NNNorthern Valley News
Norcia • Regans Ford • Wannamal
Liftout pages 16-17
Page 9
Ripe for the picking
Ann Graham of Burroloo Well Hydroponics is enjoying a bumper season of tomatoes this year, and the 500 odd plants in her hydroponics growing tunnel are laden with ripening fruit, pungent with the aroma of summer.
Ann and her family has been growing a winter crop of hydroponic tomatoes for 12 years now, starting off with three plasticcovered growing tunnels which maintain an ideal growing environment, keeping the temperature a balmy 25-30 degrees.
Her sentiments are echoed by Maggie Edmonds, from Maggies Place in the Swan Valley, “Many tomatoes sold these days are completely tasteless. Often,the varieties bred are just for ease of travel – i.e. do not bruise easily – and for long shelf life. Burroloo Well’s actually smell
$560,000
Studies have shown that hydroponic produce tastes no different from that
Lennard Brook
This near-new 4 bedroom, 2 bathroom Queenslander style homestead is situated on a picturesque 2.38 acre block. Built in 2012, this property boasts jarrah floors, reversecycle air conditioning, fully insulated walls and ceilings, a 5KW solar power system and a 3000lt water tank. Adjacent to the house is a 10m x 15m shed. Half of this shed has been converted, making it ideal for a teenage retreat, games room or accommodation. TOM CABASSI 0429 095 864
E: cabassirealty@bigpond.com W: www.cabassirealty.com
which is grown to the ripe stage in soil, but the benefits of easier pest control, protection for plants and efficient consumption of nutrients and water means higher production and better quality. The main problems affecting Ann’s crop are usually Powdery Mildew and red spider mite, and she’s not sure if it’s because of all the wonderful rainwater they’ve benefitted from this season, but neither have affected her prolific crop. A Bindoon resident for over 45 years, Ann is perhaps best known in the area for her volunteer work with Chittering Landcare, and Chittering Wildlife Carers, and can generally be spotted at local events sporting a joey. In her spare time she also operates a family farmstay accommodation business on the nearly
700 acre property. More recently Ann has scaled back production to running a single tunnel, a quantity of plants she can manage on her own. With tomato prices at the Canning Vales markets now down around $2 per kilo, there is little incentive to make the trip, and all of Ann’s tomatoes are sold locally. You can buy her tomatoes at the Burroloo Well farm gate, just 10kms south of Bindoon on the Great Northern Hwy, along with free range eggs. Or look out for them at local markets and at Maggies Place. You’d certainly be hard pressed to buy a tomato with less food miles! And the flavour? Well that’s just something you ought to try for yourself.
$525,000
4 bed, 2 bath, large country kitchen, open plan lounge/dining and separate activity room for the kids. The huge back patio is perfect for entertaining and includes a Metters stove and sink, a sauna and sunken spa. It has a beautiful outlook over the lawn to the natural bushland behind with banksias, grass trees and wildflowers. There is a massive shed with two roller doors and an office, plus another shed high enough to accommodate a boat. TOM CABASSI 0429 095 864
4 Brockman Street, Gingin WA 6503
Ph: 08 9575 2566 Fax 08 9575 2568
The reason for this is that the majority of supermarket tomatoes are picked green. They’re ripened by exposing them to ethylene gas, which imitates some of the changes that occur during ripening, like the development of the red colour, but because the sugars and flavour compounds are fed to the fruit from the vine itself, the taste is compromised.
According to Ann, the key to a good tasting tomato is vine ripening, and she picks her fruit when they are red - and says they are best eaten when bright red but still very firm.
gingin
like tomatoes picked from your garden and they taste delicious.”
Tamieka Preston
30
october
A new Community and Learning Center for Bullsbrook
Bindoon Show
2013
Bindoon • Bullsbrook • Calingiri • Chittering • Gingin • Muchea • Mooliabeenie • New
Bindoon
$469,000 3.9 Acres
PRICE REDUCED! 30 Woodland Lane
This 4x2 Hardiplank and Iron sits well back from the road in a quiet cul-de-sac and has stunning views, well appointed kitchen with WIP, family room, separate lounge, wood heating and ducted evapaircon, decked entertaining area, 2 massive sheds, fully reticulated low maintenance garden and bitumen driveway
Bindoon $360,000 47acres 893 Bindoon-Moora Rd You will be impressed by this beautiful block just 15 minutes north of Bindoon and 20 minutes to Gingin. It features the Brockman River running through it, fenced, river flats perfect for grazing. Lovely quiet and scenic location.
Liz Connell Realty, 27B Binda Place, Bindoon, WA 6502
P: 9576 0626 M: 0428 836 856 E: liz@lizconnellrealty.com