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Judith and Ian McBain like growing almonds because
unlike with
soft fruit, you don't have to do things precisely on time.
“Come early” Jude recommends, “It’s going to be a hot day
tomorrow and we want to finish before we melt”. That meant a
6.30am drive to the end of the appropriately named Almond
Grove Road and approaching the McBain’s house as the sun
rose. Stepping onto the verandah it was clear the household
was just starting for the day, teenagers pulling on socks
and boots. Jude welcomed me and said that the forecast
wasn’t to be as hot after all, so they were taking it a bit
slower. I was invited to breakfast on the back porch.
“That’s one of the nice things about being your own boss”
she said, “you can set the timetable”.
It’s also one of the nice things about growing almonds. Even
with harvesting, instead of two days or two weeks, you have
five or six weeks. And unlike olives, when the almonds are
down and dry and in the shed, Jude explained, “Your problems
are over. You don’t have to get them to the press in 24
hours or you lose the oil. They’re a wonderful crop to grow.
Gives you time to do other things.”
For Jude, one of those other things was spending a day a
week for four years helping with the Willunga Farmers’
Market. She was one of the foundation growers and the
success of the McBain’s sea change enterprise has a lot to
do with the market’s success. It allows small growers to
make a reasonable income. Next >
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