BITS AND PIECES

A BRISBANE retirement community and a Queensland family farming business have entered a partnership which brings the country to the city and provides village residents with quality meat and ready-made meals.

Brisbane Valley Protein each week delivers meat and produce direct to residents at affordable prices and has set up food operations in the commercial kitchen of Kingsford Terrace, Corinda, an independent living community operated by Aura Holdings.

Feedback has been overwhelmingly positive in a collaboration that Aura Holdings’ director Tim Russell says is unique in the retirement living sector.

Brisbane Valley Protein, based in the Somerset region, is the vision of fourth generation farming siblings Duncan Brown and Selena Gomersall who produce beef, chicken and quail on an 1100ha farm at Coominya, 80km west of Brisbane. Locally-produced lamb anad pork is also on the menu.

“This is a really exciting opportunity to provide meat direct from our farm to the Kingsford Terrace residents and to base our award-winning chef Jason Peppler in their kitchen,” Mr Brown says.

“Our mission is to feed and grow communities through sustainable, innovative agriculture. We are slowly turning our property into a diverse agriculture and food production hub capable of growing, processing and exporting poultry, beef and quail.”

The company produces and breeds the largest quails for consumption in the world.

“When I first tried quail it was love at first bite. But I’ve always found it fiddly and difficult to eat,” Mr Brown says. “The original breeding stock came from the Hunter Valley, and we’ve been selecting the biggest birds to continue breeding. Instead of the typical 180-200 grams our quails are 300-450 grams.”

The weekly meat orders of Kingsford Terrace residents arrive in Cryovac packaging and there’s an option to order a box of locally-grown fruit and vegetables.

Mr Peppler produces heat-and-eat meals in the village kitchen and there are plans for regular barbecues and farm tours to see how and where the meat is produced.

IN THE GARDEN — with Penny

IT’S October already, and the warmer weather has certainly made a difference to the growth of our plants.

Time to fertilise and keep those pesky weeds at bay.

All types of summer vegetables can go in now – tomatoes, lettuce, corn, spring onions, radish, cucumbers and beetroot among them. All are easy and very satisfying to grow.

Zinnias can be planted now and are great cut flowers.

Fertilise your lawn for lush green grass, and it’s also a good time to check your mower blades.

Cane mulch is now available so mulch everything to help stop the weeds and save water. Citrus trees are full of flowers, fertilise and give a good soak.

Roses are coming into flower so if you haven’t already done so, use a suitable fertiliser to keep them growing well. It’s a wonderful time of the year to be outside. Enjoy!

I have just returned from hosting a group at the Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers.

What a sight, with so many beautiful flowers such as pansies, ranunculi, alyssum, tulips and delphiniums, planted in their thousands.

Other highlights were the parade and the orchid, clivia and geranium shows.

With so many specimens, there wasn’t much room left under the bus on our way home. I have already planted most of mine in their new homes.

I’m happy to answer your gardening questions. Email me at penny.hegarty@ gmail.com

Penny Hegarty

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CHRISTMAS is coming but, surprise surprise, household budgets will be hit by inflation and rising interest rates which are driving manufacturers and retailers to increase prices.

Parcel delivery company CouriersPlease surveyed 1007 Australians to gauge whether they would be shopping for Christmas earlier this year as a result of ongoing supply chain issues and some product shortages.

It found that 54 per cent of shoppers were feeling the pinch and would spend less on Christmas gifts, while almost two-thirds said they would be shopping earlier than last year.

A higher proportion of older respondents revealed they had already completed their Christmas gift shopping

THE Public Trustee has called on Queenslanders to consider making a will and appointing someone to look after their pets.

“Talking about advance life planning can be confronting but it’s essential to plan ahead,” Samay Zhouand said.

“We’re encouraging everyone to consider who’ll take care of their beloved pets if they are no longer around.”

The RSPCA’s Home Ever After program helps rehome pets. for the year – 24 per cent of over 50s had completed their shopping before September..

Younger respondents were more likely to give fewer gifts this Christmas – 34 per cent of under-30s compared with 20 per cent of over 50s.

More than half of over 50s indicated they would spend the same on Christmas gifts this year.

The survey found that in addition to rising costs, slow and disrupted supply chains were spilling over into consumer confidence.

During the key Christmas trading months of November and December, Australians last year spent more than $65 billion, both in-store and online – a $3 billion increase on the previous year.

“Those of us lucky to have animals in our lives really need to think about planning ahead if we’re rushed to hospital and our pets are left without someone to care for them,” thr RSPCA’s Aileen McGregor-Lowndes said.

“It’s important to make a will and leave instructions. If you want the RSPCA to care for and rehome a pet, it’s a good idea to register your pet with us so we know about their needs.” Visit willsweek.com.au

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Friendly tranquil setting...

Where the living is easy

Quality living for the young at heart. Located within walking distance to major shopping centres, transport and park lands with walk ways and bike tracks. At River Glen Haven everything is here for residents to enjoy!

• Spacious 274 homes in a peaceful village atmosphere. • Each home has a carport, small garden & pets are allowed. • High security with resident on-site manager, visiting doctor & hairdresser. • 2 Community halls, indoor bowls, 2 pools & 20 acres of natural parkland. • Social functions, bus, 2 clubhouses, workshop, craft & recreational areas, library & mail services.

For further information Freecall 3805 2155

River Glen Haven