August 2017 Meeting - TRUFFLES!

Washing our feet

We were all very excited about our local Willowglen Gardeners’ invitation to visit Tarago Truffles and the day dawned with bright sunshine after 24 hours of (well-needed) non-stop rain – a big relief, especially for our hosts Denzil & Anne. Denzil led us to the edge of their well fenced Trufferie & asked for volunteers to "sizzle" but sadly there were no takers so he turned off the electric fence after we took turns to swish through the foot bath – no dirt, mud or alien germs allowed. Denzil planted the Trufferie in 3 stages from 2002 to 2009. 

 Acorns & sterilised truffle spores are planted into a pot & form a symbiotic relationship – then the small trees are planted into the ground after 18 months. First truffles are expected in 4 years after planting. Holly Oak & Old English Robur Oak are used & hazelnut trees planted between each oak tree. Tree roots need sun & frost – open canopy between trees, sprinkler for each tree – 13 million litres of water used per year. 

Denzil & Dusty

On to the hunt! After Dusty the dog has indicated a truffle, Denzil digs carefully with a spoon so as not to damage the truffle. The truffle smells earthy but surprisingly also sweet. Wazza, John, Carolyn, Jude & Irene all took a turn of lying on the ground sniffing the truffles after Dusty indicated. (What photos? hehehe...)

 

We returned for morning tea & our usual chat about members’ garden experiences this month. Wazza has a common birthday shared with all horses, and today was the day – happy birthday Wazza & all the other horses! Wazza’s lemonade tree suffered badly from our recent -10oC temperatures. Jude said a wombat ate all their broadbeans despite being grown in a mesh covered garden and now they have about 40 roses to prune – a mammoth task – we’ll call her Rosie in future.

Heads down, bum's up!

Best wishes go to Jackie as she recovers from even more hospitalisation & treatment and to Doug who still drove daily to hospital although suffering a very painful knee injury. Joy said a chainsaw took to John’s leg but he’ll survive. 

Her limes are perfect but yellow skin (only green inside) and her lemons have no juice. Bridget’s lemon tree not producing despite following all suggestions.  

Katie's lemon's on the other hand are amazing and growing out of control so if anybody would like some, please let her know!

Wazza suggested keeping the pots of citrus trees on large saucers full of water. Joy introduced Anne (our new Canberra member) who needs to move 2 large tall standard roses growing across the driveway. Wazza said to cut 2/3rds of roots and also 2/3 of tops, soak in seaweed solution 2 weeks before & after the move. Carolyn said John chainsawed the old gnarly roots of the old rose bush they moved – it’s in clay & gravel and now doing well. She is picking bok choy but “the roos are growing fast”.

Tony & Sandra have a small problem – a wombat goes under the fence & the dog goes out through the hole but their garlic is growing well. Irene’s broadbeans look good, Lloyd sold 3 wethers – and one has just given birth to a brown lamb (strange but true). Kevin & Margaret’s lemon was burnt by frost but carrots & parsnips growing  well (need fresh seed, keep it moist, don’t plant too deeply). David’s MG garden is going well & the VW garden is nearly done but the Holden FX frame needs to be replanted (we’ll be able to see all this at our Christmas party). He’s reduced their rose pruning because he reduced the roses from 30 to 4. Liz-Ann & Peter grew ginger successfully in the Blue Mountains this year and are happily cooking with it.

After our lunch (Anne’s delicious cauliflower soup, which Denzil topped with fresh truffles) Anne talked to us in the Truffle Shed about how she cleans, grades & packs the truffles. Our heads were full of the delicious aroma of the black truffles – much sweeter than the truffle farm we had been to in Provence a couple of years ago.  We then toured Anne & Denzil’s gardens – their citrus & other fruit trees are heavily covered with shadecloth to protect from frost. Anne said that Denzil is reorganizing her veggie gardens, with garlic growing well. Denzil has made very high raised veggie beds which gave us all ideas of how to save our backs. Wazza invited Anne & Denzil to our Christmas party, where they can sit back, eat & drink and chat with everyone about gardening or the world (just not politics), whichever appeals more.

Thank you to our friendly hosts, Anne & Denzil, for your warmth, hospitality & generosity. We really appreciated this opportunity and highly recommend the experience to you all www.taragotruffles.com.au . The Truffle Festival is still on around the Canberra region until the end of August www.trufflefestival.com.au . 

Our next meeting is on Tuesday 5th September at 10am at Ni & Alan’s place.

Article by Liz-Ann