The microscope

So, we've got the compost heap, I've done the soils course, and I have the skills to identify the good stuff from the bad stuff in composts and compost teas.

Now I just need the microscope, right? Right.

I drive down to Darnum today to purchase a second hand Microscope from Agrisolutions (who ran the courses). As I arrive at the doorstep, I am met by a dismayed Carol. "Ania, I am so sorry. One of the girls has borrowed the microscope. She's just gone home to get it, but it will be another 45 minutes. Please come in for a cuppa."

I duck back to the car, grab Sabina and an assortment of colouring pencils, paper and toys, and follow Carol inside. The place is full of various organic books, magazines and posters. Sabina loves the Man-Sun on the biodynamic calendar, and we receive a free copy to hang on our wall at the farm. I get talking with Gerhard (company owner) and he shows me his "no-dig" veggie garden, and his orchard.

"Who gets the fruit?", I ask, looking at his assortment of 30 odd trees. "Well in the past it used to be 80/20, birds/me. But last year, I turned it around. I got 80% of the fruit", his eyes twinkle with a secret. I gaze at the orchard, which shows no netting, then at Gerhard. "Pigs", he says wisely. "Nature's way of bird and pest control. They eat everything that falls to the ground, and the birds seem to stay away." I am suitably impressed.

"The black pigs seem to be more effective. And it's better if they have a nose ring. They won't dig up the orchard so much then", he adds.

The microscope arrives. I get a quick lesson about the lenses, transport, and putting it all together. The contraption is put into a box, and strapped into the front seat of the car.

If the microscope hadn't arrived, I wonder what else I could have learnt?