Hobbs Family
14 May
Here’s a few photos I snapped of the fencing project which still isn’t completed as time has been against us.
Buddy and James both have shared their Sundays with Sam over the past two weekends. Thanks guys 
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Last November when the horrendous thunder storm hit the valley, a massive amount of silt flew down the hill into our dam.
Only now have we got the time to get the dam cleaned.
The dam will be drained over the next few days so the digger will be here in the not too distant future.
When we were young, Mum used to take us up there for a picnic lunch – lots of great memories 
❤️
I must tell you about the success of security cameras.
Many of our rural friends have followed our cue and installed them with great success. They either work as a deterrent or work as proof of criminal activity.
One farmer friend caught a person pinching his fuel, another found out who was tampering with his tractor and another found out who was snooping around his place when he went out.
Furthermore most security cameras have great audio and pick up conversations with such clarity as I found out late yesterday afternoon when I played back the footage from one of our cameras; a very bizarre, one-sided conversation was recorded. And if that wasn’t bad enough I had a ferret “grinning away” at me up at the dam! 
? Can’t beat a bit of entertainment on a Sunday afternoon 
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So to anyone wanting to protect their property, I can highly recommend getting security cameras – they are well worth the investment.
We still have plenty of apples for sale in 5kg and 10kg bags. And juice boxes as well.
Txt/ring me (Ruby) on 027 288 6090 if you want to place a courier order or if you have a query.
Open.….7 days…first light 
? until dark 
30 March
Open 7 days…from first light until dark
Freshly picked Golden Delicious, Red Delicious and Royal Gala apples and Quinces are available at present. 
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Golden Delicious are great for eating, stewing and bottling. 
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Stewed apples and custard is an inexpensive way to feed the tribe and are also great in apple shortcake, pies and crumbles. #kidsloveapples
Flick a txt to Ruby 027 288 6090 if you want to pick up a large order.
Enjoy your Easter Break 
March 22
If you have any fruit orders or enquiries tomorrow ( Friday) please ring/txt me …Ruby… 027 288 6090 as our power will be shut off all day due to a power pole being replaced as it was ‘red stickered’ a wee while ago 
?hence there will be no landline for the day ?
Sad to see the pole go as the birds have enjoyed using it as a resting place for many years but hopefully they will adopt the new pole as a member of their family.
Also Monday is Otago Anniversary Day so there will be no courier orders going out as NZ Couriers won’t be running as they are having a well deserved rest. 
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All will be back to normal on Tuesday. ??
March 16
Our Royal Gala apples are picked fresh each day so we can guarantee freshness ??
We sell them in 5 and 10 kg bags and also have 13 kg boxes of seconds for juicing.
Also couriering them in 10 or 15 kg boxes.
Still accepting bulk orders for fundraising so PM us if you are interested.
We have a very limited amount of 2nd grade Golden Queen peaches on the stall as the majority of them are pre-sold.
They are good quality 2nd grade.
To all those on the Golden Queens List, your orders will be sent out over the next week or so as they ripen. Ruby will be in contact to let you when they will be despatched.
If you would like to go on our “Golden Queen list’ for 2019 txt Ruby 027 288 6090.
Quinces start in the middle of next week and we will have them in 3kg and 5 kg bags.
They are not eaten raw as they have a dry firm flesh but once cooked the flesh changes from white to a rose-pink colour and they taste great……poaching, baking, bottling, chutney and jelly 
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All the other varieties of apples are looking good and will keep you posted as to when they will be available.
To all our new customers we have plenty of easy parking available and we have a roundabout for those with large vehicles (caravans, buses)
Remember we are open 7 days a week from first light until dark and we only sell what we grow
3 March
Great news guys, Royal Gala apples start today and we will have 5kg and 10 kg bags on the Fruit Stall. ??
Txt or ring Ruby on 027 288 6090 if you would like them couriered as she is the boss of courier orders.
☺
We still have tree ripened Cox’s Orange apples as well. They are a great eating and cooking apple. 
