FARMGATENEWSWow ... we had a great response to our last newsletter.

Lots of people called to get a copy of the Consumer’s Awareness Guide to Shed Building. If you didn’t get one last time, go to page 4 of this issue for details of how you can get your FREE copy today.

We heard from quite a few farmers who said our newsletter was timely because they were just in need of a new shed and found the article on “The Secret of Successful Shed Building” very useful to them.

And then of course there was the story about the Old Monash Playground. Now that brought back a flood of memories for so many people. You don’t have to live anywhere near us to be someone who remembers visits to that wonderful adventure playground, which sadly is closed now. But we still encourage you to visit the Riverland. It’s a beautiful tourist destination with the River Murray, Lake Bonney and numerous backwaters. Just beautiful.

During September our guys attended two field days – Riverland and Yorke Peninsula – and had a great time catching up with some of our Grant Sheds Family (ie. People who own “Grant” sheds) as well as helping lots of others with their decision making about new sheds.

Oh ... and our big event for August was a Shed Party at Strathalbyn. More on that later in this newsletter.

We are delighted for our grain farmers that the season appears to be finishing well for most with reasonable rains in most areas during the 1st week of October. The outlook for horticulturists has also been brightened with the promise of full water allocations this year but still much concern about crop prices, winery expectations, etc.

We wish you all well with this year’s harvest and, while this seems a bit early, we wish you all a very happy Christmas time. Remember to take some time out to enjoy this annual event with your family and we’ll have another newsletter out to you in the new year.

So for now, grab a cuppa, take the weight off your feet for a while and enjoy this latest copy of “Farm Gate News”. And remember, we’d love to hear from you if you have any story suggestions for our newsletter. Perhaps you or someone you know has a story that’s worth sharing with others in our farming and agriculture communities.

All the best Ali & Danny Halupka Owners – Grant Sheds.

Here’s our second edition. We hope you like it. Our contact details are at the bottom of the page...We’d love your feedback and suggestions so we can continually make it better and even more interesting for you.

OWners - Grant sHeds

FarM Gate neWs: the Farmer’s newsletter Phone 1800 088 528 email info@grantsheds.com.au

InsIde tHIs Issue

p2 Prepare For Grain Harvest

p3 estate Planning For Farmers

p4 size does Matter

p5 david Crawford’s Personal shed Planning tips

p6 7 simple tips for a successful shed Party

p7 recipes for shed parties

p8 Farm stories

BrOuGHt tO yOu By

Grant ShedS PO Box 29, Monash, Sa 5342 fax 08 8583 5402 web www.grantsheds.com.au

Ali and Danny Halupka

A BI-MONTHLY NEWSLETTER TO INFORM AND ENTERTAIN YOUNovember-December 2011 Edition

the time lost in unnecessary machinery breakdowns during harvest can be minimised with pre-harvest preparation. a minor repair pre-harvest saves a major repair later with less worry involved and more crop harvested.

Most machinery checks form a routine part of the daily and weekly maintenance program.

the checklist below assumes thorough post-harvest cleaning and maintenance was carried out earlier in the year.

at maintenance times like this, farmers with a decent farm shed for their workshop are envied by their peers who don’t. It is so much easier and more pleasant to be preparing your machinery for harvest in the undercover comfort of a large, clean workshop.

With tools and parts well organised nearby, and the relative cleanliness that can be achieved in a decent shed with a concrete floor, your motivation for harvest preparation

or routine maintenance can be so much greater.

On Page 4 & 5 read how david Crawford of Strathalbyn overcame his decades long struggle of crude shedding to now have the shed he’d always longed for. For the first time ever, david will be keenly servicing his equipment prior to harvest ... and loving it.

Prepare For Grain Harvest

1. Check for any rust, oil leaks or cracks particularly in the rear

axle frame and from any previous weld flaws.

2. remove the plastic and covers from breathers, air inlets, and

exhaust outlets.

3. remove and clean air filters on the engine and air conditioner.

4. Check air-conditioning pressure-gas and test run to make sure

cold air blows out.

5. Check tyres for cracks, splits and holes and ensure the inflation

pressure is correct.

6. Make sure wheel nuts are tight and there are no missing or

broken studs.

7. Install and tension all belts that were removed.

8. ensure the belts are checked for cracks and fraying and

replace if necessary.

9. It is also a good idea to carry a replacement belt.

10. Worn pulleys and belts can be a fire risk so check their

alignment.

11. ensure all guards are fitted to the harvester to reduce accidents.

12. Install and tension all chains that were removed. Chains have

two main enemies – wear and stretch. a roller chain works on

the principle of a roller moving around a pin. If the roller and

pin become worn, the whole chain is worn and liable to break.

a chain with excessive bowing indicates there is considerable

wear in the pins and rollers and the chain requires replacing.

Stretched chains cause excessive wear on sprockets so check

the alignment or replace chains.

13. ‘Sealed for life’ bearings will work well provided the seal remains

intact. the seal keeps grease in and dirt out but if damaged,

grease and dirt combine to destroy the bearing, so replace

it. remember not to over-grease bearings especially sealed

bearings. rust can also develop when harvesters remain idle

and then rusty bearings need replacing.

