Well, it was only a matter of time that I linked some of my other ventures on this website. It really makes sense to keep it all together on one page I suppose. So you can find us on the socials Facebook @hattonvale_at_meranburn_2865 Instagram #hattonvale_at_meranburn_2865

Here on my little #hobbyfarm or in other parts of the world #homesteading 
I have a few things going on all at once, from breeding Australian Lowline cattle to making honey and honey comb. Which meant many of the jobs have been put on the back burner as well as the Jerky, due to me having the car accident last year!! And now trying to catch up on all the jobs that needed to be done in the time I could do anything. Also an accident also plays on your mental health as well, especially when you already have to deal with other existing mental health stuff.

So my Lowline Cattle are an Australian breed of cattle, that were bred for Australian conditions. And were first bred in Central Western NSW, they aren't miniature cattle they are a full sized breed, just a smaller leg height and shorter length in their body. They look like an Angus just a little smaller.
They have fantastic quality meat and have a great temperament, and have small calves as well. Unfortunately I don't have enough land or cattle to use them in the jerky, however who knows what the future will bring!!

So I have been improving my block since 2018, I have planted a few hundred native trees to bring back shade and bird life to my little piece of paradise. Considering the place had no grass or ground cover on it to speak of from over stocking in the past and the drought for many years. I'm now using the method of rotational grazing from smaller paddocks and moving the cattle on a regular basis. Which so far has been working well, but I'm learning new things everyday and making mistakes but that's how we learn things in life as an adult I suppose. Just like, when the new calves work out that the white wire (electric fence) gives you a little zap if you touch it!! And sometimes I just forget that it's on as well, trust me you remember very quickly that it is on.

I'm also learning how bees work and don't work, which is a great thing for myself and my kids to all do together. So that's another thing that once I have worked out all the bugs and just the whole thing of keeping the bees happy, will turn into another item I will be selling. Hopefully I should get it sorted this year. 

Every thing that I'm doing here at Hattonvale, I'm self taught in!! Well YouTube has helped a lot and so has Mr.Google. So things all take time to learn, like welding a cattle crate up to put on your trailer. I learnt that the welder uses a hell of a lot of mig wire, grinding disks and cutting disks!! But I know for next time!!

I'll try and post a few pictures on here and even videos once I work out that stuff, as with social media and websites you have to keep them going even if your not selling stuff, to keep all those algorithms going to keep you on google some where I guess. 

And once great sunrise at the bottom of this page.

​#thejerkybloke

Well I finally ended up with the fantastic Covid-19!!!
I really can't say I'd like to get it again that's for sure. But the old RAT's are hopeless for testing!!!! I did about 10 before a positive came up, the reason for that was is I live 50 KMs away from the nearest PCR testing location open on a Sunday. Also it was a case that I couldn't stand up and get around the house let alone drive a 100 KM round trip in the ute, common sense has to prevail at some stage although common sense has seemed to have died these days.

All I can say is if you feel that sick and a RAT comes back negative and you feel like your dying!! Go get a PCR test done, at least you'll have the peace of mind knowing that you're not spreading this crappy thing on to anyone else.

One thing that I found made me feel better once I could get up and cook was, 2 eggs from my free range chooks that I poached in a mix of cooked down tomatoes and onions straight from my vegetable garden and some garlic (store bought). Not that I put up cooking stuff on here, but if you want something different that tastes great try it!! If its easier, just use a tinned crushed tomatoes with onion and garlic and heat it up and once its warm crack in your eggs and slowly poach away. Happy eating.

Stay safe all, and hopefully I'll get this jerky going full on again very soon

Pat 
#thejerkybloke

Hi there, well its been a really long time since I have done anything on this blog!!

Between COVID happening in 2020, where I was unsure if it could be spread via food preparation!! Which made mw think to keep all my customers, family and myself safe and healthy I decided to suspend making jerky!!
And also the added challenges of home schooling my 3 daughters, which wasn't hard as I taught at TAFE and also while in the military. It was more the learning how things have changed with the way kids are taught stuff these days. So it was less stressful not doing the jerky.

Then I had gastric surgery, which sat me on my bum for awhile during the recovery period! Then to add to matters I broke my left foot, which required surgery and pins and screws to be added to repair my foot. So that was another write-off, then to add to the bad run!!! The third thing; as it always happens in three's.......I had a tilt-tray tow truck hit my RAM Ute and wipe it out. But that's what happens when a Tow-truck loses control in the snow on a highway when they are doing 80+ km/h, causing them to slide sideways down the highway!! And you have no where to go, but workout what the safest out come will be for you in an accident. Luckily I was calm and let him hit the left side of the ute!! It got pushed in about a foot from the front to the back tyres, resulting in me having back issues for the rest of 2021. 

So during all this time, I had planned to have my Commercial Kitchen up and running, but money and my great luck put that all on hold. But now slowly, really slowly it has started coming together. With a few fridge and freezer brake downs and complete layout change of the kitchen and taking up more room. The gas and water is now fully connected, power to all the equipment is 98% done. The power was all good but the addition of two massive dehydrators this year, I've had to get a few things re-run for the dehydrators to run with out tripping the power!! 

So I don't have a start date as yet!! But it should be some time soon this year (2022) so long as I don't procrastinate too much, you just have to love having PTSD; it just does great things sometimes. But making the jerky is a great therapy for me, so you'd think I'd be making it more😂😂

Well that's enough out of me for today, hopefully I'll be able to put up some pictures of the place and the cattle soon, and have a look at my Facebook page of my property, Hattonvale@Meanburn 2865 and you might just see what other funny and odd stuff I get up too when I'm not PJ's Jerky

#beefjerky #jerky #porkcrakle #porkcrakling #handmade #australiansmallbusiness #familybusiness

Modern Technology

RAIN!!!

Moving Forward