Strawberry Pigs Forever

Occasionally life provides a bounty. 

On this occasion the bounty came in the form of 500kgs of strawberries. 

On one of the few really hot days we have here in Tasmania we were heading to the beach when one of our neighbours knocked on the front door asking if we would like some strawberries for the pigs. The husband was excited and was about to grab a bucket, but the neighbour said to bring the trailer. 

They set off to the local strawberry farm. The cold room needed clearing out for the next weeks pickings and due to the Christmas break there was no jamming going on. Seven 60 litre drums later and we had a trailer load of strawberries.

Mega strawberries 

Well it was all a bit exciting really. The beach trip was postponed and we began to fossick for good strawberries. The Nanna got suitably enthused with picking through for good ones. The neighbourhood kids turned up. My ginger ate so many that he got a stomach ache. Phone calls were made and friends and Nanna's craft group turned up to get a bucket or two for jam. 

We ended up with ten bags in our freezer for later on. There will be jam and strawberry sauce aplenty in the future. One of my favourite desserts at the moment are a plateful of frozen ones, a dollop of coconut cream and a few nuts on top. Delicious. 

After we had fed the neighbourhood children and provided the craft group mafia (the Dons of gossip) with buckets of goodness we did eventually give some to the pigs.....

The Gonch!

There was much excitement in the piggy world over the strawberry bounty. Three pigs got to gorge themselves and did not do much over the next couple of days. They began to take on a bloody appearance and looked like they had been involved in some sort of violent street clash. The Gonch took to standing in the trough and began to sport some very fashionable red shoes. 

The way people work together in a small community is very different from the city. Sharing bounties is one way that they come together. Neighbours and friends looking out for one another builds the community spirit. 

Wouldn't live anywhere else.