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OCTOBERFEST in the SPRING

During the past 10 days I have had the help of two young Korean men and more recently a young German woman as Wwoofers - Willing Workers on my Organic Farm. The men have worked industriously to weed and thin the Flanders poppies in the Remembrance Field while Anika has assisted me in the household vegetable garden.

Anika with the first Flanders Poppy to bloom in 2008

I must have both the Remembrance Field and the garden ready for presentation by 19th October when I have about 150 visitors expected to view these attractions.

Korean wwoofer Joe

After the coldest August for 17 years we are now having a warm spring with the bees buzzing in the lavender bushes lining our paths. Potatoes are sprouting from the warm earth, sweet corn shoots have appeared, climbing beans are developing leaves and all the other seeds of lettuce, beets, carrots, radish, cucumbers, melons and pumpkins have germinated and are breaking through the surface of my friable soil.

Did you know that stinging nettles are a herb used in Europe as a strong tonic at the end of winter when made into a fresh tea by infusing the leaves in hot water? They are one of the first weeds to grow vigorously in my garden with the onset of warmer weather.

Before Anika could begin picking the peas this morning we had firstly to pull out all the stinging nettles growing amongst them. I explained to her that their growth was a compliment to the quality of my soil, as they thrive in fertile soil and are frequently introduced into gardens by the use of animal manures.

Anika picking peas

Spring is a busy time for everyone here on the Granite Belt as the wineries are holding a spring festival named Primavera throughout the spring months. Amongst the functions to be held this weekend is the Octoberfest at Thunderbolt Farm. Keith and Claudia Beverley have Thunderbolt Farm listed as a host property in The Australian Wwoof Book, and like me rely heavily on wwoofers to assist them during their busy seasons. What good fortune for them this year that they too have two German wwoofers, David and Sonya, presently with them. Now, Anika has been invited to join the festivities at Thunderbolt Farm this weekend.

Octoberfest at Thunderbolt Farm

For a German style Bed Breakfast this weekend, book your room now at Das Helwig Haus B&B by emailing helwig@halenet.com.au or phoning Fay on 07-4683 4227

KEFI AT THE WINERY.

It is my pleasure this week to write about Kominos Wines situated between Glen Aplin and Severnlea on the south side of Stanthorpe on the Granite Belt of southern Queensland, less than five minutes driving time from Das Helwig Haus B&B. The Cominos have been our neighbours for 16 years.

Kominos Wines at 27145 New England Highway at Severnlea.

It is 21 years since Tony Comino released his first vintage from vines surrounding the winery. Tony has specialized in sustainable agricultural practices, including at times grazing sheep amongst the vines. Tony and Mary export about 40% of their production.

Tony is delighted with the release of wines from the winery 21st vintage. He is confidant that the 2005 reds are the best they have ever released. Proof of the quality of these wines is that Kominos Wines won two gold medals for their 2005 Reserve Merlot at the New Zealand International Wine Show. In addition Kominos Wines were awarded the trophy for the best cabernet at the National Cool Climate Show.

Grapes hanging heavy on the vines in 2005

Tony is quoted in the Courier-Mail newspaper of 27-28 September as saying, “The shallow sandy soils of our Stanthorpe vineyard help concentrate the fruit flavours. I believe climate change may even be beneficial to the local wine industry. Global warming hasn’t harmed the industry. It may have made harvest time drier and therefore beneficial to the fruit.”

Mary has been quoted as remarking, “The 2005 wines are a milestone for us, so we are celebrating the winery’s achievements with three captivating new labales featuring local artists.”

Mary and Tony Comino

Each year as part of the Spring Wine Festival, this year renamed Primavera, the Cominos family have held a Kefi at the winery. Large marquees are erected, one for the serving of food and wine, the other for dancing. Come, join with Tony and Mary to celebrate twenty years of producing fine wines.It will be a fun night of fine Kominos wines, Greek cuisine and live bouzouki with Greek and Latin dance music.

Date:Saturday 4^th October, 2008.

Venue: Kominos Winery 27145 New England Highway, Glen Aplin.

Contact Details: 07-4683 4311 kominoswines@halenet.com.au

Bookings are essential.

We can offer Bed and Breakfast at Das Helwig Haus B&B to allow you to attend this great celebration on Saturday night.

