Wee Red Barn Revisited

Leaving the dolls behind in Ekatahuna on Sunday, our group travelled south along State Highway Two and our next port of call was the Wee Red Barn.  Anne was organizing our day and had arranged for a wine tasting.  Alan, the friendly Scots owner, recognised Robin and me from our earlier visit a couple of months ago.  He explained the different varieties of wine as he poured out tastings of Wee White, Sauv Blanc and Riesling, then moved on to a red or two, all the time keeping up a lively patter in his  broad accent.  His lovely Kiwi wife Dot then came to take over the shop counter duties, leaving Alan free to take our group outside on a wee farm tour.

Have a wee drop of my wine

We noticed that Alan had been very busy around his property during the previous few months.  He had recently planted a couple of garlic varieties and they appeared to be growing well in their plastic covered beds.  The secret to garlic, he told us, is to plant on the shortest day, and harvest on the longest day.  He was also trialling raspberry canes planted in plastic bags full of coco-peat, a by product of coconut husks.

Three rows of leeks with raspberries in bags on the right

7000 raspberry canes are grown under cover to protect the soft fruit from rain.  The plastic roof cover was flapping like crazy in the strong Wairarapa wind while Alan explained how the raspberry canes are cut back and removed each season, allowing the new growth to develop.  As well as raspberries, Alan and Dot grow strawberries, blackberries and boysenberries.

Raspberry canes under cover

We came across a duck nestled up to the raspberry canes.  She had made a nest and laid her clutch of eggs.  She wasn’t very impressed with our lot coming into her area and scuttled away.  Hopefully she settled down when we moved on, and went back to her nesting duties.

White duck nesting amongst the raspberry canes

Everyone has to have a hobby, Alan told us, and these pigs are his hobby, and we could tell he is very proud of these healthy, happy pigs.  The large sows came running up, squealing with delight, when Alan filled up their trough.  Several little piglets were running around, but wouldn’t stay still long enough to get their photos taken.  The pigs have hearty appetites and eat lots of food waste, including food scraps from the nearby school.  Nothing goes to waste here, left over vegetables keep the pigs happy, and the fruit which is not up to standard provides the ideal ingredients for Wee Red Barn jams and wine. 

Piggy dinner time

All the animals are for the visitors to come and see, to touch, and talk to.  As well as the pigs (always my favourite, I’m a pig lover too) there are chickens, ducks, a goat, and we saw a cute little bottle fed lamb too.  He had finished his bottle but was wanting more – and now, please!   We finished our visit with a few purchases back at the shop.  Some of Dot’s delicious jam came home with us, plus a couple of lovely fresh leeks.  Won’t they taste nice with some cheese sauce? 

Alan and Dot were looking forward to travelling down to Wellington later in the afternoon to barrack for Scotland playing Argentina in the Rugby World Cup.  Sadly for all the Scottish supporters, their team did not achieve the expected winning result this time.