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Sandra (Mum) bottles Cox’s Orange and also stews them and plonks a cupful or more into freezer bags and uses them in muffins, cakes or for dessert with custard.
Remember an apple or two a day keeps the Doctor away! 
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If you want to pick up more than 10 bags off the Fruit Stall then give us a days notice if possible as we pick our apples fresh every day.
Bulk orders start going out this week. If you would like a bulk order of over 500 kg packed into 5 or 10 kg bags, txt Ruby on 027 288 6090 as there has been a last minute cancellation so we will be able to supply.
24 February
We have just finished our last pick of Bon Chretian pears and will have them available on the Stall for the next few days. They are a devine pear and are great for eating, cooking or throwing at passerbys ?
Our Cox’s Orange apples are in full swing and are flying out the door but we still have plenty available so they’ll be around for another week or so.
Our courier orders for Cox’s Orange will resume on Monday so flick Ruby a message on 027 288 6090 if you’d like to place an order.
Royal Gala are about another week away.
Will keep you posted
16 February
Cox’s Orange apples are on the Stall as well as Omega plums, Bon Chretien pears and Red Gravenstein apples ?
We will be sending out courier orders of Cox’s Orange and Bon Chretien pears from Monday onwards in either 10kg or 15kg boxes as do pears.
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The wind knocked a thousand or two omegas to the ground which is what happened to the Black Doris so by Monday there will be a limited amount left. Txt//phone if you want them couriered or for a pickup.
We have 15 kg boxes of 2nd grade Red Gravenstein and Cox’s Orange which are great for stewing or juicing. They are not over-ripe or rubbish, they just have branch rub which is unsighty but doesn’t interfere with the flavour.
The Cox’s are great for eating and cooking, especially in pies or stewed up with custard poured on top.
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Kids find them a bit tart to eat fresh and generally wait for the Royal Galas which aren’t too far away. Will keep you posted.?
16 February
Cox’s Orange apples are on the Stall as well as Omega plums, Bon Chretien pears and Red Gravenstein apples ?
We will be sending out courier orders of Cox’s Orange and Bon Chretien pears from Monday onwards in either 10kg or 15kg boxes as do pears.?
The wind knocked a thousand or two omegas to the ground which is what happened to the Black Doris so by Monday there will be a limited amount left. Txt/phone if you want them couriered or for a pickup.
We have 15 kg boxes of 2nd grade Red Gravenstein and Cox’s Orange which are great for stewing or juicing. They are not over-ripe or rubbish, they just have branch rub which is unsighty but doesn’t interfere with the flavour.
The Cox’s are great for eating and cooking, especially in pies or stewed up with custard poured on top.
?
Kids find them a bit tart to eat fresh and generally wait for the Royal Galas which aren’t too far away. Will keep you posted.
3 February
We have Bon Chrétien pears in 5kg and 10kg bags on the Fruit Stall as well as 3 kg bags of Purple king and Elephant Heart plums.
We also have Red Gravenstein apples on the Stall in 2.5kg bags.
Red Gravenstein apples are our first apple variety before the main crop apples start around the end of February.
Black Doris plums will be ready in about 10 days so to those who are on the list we will contact you as to whether you want them couriered or if you want to pick them up.
We will have plenty on the Fruit Stall as well 
🙂
Omega plums are around 3 weeks away.
Due to Waitangi Day falling on a Tuesday this year pear courier orders will not be sent out until next Wednesday.
One another note, here’s a photo of the one and only casualty during the recent storm.
#sorryroxburghred #youservedmewell
28 January
I was asked today as to how our trees are coping with this heatwave.
Struggling was my response but pleased to report, with
ground and overhead sprinklers working at full capacity our trees will be okay.
‘Little Toot’ our pump tractor is pulling the water out of our dam with ease and is determined to fight the good fight.
#LoveyouLittleToot. #Savingourlivelihood
#Bestfriendinthewholeworld