Contact details: 07-4683 4227 helwig@halenet.com.au

GIRRAWEEN - Place of Wildflowers

Although not yet 100 years old, Girraween National Park on the Granite Belt of southern Queensland will participate in the Centenary of Parks celebrations on Tuesday, providing a full day of activities for vistors and a wonderful opportunity for families to enjoy the park facilities during the Queensland State school holidays. Over the past twenty years I have frequently gone bushwalking and mountain climbing at the Girraween National Park, which is about 15km from Das Helwig Haus B&B and have encouraged many of our guests to visit this little known National Park. The word Girraween is of Aboriginal origin and means wildflowers. The spring wildflowers are particularly prolific but I have also seen ground orchids blooming there in mid summer.

These photos that I’m including today were taken in 2005 when I climbed the granite monolith, known as The Pyramid, with a young Korean girl who at that time was my wwoofer - a Willing Worker on Organic Farms.

Bower of the Satin Bower Bord

If in the treasure hunt you are asked to find something blue from the bower of a Satin Bower Bird you will find a bower close to the stream near the signs to The Junction, The Granite Arch and The Pyramid.

This stream is edged with beautiful bottle brush callistemon trees, just one of the many wildflowers you’ll notice when bushwalking through the park.

In the summer, when the days are warmer, many people are tempted to swim in this stream, but they find the water is too cold for more than a dip.

A mountain stream with The Pyramid in background.

The Pyramid has one of the steepest rock faces I have climbed.

Korean girl admires the view.

A stunted tree grows on the rock face of The Pyramid.

It is only when you reach the summit of The Pyramid that you realise it has a twin. There is a second pyramid mountain directly behind it.

The program for the Centenary of Parks Celebration Day, Tuesday 30th September, starts at 10.00am. It includes guided walks, history displays and a family treasure hunt. Instructions for the treasure hunt will be available from the Girraween Information Centre and families can carry out their search while they explore the Granite Arch and Circuit tracks. In other words, you won’t be expected to climb one of the granite monoliths like The Pyramid to find your treasure items.

There will be a sausage sizzle from 4.00pm to 5.30pm for those who have worked up a hunger from bushwalking and ranger Jolene McLellan and ranger in charge, John Cowburn, will present evening sideshows, which cover the history of the park.

Fay and Ok Sun at the top of The Pyramid.

If you would like more information about the program contact Girraween National Park on 07-4684 5157.

If you need a bed for the night contact Fay on 07-4683 4227 or email her at helwig@halenet.com.au to make your booking to stay at Das Helwig Haus B&B.

SPRING BLOSSOM SEASON ON THE GRANITE BELT

Terry’s all original album at Whiskey Gully Wines

September is the month that cherry, peach, apricot and nectarine trees blossom across the hills of Glen Aplin south of Stanthorpe. We had a cold winter on the Granite Belt providing the required winter chill factor for these deciduous trees to produce an abundance of flowers and subsequent fruit set.

Nectarine blossom in the Das Helwig Haus garden

Our spring garden is proving a delight. As the golden daffodils fade masses of Spanish blue bells appear to brighten the garden. During so many past winters our magnolia flowers have been frosted, but not in 2007 when spring began in mid-August. That year there were no September frosts. Again in 2008, following the coldest August for seventeen years on the Granite Belt we are now experiencing a delightfully warm September and once more the magnolias haven’t suffered damage from late frosts.

Magnolia flowers in the Das Helwig Haus garden

Apart from the attraction of our spectacular garden, one of the reasons you could enjoy a visit to the Granite Belt any weekend is the wine, food and music at Whiskey Gully Wines every Friday and Saturday nights. The multi-talented Warwick-based singer songwriter Terry Clark will launch his first album at this Friday’s Whiskey Gully Wines What’s Cookin’ night at Severnlea.

Terry is a popular performer around the district with songs like “Paranoia Blues” and “It’s My Party And I’ll Die If I Want To” but, until now, he never recorded them.

“I purchased a digital recorder with the intention of putting my songs down,” Terry explains. “Really I just wanted to do it for my own satisfaction and for posterity.”
Terry wrote, recorded and produced the project, which ended up as two albums, called “Paranoia Blues” and “Missing You Tonight”, with 24 songs in total.

He played all of the instruments on the tracks including mandolin, several acoustic and electric guitars, bass guitar, percussion and harmonicas. The only outside involvement was the graphic design of the album covers by his friend Karina Devine.
“The songs are about experiences I have had and things that interest me. I wanted this to be a personal project and putting everything together was a great challenge,” says Terry.

