lettuce seedlings

                              The tiller nearly got away from Josh but he wont be beaten.

                              Not working hard enough, Tasmania is famous for its convict heritage.

#Ridin in the back of the truck justa takin crap to the tip#

                                  David and Josh on a day trip to see the River Tamar

                                          The cattle are taking a lot of interest.

 Josh was very careful with the electric fence, I dont think he got zapped while he was here :)

                                Getting cattle through the yards averaging 640kg.

                 Planting pea's. Should be up and ready January.

        In September 2015 we hosted Gray, a 24 year old American guy from that fine state of Georgia USA.
        He was a great help around the property, and with helping us to re-build our stock yards.

                                         

        

     And after a hard day, a home made beer is always welcome.

                                             Jack moves some stock to another paddock.

It is late winter (August 2015) in Tassie and our latest helper Jack from the UK is keen to see the stunning views of the north coast.