38 degrees is not enough to keep this intrepid band from enjoying all that Hebron has to offer. Of course the air conditioned oasis indoors is essential!
We enjoyed a lovely time of fellowship and prayer on shabbat. It's always so enjoyable to sit around chatting, reading scripture and offering up our prayers together here at Hebron. It has a different feel, a prophetic emphasis, a purpose bigger than ourselves. This week we read and discussed the story of Esther and how it was a prophetic picture of the days ahead. We don't observe the traditional times of Purim or Hannakah but nevertheless, it was a handy segue to study and discuss the prophetic nature of the story.
Today we enjoyed a lovely visit from Nathan and Joy Chattaway and their gorgeous children Elijah, Gabriel, Michael, Esther and Gracie. It was great to swap stories over lunch and hear how they're travelling at Zarephath. We pray our Father's blessing on them and Zarephath.
We enjoyed a lovely time of fellowship and prayer on shabbat. It's always so enjoyable to sit around chatting, reading scripture and offering up our prayers together here at Hebron. It has a different feel, a prophetic emphasis, a purpose bigger than ourselves. This week we read and discussed the story of Esther and how it was a prophetic picture of the days ahead. We don't observe the traditional times of Purim or Hannakah but nevertheless, it was a handy segue to study and discuss the prophetic nature of the story.
Today we enjoyed a lovely visit from Nathan and Joy Chattaway and their gorgeous children Elijah, Gabriel, Michael, Esther and Gracie. It was great to swap stories over lunch and hear how they're travelling at Zarephath. We pray our Father's blessing on them and Zarephath.
This week we bought some sheep panels and a race to assist us in drafting and loading our stock. The set up and design still needs some work but the potential is there to make the task of handling the flock less stressful for them and us.
We sent off some young wethers and our unwanted rams to be butchered today. One of the wethers will be used for our Passover meal coming up in March.
We also gave the capers a weed and dose of fertiliser. We have lost a few of the small weak ones but overall they're doing well. We have also ordered about 20 new plants from Kolophon Capers in Berri, which will be ready in March. There's hope yet for this little venture of ours to assist in making Hebron self sufficient financially. The guys also attended to some ongoing maintenance tasks.
Due to water leaks, grasshoppers and goodness knows what else the fruit trees took a bit of a beating this summer. However, they're now bouncing back and putting on new growth, as you will see in this photo. Over the winter we will be redoing the irrigation in the orchard to eradicate the potential for further problems. We get knocked down, but we get up again, nothing's going to keep us down ...!
The front garden is a work in progress but the addition of a bird bath and some young plants is helping to create a softer and welcoming environment. There's always much more I'd like to accomplish but it's being content with the little and progressive improvements that we make around the house. I really must put together a photo collage to remind ourselves just how much has been done to improve the property.
There's something very enjoyable in working together as a team to complete a task, or praying together or simply relaxing together. Relationships are strengthened during these times, as well as being tested but this also is a strengthening process when we allow Yehovah to have His way. Community is something to be invested in and Hebron is a part of our community expression. We are so blessed to have this little property where we can spend time together, keep the feasts together and prepare for the days that lie ahead.
Shalom to all.
Hi Annette and all,
ReplyDeleteWe had a blast on Sunday. Brendan mentioned that your orchard dripper system gives all the water to the lower trees when you turn off the pump. I recommend that the entire orchard area be surveyed for contour lines, using any existing well established trees as individual contour locators. If the dripper lines are laid out on contour raised above brushcutting height with droppers, you will reduce the problem Brendan mentioned, plus you will be able to dig swales along the high side of each row of trees. And of course, you can slash grass without damaging the irrigation. Also, I highly recommend interplanting the food trees with Tagasaste at 3m spacing. Not only is Tagasaste fantastic stock fodder, but you can cut and drop as fertiliser and mulch under the adjacent fruit or nut tree. And it will protect the trees, allowing you to introduce bees in a nice sheltered environment if you chose to do so in the future.
May peace and blessings descend on you and may the early and latter rain from Yahveh quench your thirsty land!
Hi Nathan, thanks for your great suggestions; perhaps you could come out when we're doing the irrigation and talk us through your ideas. Would a BBQ do for your consultancy fees? I lost quite a few of the lucerne seedlings due to hungry bugs but have more seeds germinating now and will plant them out when the autumn rains arrive. We got a few mils the other day but unfortunately the weather station has dropped a cog so I need to get that up and running again.
ReplyDeleteBlessings and shalom to you and yours as the sabbath approaches.
I'd be happy to come out with or without the BBQ! What I've described is more than a day's work, but you could see what you think and implement none, some or all of the suggestions. It'd be easier to explain if my own orchard was finished as a demo! When we've had some good rain, I plan to get out there with the grader blade and cut a few more swales. It's my optimistic goal to have the entire orchard ready for 100 fruit and nut trees to go in this winter. But with baby #6 on the way in Aug, the best laid plans of mice and men etc..
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