Health & Safety

Just a quick update on health and safety...

Before you even get on the property there's something about traffic that we really hope you know about - for those of you coming from Christchurch, please check it out here.

While picking, and even in the carpark, your biggest risk is probably rabbits, believe it or not. Watch out for rabbit holes (and diggings) in the grass. They're often not very visible at all. We don't want you twisting your ankle(s).  Friends often say they'll "be around one evening to sort them out". You probably have friends like that too....

Also, if you're wearing open toed footwear, mind out for sticks (left over from pruning) also in the grass. We try to get them all, but occasionally can miss them .

Mother chickens can be very defensive of their young, so please be aware of that - the chicks can be super cute, but are not into being cuddled or touched, and if you tried that, mother hen may attack you.

If you see a bunch of delectable berries deep in the bush, just be cautious when plunging your hands in there, that you don't inadvertently skewer yourself on a trimmed branch. It's unlikely but not impossible. Just take it easy and you'll be fine. Being too hasty is never a good idea, blueberry bushes suffer every year from people being too hasty, knocking off even unripe berries in their mad rush to get the ones they want. Those berries on the ground then turn blue and then people complain that we're "wasting berries on the ground because we're not open every day" 🙄 They turn blue but don't get any sweeter.

There is also a weed called Nightshade. Its little black berries will probably not kill you, but could make you or your child quite sick. Of course we always pull them out when we see them, but can't guarantee we get them all. Birds eat the seeds and pass them on in their droppings. Fortunately here's a lot less of it this year.

You may also recognise elderberries, I was told today that they can be poisonous if eaten raw and are best cooked. They're tiny berries so unlikely to interest you and are up high so should be out of reach of children.

And finally both chicken faeces (chooky poo) in the grass and the occasional bird droppings (bird poo) in the leaves and even on berries! 😱

Gosh, after reviewing all this, I think I should get a line of T-shirts done: …
“I survived the blueberry orchard at 828 Shands Road!”