14. replace and re-adjust any damaged sections on your harvester

front, making sure the knife is sitting firmly and correctly positioned.

15. Straighten knife guards if any fingers are bent.

16. Use an ironing spray on surfaces such as the open front table

at the start of the season until the machine shines up with

operation.

17. Ideally harvest cereal crops after the harvester has worked

another crop such as pulse or oilseed as it cleans the surface.

18. Clean off and re-install the knife and sieves if previously

removed.

19. Check wires for wear from vibration and freedom of the

adjustment.

20. activate the stone trap to ensure it opens and closes freely.

21. ensure there are no cracks or holes in radiator hoses and that

hose clamps have not rusted.

22. always check radiator fluid levels and top up when required.

23. Clean the water trap in the fuel line and check fluid levels in

brakes, wipers and the battery for corrosion and that terminals

are tight.

24. Check all electrical parts such as lights, monitors and radio as

mice and rats can damage and short circuit cables.

25. Check also the brakes, transmission and hydraulics.

26. Check engine and hydraulic oil levels.

27. a full filter and oil change will be required if the engine oil was

not changed at the end of the last season although some inner

and outer filters only need cleaning.

28. Check manuals for the recommended service interval.

29. replace cracked or fractured hydraulic hoses.

30. Clean the windscreen glass inside and out.

31. Before harvesting starts take the harvester for a pre-run –

idle for a few minutes; use full revolutions per minute for the

same length of time; idle and engage gear before returning to

full revolutions per minute. take the harvester for a test drive

around the yard.

this article re-printed from ‘Farming ahead’ magazine with permission from the

publishers, the Kondinin Group. Visit www.KondininGroup.com.au for membership

information.

4 Your 31 Point Machinery Checklist

P2 FarM Gate neWs: the Farmer’s newsletter

2010 Harvest in full swing at

Stoeckel’s Paringa property.

FarM Gate neWs: the Farmer’s newsletter P3

the questions I am asked most by farmers relate to succession planning – generally how best to pass the family farm onto the next generation. For farmers this involves two separate assets: the land and the business.

Complexities arise in a number of ways. Often the retiring couple will be asset-rich, but the business might be struggling to provide a good income for both generations. the older generation might wish to de-prioritise further capital investment in order to maximise income, while the younger generation have a vested interest in the farmland not being sold to free-up capital.

then there is the thorny problem of how to achieve fairness between the children, if not all of them are staying on the farm.

and what happens if one of the children gets divorced – could the ex-spouse lay claim to the farm (or part of it) - might the farm pass out of the family forever?

I haven’t lived on a farm in over 20 years, but it’s forever in my blood. now I’m a city lawyer. Like my father was, and his father before him. My uncle is one of the oldest living winemakers in McLaren Vale, and his daughter has transitioned into the role of senior winemaker. My family understands something about heritage & legacy – and about a family’s bond to their land.

Some of the fundamental skills I use in my law practice are the same ones I learned on the land as a child. I know that we need to keep a weather-eye out for clouds on the horizon. I know that we need to ride-out storms (which always pass), and to plan for when the good times come again. I know the value of making provisions for the lean times, and of making the most of existing resources.

Creating and maintaining a modern integrated estate plan is essential for the australian farmer. the legal documents in your estate plan are excellent tools, and like the tools in your shed, they need to be kept sharp to maximise their effectiveness. Preventative Maintenance is essential.

estate planning is a specialised field, and doing it properly requires considerable care and preparation. Well-crafted estate-planning documents can clarify how things are managed if someone is incapacitated or dies.

to develop a proper fully-integrated estate plan, a proper analysis of family objectives, net worth, and income needs is necessary, so that the correct estate planning tools can be chosen. this really needs to be done by a lawyer specialising in estate planning, probably in combination with other specialist advisers regarding accounting, financial planning, insurance and funerals. Some people worry about the cost, but it is really an excellent investment in your family’s future harmony, because without it, things can get out of control and a lot more expensive. Protracted legal battles can tear families apart, especially if there are already some family tensions. Without proper planning, families can endure enormous stress, expense & heartache in trying to unravel the estate planning failures of their relatives.

In future articles I will touch upon some of the lessons to be learned from estate planning failures of rich & famous australians, such as Michael hutchence, Peter Brock, Bob Jane, alan Scott, heath Ledger and Lang hancock. and I will offer some proven strategies for the safe & reliable transfer of ownership & control of farming assets.

death and taxes (and illness) may be unavoidable … but they don’t have to ruin your family or your business. Make the effort to protect the people you really care about.

Estate Planning For Farmers

This photo was taken during the 2010 SA bumper grain harvest.

rod Genders is a senior australian lawyer specialising in estate planning and accident compensation. this includes Probate and Letters of administration for deceased estates, as well as Wills, trusts, Powers-of-attorney and advance Medical directives. his boutique specialist law firm Genders & Partners is the oldest law firm in South australia, established in 1848 – visit it at www.genders.com.au . rod is also a prolific author and speaker. Some of his articles and books on Wills, Probate, trusts, estate Planning, asset Protection and retirement Planning may be found at www.estateplanners.net.au

Part of a series by Rod Genders

While we see price rises all the time (and over the

past few years there have been a lot of steel price

increases) it’s not very often that we see those prices

come down again. Well right now, our steel suppliers

have bent to our pressure and reviewed their pricing

just to keep our business. In turn, these savings can

be passed on to you.

