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A hard nut to crack
Brenda and Bill Denham have a Macadamia farm of 800 trees in Chittering. They planted all the trees themselves, the first 200 were planted about 18 years ago and will reach full production at 20 years old. Brenda recalls how they arrived at Chittering all those years ago. Bill’s father had always said, “When you can afford to buy a little bit of land, buy it, because if we have another recession you can live a little bit off the land. These words had stuck in Bill’s mind so we thought we’d try Macadamias as a retirement thing”.
Given the right conditions, fully matured Macadamia trees can yield around 20-30 kilos of nuts per tree, which earns around $2.50/kilo. Sounds pretty easy in theory, but the Denham’s are not there yet.
Brenda says, “As yet it is not going to be a retirement option. The drought hasn’t been very helpful. The last few years we haven’t had many nuts, only 100 or 200 kilos. The more water, the more fruit sets. And you need the bees, with drought there is less bees.”
Brenda is very optimistic with this year’s season. “Thanks to good rainfall, the trees are full of nuts so we should harvest a lot more over the coming months from now until August.” With so many nuts to pick, Bill has come up with an innovative plan. Rather than hand picking all the nuts he has purchased a vacuum machine and with a minor modification, they no longer need to bend over and hand pick the nuts. They sell most of their nuts to a Helena Valley processor; Greenacres, who dry them
Chittering
Bindoon
$330,000
2.5 acres
Very neat & tidy 3 x 1 h/p & iron home with split system a/c, wood heating, new carpet and paint. Pretty block with nice outlook, not steep and with scheme water.
Bindoon offers $600,000+ 123 acres Parkland cleared land with subdivision potential. Owner willing to sink bore. Build, subdivide & profit.
Liz Connell Realty, 27B Binda Place, Bindoon, WA 6502
P: 08 9576 0626 M: 0428 836 856 E: liz@lizconnellrealty.com
Issue
13
MAY
Anzac Day across the region Liftout
$525,000
and sell them throughout Perth markets. Always looking for ways to increase farm returns, Brenda value-adds by creating a range of nut products. She is now selling her Macadamia Rocky Road, Spicy nuts and Chilli nuts at the monthly Bindoon Markets. I haven’t always been a fan of Rocky Road but I confess I’m a sweet tooth so I was willing to try. I was pleasantly surprised to taste the macadamia nut addition. It is a fabulous balance to the marshmallow. I’ve gone back for more!
GINGIN
$450,000
ENCHANTED GARDEN - Priced to sell quickly
Quaint Cottage in the Heart of Town.
Located on a picturesque 5 acres in Lake Chittering Heights estate, is this neat 3-bed brick and iron home.
1.1 acre on the Gingin Brook adjoining the central shopping precinct, 1930’s built mud brick and iron with original jarrah floor boards.
Country-style kitchen, separate lounge, semiensuite bathroom, slow combustion wood heater & ducted air cond. water system. Abundant drinking water is provided by a bore. Craig Hyne 0448 825 833
Ph: 08 9575 2566 www.cabassirealty.com
Three bedrooms, study, lounge, kitchen and dining rooms. large patio and swimming pool, double garage, former blacksmith shed third shed at front of block. Tom Cabassi 0429 095 864