Frost-fighting has commenced……the alarm went off at 9:30pm last night!! 
I managed to get one hours sleep but that was better than no sleep at all 
As Sam frost-fights an Orchard just a few kilometres up the road, he was up and gone at the same time whilst I began patrolling our Orchard, watching the temperature bounce up and down for the next few hours until 12:15am when we cranked up, the very first time for the Season 
My companion for the night was ‘Willie’ one of my gorgeous cats 
Even when Matilda is pumping, I am still up and about listening for the quiet smooth hum of Matilda.
“Little Toot” our pump tractor has retired 
She was feeling her age and is content to be useful somewhere else on the Orchard these days.
“Love you Little Toot and thank-you for your service” The new pump is a diesel motor connected to a pump which does the same job as Little Toot – it draws water from our dam and pumps it through our overhead sprinkler system.
And by the way, we decided on ‘Matilda’ as the name for her.
Sam ran out of time to paint her much to her horror A girl has got to look her best! 
A girl has got to look her best! Many years ago, the tractor before Little Toot, conked out.
Mum had only just arrived back from checking sprinklers so it was all go – a replacement tractor was topped up with diesel and put in place up at the dam in the nick of time
As there is only a brief window of opportunity – around 30 minutes – to get up and running again when breakdowns occur, time is of the essence, as the fruit is in danger of being ruined 
We shut the pump down a while ago at 9:45am when the temperature reached 2 degrees 
Sam took these photos an hour ago 
We are closed!
It’s just on dark so our Fruit Stall is now closed for the Season.
Grateful thanks, from me, Mum & Sam, to our valued customers/friends who have once again bought our fruit this Season
Without you guys, we wouldn’t have a business so when we say we appreciate your custom, we sincerely mean it
Finishing up this Season has brought back memories of old as I grew up with Mum telling me of how I was not quite two weeks old when she reopened the Fruit Stall in December 1994, and of course how Sam was five months old when she reopened in December 1992 
Treasured memories of old, with my Mum, Dad, Sam and Belle 
As promised, here are a few photos of Mum’s garden.
She started with a blank canvas all those years ago and created a peaceful retreat which is enjoyed by all 
We look forward to seeing you all again next season, starting with cherries and new spuds in December (as long as the weather plays the game!) 
And I will post photos of what’s happening on the Orchard during winter and spring – as many of you know I love pruning so there will be many photos taken from the top of my hydralada
Fruit Update Our Fruit Stall will close next Sunday, 29th May for the Season so tomorrow, Tuesday and Wednesday are our last courier days
Democrat, Granny Smith, Splendour and Braeburn are still available 
All apples are crisp and crunchy.
Granny Smith, Democrat and Braeburn are long keepers.
Mum and I bottle Granny Smiths and also stew them up in a stock pot and them ladle them into containers or freezer bags to use during the Winter months – great for pies, shortcakes or topped with custard 
All varieties are available on the Fruit Stall in 2, 5kg and 10kg bags and I send them out in 5, 10kg and 15kg boxes – mixture boxes available 
Open from first light until dark 
until dark 7 days a week
Ring me, Ruby, 0272886090 anytime for fruit queries or to place an Order
PS. Next weekend I will finally post photos of Mum’s vast garden around the house as I have been asked by many to do so, especially those who have moved away and can no longer visit.
Fruit Update
Fruit Update
Democrat apples are now available
They are a Heritage variety, with a dark red skin and are full of flavour – delicious for both eating and cooking.
Granny Smith, Braeburn, Splendour and Red Delicious are still available – Red Delicious will finish in a few days time
One of my favourite recipes is Apple Shortcake – here is the simple recipe my Mum and I use.
You can also use bottled apricots or cooked frozen apricots if you like
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Sandra’s Apple Shortcake Recipe 1979
2 cups Flour
1 heaped tspn Baking Powder
125g Butter
1 egg, beaten
1/4 cup Sugar
Milk (just enough to bind…about 1-2 tablespoons)
Stewed apples – Granny Smith, Braeburn and Democrat are ideal for this
Chuck flour, baking powder and chopped butter into a food processor.
Blitz it until it resembles breadcrumbs, albeit coarse.
Add beaten egg and sugar (mix these together before chucking in the processor.)
And now for the milk.
Be careful as you pour in the milk; just enough to bind; not flood the mixture.
Knead on a lightly floured board until smooth – roll mixture out, cut into two and put one half of the dough evenly over base of a 22cm square tin; coat thickly with stewed apples and top with the other half.
Brush over with milk.
Bake at 180 degrees for 25-30 minutes.
Dust icing sugar over the top when warm.
Lovely hot with custard or whipped cream or served cold as a cake.
This recipe can also be doubled and cooked in a Swiss Roll Tin.
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All apples are sold in 2, 5, and 10kg bags on the Stall and are couriered in 5, 10, and 15kg boxes
If you would like apples couriered to your door, get in touch – I send out boxes every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday 
I am more than happy to do mixed boxes of apples if you prefer
Contact me Ruby – 027 288 6090 – anytime for fruit queries or to place an order 
Open from first light until dark
Open 7 days.
“We only sell what we grow”
Fruit Update
On the Fruit Stall we have Red Delicious, Royal Gala and Golden Delicious apples.
Golden Delicious are also a great cooking apple
I grew up with stewed apples and custard which is one of my favourite desserts and bottled apples during Winter.
All apples are available in 5kg and 10kg bags. 
