Brent Smedley
@boring-smed.bsky.social
Pretty much the only place I post these days.
Agronomist - NW Tasmania
Agronomist - NW Tasmania
Tonight’s meal is a butterflied chicken seasoned and covered in spices then basted on the BBQ with a butter, lemon, garlic and oregano mix for 5 minutes each side. Then cooked in the oven on a bed of lemons that get squeezed over the cooked chicken once it’s rested.
November 15, 2025 at 7:33 AM
Tonight’s meal is a butterflied chicken seasoned and covered in spices then basted on the BBQ with a butter, lemon, garlic and oregano mix for 5 minutes each side. Then cooked in the oven on a bed of lemons that get squeezed over the cooked chicken once it’s rested.
Winnie is upset and sulking because the plover parents are protecting their 4 new chicks and won’t let her past her shed.
November 11, 2025 at 8:05 AM
Winnie is upset and sulking because the plover parents are protecting their 4 new chicks and won’t let her past her shed.
Last heap is the weeds from this spring. Mostly grasses and thistles. I think this one will break down a lot faster. Covered with bedding straw from the chicken shed and suspect I’ll mix the last two heaps together in autumn and that should get the balance right.
November 3, 2025 at 4:43 AM
Last heap is the weeds from this spring. Mostly grasses and thistles. I think this one will break down a lot faster. Covered with bedding straw from the chicken shed and suspect I’ll mix the last two heaps together in autumn and that should get the balance right.
The next heap (summer garden waste which had too much woody material in it and weedy bulbs) isn’t going well. Turned it over and covered with bedding straw from the chicken shed.
November 3, 2025 at 4:43 AM
The next heap (summer garden waste which had too much woody material in it and weedy bulbs) isn’t going well. Turned it over and covered with bedding straw from the chicken shed.
Compost heap update. First heap (last winter and spring garden waste) has almost fully broken down and is now home to my competition pumpkin. Annual competition between local agronomists. It’s competitive and I suck at growing pumpkins. This years attempt has been 15 months in the making.
November 3, 2025 at 4:43 AM
Compost heap update. First heap (last winter and spring garden waste) has almost fully broken down and is now home to my competition pumpkin. Annual competition between local agronomists. It’s competitive and I suck at growing pumpkins. This years attempt has been 15 months in the making.
Our resident echidna has returned for spring
November 1, 2025 at 12:56 AM
Our resident echidna has returned for spring
Tasmanian native Waratahs are in full flower. Only two from the first planting survived as the pigs got out just as they were established and killed all but two. Plan is to have an avenue either side of the driveway
October 31, 2025 at 10:13 PM
Tasmanian native Waratahs are in full flower. Only two from the first planting survived as the pigs got out just as they were established and killed all but two. Plan is to have an avenue either side of the driveway
Colleague: could you come and check a newly sown crop with me? I’m having some issues with sandblasting the newly emerging seedlings.
The crop…
The crop…
October 20, 2025 at 6:58 AM
Colleague: could you come and check a newly sown crop with me? I’m having some issues with sandblasting the newly emerging seedlings.
The crop…
The crop…
After an incredibly wet week to go with the recent string of wet weeks it looks like a sunny day but the heaviest frost of the year. Tomatoes are protected but probably not enough.
October 12, 2025 at 8:14 PM
After an incredibly wet week to go with the recent string of wet weeks it looks like a sunny day but the heaviest frost of the year. Tomatoes are protected but probably not enough.
Nice spot to do car park duty up at the Table Cape Tulip Farm.
October 11, 2025 at 11:34 PM
Nice spot to do car park duty up at the Table Cape Tulip Farm.
It gets wilder by the minute. Now we’ve lost power. That was to be expected.
October 9, 2025 at 8:42 PM
It gets wilder by the minute. Now we’ve lost power. That was to be expected.
Since my last NZ visit in May they have rebranded all the Countdown stores with all the Australian Woolworths branding except for one little local quirk. And I hate it.
September 19, 2025 at 9:20 AM
Since my last NZ visit in May they have rebranded all the Countdown stores with all the Australian Woolworths branding except for one little local quirk. And I hate it.
It’s been a rather pleasant late afternoon walking along the Avon River in Christchurch. There hasn’t been much scope for downtime on this work trip so it was nice to sneak in an hour or so to see the sights.
September 18, 2025 at 5:52 AM
It’s been a rather pleasant late afternoon walking along the Avon River in Christchurch. There hasn’t been much scope for downtime on this work trip so it was nice to sneak in an hour or so to see the sights.
Starting to become a regular visitor to Ashburton and the Ashburton Domain is a beautiful place to take a walk of an evening. Especially now with the spring bulbs and flowers in bloom.
September 16, 2025 at 6:15 AM
Starting to become a regular visitor to Ashburton and the Ashburton Domain is a beautiful place to take a walk of an evening. Especially now with the spring bulbs and flowers in bloom.
Winnie has gotten used to being the queen of the farm but she’s suddenly not happy with Dyllis
September 6, 2025 at 7:37 AM
Winnie has gotten used to being the queen of the farm but she’s suddenly not happy with Dyllis
Donkeys got upset they weren’t getting any attention (they let you and the whole neighbourhood know) but Dyllis the goat stole the show.
September 6, 2025 at 12:23 AM
Donkeys got upset they weren’t getting any attention (they let you and the whole neighbourhood know) but Dyllis the goat stole the show.
Cedric and Fergus say hi back.
September 5, 2025 at 8:40 AM
Cedric and Fergus say hi back.
Her name is Erica. She was a cat we rescued from a litter of kittens born in the barn on our farm (we re homed the rest). She is one of 4 cats we have. They are all rescues in different ways.
August 30, 2025 at 8:57 PM
Her name is Erica. She was a cat we rescued from a litter of kittens born in the barn on our farm (we re homed the rest). She is one of 4 cats we have. They are all rescues in different ways.
Everything I need to do in spring is stored near the plovers nest and they aren’t thrilled with my presence.
August 16, 2025 at 6:38 AM
Everything I need to do in spring is stored near the plovers nest and they aren’t thrilled with my presence.
Every morning I get my socks out and then I have to get a second pair out as the first is fiercely defended.
August 14, 2025 at 9:45 PM
Every morning I get my socks out and then I have to get a second pair out as the first is fiercely defended.
I was there a few weeks ago and it was pretty clear from all the documents on display they wanted it to be secret and cause as much damage as possible.
August 8, 2025 at 3:31 AM
I was there a few weeks ago and it was pretty clear from all the documents on display they wanted it to be secret and cause as much damage as possible.
First attempt at making compost. A few more months and the first pile will be done. First pile was mostly garden rubbish from last spring with animal bedding straw and the second was started over summer. The dry autumn meant decomposing was slow at first but it has accelerated in the last 8 weeks.
July 26, 2025 at 5:43 AM
First attempt at making compost. A few more months and the first pile will be done. First pile was mostly garden rubbish from last spring with animal bedding straw and the second was started over summer. The dry autumn meant decomposing was slow at first but it has accelerated in the last 8 weeks.
Last election poster before I leave Japan. First #politas politician to use this style gets elected in a landslide.
*the cat is a communist and is upset about train line expansion at the expense of people’s homes.
*the cat is a communist and is upset about train line expansion at the expense of people’s homes.
July 18, 2025 at 6:41 AM
Last election poster before I leave Japan. First #politas politician to use this style gets elected in a landslide.
*the cat is a communist and is upset about train line expansion at the expense of people’s homes.
*the cat is a communist and is upset about train line expansion at the expense of people’s homes.