The project suited his self-sufficient lifestyle – he lives in a solar-powered house that he built himself, high on a rural ridge outside Warwick.  Terry was born in Britain and came to Australia as a 14 year old. He moved out of home at 18 and, for seven years, did a variety of labouring jobs before winning a scholarship and taking up full-time study in Brisbane to become a teacher. He moved to Warwick 13 years ago to build his house and find a better life. He has certainly done that. These days he teaches music as well as being a specialist in remedial reading.

Join Terry, entertainer Lee Williams and the Whiskey Gully Wines crew at the vineyard this Friday, 7pm, Turner Road, Severnlea and find out What’s Cookin’. Everyone is welcome and Terry will perform several tracks from the albums.

 Further information: contact John Arlidge 07 4683 5100; 0419 789 447; email: john@whiskeygullywines.com.au <mailto:john@whiskeygullywines.com.au>  
http://www.whiskeygullywines.com.au

Stanthorpe, Severnlea and Glen Aplin.

Whiskey Gully Wines and Beverley Vineyard Restuarant are only 5 minutes driving time from your Bed and Breakfast at Das Helwig Haus. For further information: contact Fay Helwig 07 4683 4227; email: helwig@halenet.com.au  http://www.webstation.com.au/accom/helwig

I’m still new to this business of writing my blog and today I missed including the autumn photo showing a German Wwwoofer, Ursula, picking rosellas.

THE SEASONAL RYTHM at DAS HELWIG HAUS

The four seasons.

2008 was the coldest August recorded on the Granite Belt for 17 years. The winter was also dry. We weren’t short of water for the garden as we experienced a huge flood in January 2008, which filled our waterhole on the Severn River. We have an irrigation license allowing us to draw water from the river source.

This view shows one of the dams we built on a gully watercourse below our house at Glen Aplin. We have never needed to use water from this dam for irrigation purposes. We constructed it to beautify a swampy area formerly covered in tussock grass and to provide a refuge for wild waterfowl. It is much enjoyed by ducks and geese.

Another benefit is the tranquility afforded to guests relaxing on the verandas of Das Helwig Haus http://www.webstation.com.au/accom/helwig. They take pleasure reclining in comfortable cane chairs overlooking the spectacular garden, with their view extending down under the skirts of the pine trees to this expanse of water.

The flooded dam below the house.

Big summer rains lead to an abundance of fruit and vegetables. The rosella bushes, which are a form of hibiscus, are so attractive that I scatter them through our garden, rather than confine them to the vegetable patch. Because they are a tropical plant we have to get fruit picked before the first frosts arrive. In 2008 I lost my rosella crop when an early frost on 30th March devastated all the field crops of the Granite Belt. In this cool mountain climate the rosella bushes require five months growth to become productive. I try to get my plants into the ground in October. The red flesh of the flower calyx is the portion used for jam or jelly and next autumn when we are hopefully harvesting a crop I will include recipes for the jam and jelly.

Following heavy summer rains an abundance of grass grows across our countryside. As we don’t have any livestock, like sheep or cattle, we are obliged to slash the grass to keep our property tidy. Each year I gather some of this cut grass for composting and mulching purposes. Usually the frosts begin in May, drying the grassland and turning it the colour of straw. Each August farmers on the Granite Belt are advised to conduct burn-offs of grassy areas as a preventative measure against bushfires later in the season. I am a great believer in the cleansing power of a controlled fire so each year take advantage of the weather conditions to spot burn our land in the manner of the original settlers – the Aboriginal people.

This fire burnt the land between the house and the dam.

This blackened appearance of our land did not last long as the heat of the fire drew up moisture from deep within the soil and triggered immediate green shoots of grass. As I had hoped we received some rain and the grass responded and the area is now greening rapidly. A winter fire like this is called a cold fire as there is usually insufficient heat to scorch the leaves on the eucalyptus trees or the trunks of deciduous trees.

The removal of an overburden of grass encourages the perennial coreopsis to burst forth with a luxuriant growth of green leaves. The yellow daisy-like flowers rapidly follow and by the end of October the countryside is turning gold.

Golden wildflowers beneath a blue spring sky.