Quinces are now available in 3kg bags and 5kg boxes – all pre-orders will be sent out from next Monday
Quinces and all varieties of apples are sent out in 5, 10, and 15kg boxes – I am more than happy to do mixture boxes if you prefer Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday are our courier days
Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday are our courier days Contact me, Ruby – 027 288 6090 – anytime for fruit queries or to place an order
We are open 7 days a week
7am – 9pm 
until early June.
until early June.“We only sell what we grow”
Fruit Update
On the Stall we have Royal Gala and Golden Delicious apples.
Golden delicious are a delicious eating and cooking apple.
Royal Gala apples are a favourite for eating apple.
Red Delicious are due to start in about a week.
Quinces are taking there time in ripening but I see movement today so at a rough guess next weekend is when we should have them. I will keep you posted.
Once they are ripe I will be sending out all orders.
Other apples varieties are still to come on.
Our days for sending Courier orders are, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday each week….
I send out apples in 5kg, 10kg, and 15kg boxes and can do mixture boxes if you prefer.
Contact me, Ruby – 027 288 6090 – anytime for fruit queries or to place an order ?
We are open 7 days a week
7am – 9pm or until dark ??
“We only sell what we grow”
Fruit and Courier Update
As from Tuesday 22nd March we are able to courier fruit to the North Island once again
It would have been Monday 21st but it’s Otago Anniversary Day.
Both Cox’s Orange and Royal Gala apples are available on the Fruit Stall – Cox’s Orange are a great eating and cooking apple and Royal Gala are a delicious eating apple
All our fruit is picked daily.
Golden Delicious apples will be ready in a weeks time, followed by many different apple varieties including Red Delicious, Braeburn, Splendour and Granny Smith
Quinces will be ready towards the end of the month
Courier days are Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday – I send out apples in 5kg, 10kg, and 15kg boxes and can do mixture boxes if you prefer.
Contact me, Ruby – 027 288 6090 – anytime for fruit queries or to place an order
We are open 7 days a week
7am – 9pm or until dark
“We only sell what we grow”
Fruit and Courier Update
We are still unable to send fruit to the North Island as Courier staff have been drastically affected by Covid – at the moment we are hoping within the next week the situation improves and we can start sending again – will keep you updated
At present all South Island Couriers are still up and running hence you can still place an order
For those who live in the North Island I am more than happy to take your orders which will be sent out as soon as everything is back on track
Omega plums will be finished by Sunday.
We have a plentiful supply of Cox’s Orange and Royal Gala apples – Cox’s Orange are a great eating and cooking apple and Royal Gala are a favourite eating apple especially with kids
All our fruit is picked daily
Golden Delicious apples will be ready in about two weeks, followed by different apple varieties including Red Delicious, Braeburn, Splendour and Granny Smith
Quinces will be ready towards the end of the month.
Courier days are Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday – I send out apples in 5kg, 10kg, and 15kg boxes – I can also do mixture boxes if you prefer.
Contact me, Ruby – 027 288 6090 – anytime for fruit queries or to place an order.
Remember we are open until early June 7am – 9pm
“We only sell what we grow”
Fruit and Courier Update
Sorry to say we are unable to send any more Courier orders to the North Island until further notice, as Covid has struck down many of the North Island NZ Couriers staff, particularly in Auckland.
We will have an update next Tuesday to when we can send fruit to the North Island again
The majority of the North Island orders I sent out on Monday, before I was told of this situation, have been delivered.
Very grateful to NZ Couriers for getting the majority delivered safely, especially with skeleton staff
My heart goes out to all those affected by this cruel virus and I hope everyone recovers swiftly
At present all South Island Courier orders are still up and running hence you can still place your orders, which will be sent out next week on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.
For those who live in the North Island I am more than happy to take your orders which will be sent out as soon as everything is back on track.
Please remember you only pay if and when your order is delivered.
From tomorrow on, our freshly picked Royal Gala apples will be on the Fruit Stall in both 5 and 10 kg bags
These are a delicious crispy, sweet eating apple
Omega plums are still in full swing – eating, jam, stewing and freezing.
Cox’s orange apples are still available – these are a lovely eating and cooking apple
Quinces are still a few weeks away – hopefully they will be ready by the end of the month.
The Golden Queen Peaches are still 2-3 weeks away…..as these are all pre-ordered, everyone on the list will be notified as to when they get close to maturity
Next week apples and plums will be couriered out in 5kg, 10kg and 15kg boxes – I can do mixture boxes if you prefer.
Contact me, Ruby – 027 288 6090 – anytime for fruit queries or to place an order
Remember we are open 7 days,
7am – 9pm
until early June.
“We only sell what we grow”
Fruit Update
We finished our Black Doris plums last night and the Bon Chretien pears will finish today.
Omega plums are now available in 1st grade and 2nd grade boxes.
These are a delicious plum and a long keeper.
Great for eating, chutney, Jam, sauce, bottling and freezing.
They are clingstone but are very easy to slice off stone.
Cox’s Orange commenced yesterday and are a delicious apple for both eating and cooking
They are a very old variety.
Available in 5 and 10 kg bags.
Royal Gala apples start in about a week
Will keep you posted.
These are a very popular eating apple – especially for kids 
Beurre Hardy and Packham pears will be available in about two weeks 
Will keep you posted.
Quinces are still a few weeks away so there is still time to get your Jelly jars washed.
Omega plums and Cox’s Orange apple orders will commence being sent out this week on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday which are our Courier days.
I can do mixture boxes if preferred.
Contact me, Ruby, 027 288 6090 anytime for fruit queries or to place an order.
Remember we are open 7 days,
7am – 9pm
until early June.
“We only sell what we grow”