The Granite Belt is noted for enjoying four different seasons. Here I have shown you a lush green summer view, a Wwoofer – Ursula from Germany, harvesting rosellas in the autumn, the dramatic difference of recently burnt grassland and the golden glory of the spring season as Mother Nature follows her yearly rhythm. The Granite Belt is becoming famous for its cool climate wines, but many of the sixty district wineries are boutique sized and Australians are only able to purchase the wine by visiting the district. For this reason many excellent accommodation businesses have been established during the sixteen years since we moved to the Granite Belt to establish Das Helwig Haus B&B http://www.webstation.com.au/accom/helwig .

The residents and tourist operators of the Granite Belt, all know that summer is a delightful season. From the moment the spring storms moisten the fallow land of the Granite Belt the perennial coreopsis flowers begin to bloom, reaching their peak with a golden carpet of daisies across the paddocks in November. The Snow in Summer melaleuca - commonly known as a paper bark tree, provide a mass of white, honey scented blossom along the river and creeks while the apple gums - Angophora floribunda flourish in the forests on the hills at Christmas time.

I’m sharing with you some news from Bungawarra Wines, one of the long established wineries on the Granite Belt. It is situated at Bents Road, Ballandean one of the major wine- growing districts south of Stanthorpe. The owner, Jeff Harden may be contacted on jharden@halenet.com.au

Our coldest August for 17 years is now almost over and the parrots have donned their mating colours. Nests are being built, song is in the air and the first grape shoots will quickly appear to start the 2009 Vintage. The Granite Belt Spring Wine Festival Season (now called Primavera ) is upon us so there will be the customary influx of visitors from now till the final event, the Australian Small Winemakers Show (Public Tasting, 25 October) – please see www.asws.com.au

The Bungawarra contribution is to be part of an event where entrants can blend their own bottle of red. There are five wineries involved who will contribute the base wine to be blended (under guidance and with appropriate heckling!) so that you will be able to share the agonies of decision winemakers have to go through at such times. You will then have a bottle of your blend to take home with you (called “Me and Five Friends”) and, we think, a good time and good memories as well. Phone or email Jeff Harden if you’d like to be a part of the event Blend a Hand on Saturday 4 October, 11:30 am to 2:30 pm. The cost is $50 pp and includes a gourmet pie lunch (now that’s value!!).

Be wise, book accommodation now with me at Das Helwig Haus B&B. www.webstation.com.au/accom/helwig
Shakespeare under the Stars… After the success of Bungawarra’s previous productions, The Stanthorpe Little Theatre group will present Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew, at Bungawarra among the backlit rocks and trees. It will be a lot of fun, the weather will be perfect and the setting will make it a magic night. Support for previous productions has been wonderful, with packed out Saturday night performances and good attendances on the Friday and Sunday nights. If you’re thinking of visiting the Granite Belt in spring, pencil it in for the weekend of October 10-12. It will also be part of our Primavera Festival.
Book accommodation now at Das Helwig Haus B&B during the Primavera – The Granite Belt Spring Wine Festival Season. www.webstation.com.au/accom/helwig

The days are beautifully sunny, the nights still cold and cuddly, so perhaps you are thinking of visiting to experience a night around the fire with a glass of red. I still have accommodation available for the weekend of Father’s Day, Saturday 6th September so reward fathers by emailing me on helwig@halenet.com.au to make your booking to reserve a room with its own fireplace.

Although it is the last month of winter, it is not unusual for August to be the coldest month of the year on the Granite Belt. This year, 2008, is not proving to be the exception to the rule.
Due to the altitude the Granite Belt is the coldest district in Queensland. Visitors come to Das Helwig Haus in August hoping for starry night skies and frosty mornings when the ice will crunch under their feet. They are seldom disappointed.

Although the frosts are still with us throughout much of August I always think of it as a golden month with golden daffodils and golden wattle. There is no better view of the wattle than from the deck of Claudia’s Country Café at the Thunderbolt Farm and cellar door. Set high on the hills of the Granite Belt the view from this lookout is magnificent. Set on the eastern side of the range of hills above the valley through which flows the Severn River, the deck of this charming restaurant is protected from winter winds. In the warm glow of an afternoon’s sun, guests linger over yet another glass of wine, reluctant to stir from the tranquility of the setting.
Keith and Claudia chose to call their farm after the famous bushranger who roamed the New England Tableland as far north as the Granite Belt. In honour of Fred Ward, otherwise known as Captain Thunderbolt, because he appeared suddenly usually from behind huge granite rocks, they named two of their wines Stagecoach White and Bushranger Red.
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