*naturally, savings are dependent on different factors such as

shed size, type, layout etc.

If you are even thinking about a beaut new shed

for yourself, rIGht nOW is the time to be doing

something about it. don’t leave it until after harvest.

Get it underway tOdaY.

that way you’ll be guaranteed of these short-term

special prices and you won’t have to think about it

again during harvest. One less thing for you to worry

about.

Call our team today. If you need help planning or

designing the best shed size or layout to suit your

personal needs, ask for Brenton or danny and they

will give you the help you need to design a shed that

really works for you. You can rely on their experience,

expertise and commitment.

Grant Sheds...with the only Rock-Solid 50 Year

Structural Guarantee on farm sheds. Made to last

... and last ... and last!

So call now on

Freecall 1800 088 528 to get your new shed on the move.

Order Your New Farm Shed Before Harvest &

SAVE BIG DOLLARSDue to Specially Negotiated Steel Price Reductions

Only Available To Grant Sheds

Some people have saved HUGE amounts. For example,

Michael Saved $17,179*

Kelvin Saved $ 6,968*

Mark Saved $ 6,440*

andrew Saved $26,663*

ever since popular Strathalbyn farmer, David Crawford has been on his property, ‘middlegrove’, he has put up with a small, 70 year old shed - and, as most farmers would understand, David suffered major ‘shed envy’.

every farmer understands the longing to own a decent sized shed to work in comfortably and to store all his machinery, vehicles and implements, to ensure they are protected from the weather – and david has dreamt of little else for 30 years.

the original shed was an old dairy with a dirt floor and low roof and it was far too small and far too low to be of any use at all to today’s modern farmer. “anytime I needed to service some equipment, I had to park it outside of the shed and work out in the weather – rain or shine – then pack it away again each day to protect it from the weather and from being stolen,” explains david.

But his quest to find a new shed was not as straight forward as he had hoped.

“I looked at a number of sheds on other people’s farms and talked to them about their sheds and was amazed to find they had issues like poor quality materials and the general construction was a bit second rate in the sheds they bought. even in some relatively new sheds the owners could point out signs of rust and fatigue. I was shocked at the poor quality of what our local farmers have to put up with,” says david.

“So when I walked into a shed built by Grant

Sheds, the quality just stood out compared to the other sheds. things looked bigger and stronger. and since they give you a 50 year structural guarantee as well, I just knew they had full faith in the strength and quality of their sheds. When the shed is going to be here for 2 or 3 more generations of farmers or whatever, you’re looking for quality.” david is extremely pleased with his recently constructed Grant shed.

david’s dream is now a reality.

• Hisnewshedmeasures40’x75’x21’compared with the old one that had only 6’ height clearance

•It’sfullyenclosedwith4x15’widex21’high sliding doors that roll so smoothly even his wife can open them easily

•Wheneachpairofdoorsisopenitgives david 30’ wide openings so he can fit his modern large farm equipment like boomspray and harvester in easily.

•Issostrongthebuildersdidn’tneedsidesupports to hold up the frame before the cladding went on

•WasdesignedinconsultationwithBrenton halupka from Grant Sheds to determine its correct siting based on the

close proximity of overhead powerlines, existing positioning of silos, removing the old shed, wind strength of the area, and planning the shed layout for maximum usefulness and work efficiency

•Hasaconcretefloor,lightingandelectrical, and workbenches installed

at his recent ‘Shed Opening Party’ which was attended by 50 locals as well as the team from Grant Sheds, david paid tribute to his wife andrea and to Grant Sheds by thanking them for their effort and for their free advice in their special farmer help guide titled “The Farmers Guide To Choosing The Best Farm Shed” which explains the 7 big costly mistakes shed buyers make – and how to avoid them, as well as listing the important questions you should ask before you buy your next shed.

david advised all farmers interested in learning more about buying a farm shed that is really suited to their needs should get a copy of the Grant Sheds report as it saved him thousands of dollars and lots of headaches.

You can request a fRee copy of the report by calling 1300 064 775 24 hours, 7 days a week, and using the code word newSleTTeR. or go to www.farmShedSolutions.com.au

P4 FarM Gate neWs: the Farmer’s newsletter

Crawford’s super-strong “Grant” shed showing the lean-to side which

houses smaller farm and family vehicles.

Get a FREE copy of the Official Consumer’s Awareness Guide to Shed Building (valued at $97):

It reveals the big difference between a farm shed that’s made “on the cheap” and one that’s really suited to your needs.

It’s called, “The Farmers Guide To Choosing The Best Farm Shed For Your Rural Property”, and tells you “The 7 Big Costly Mistakes Shed Buyers make – And How To Avoid Them”.

Simply call the 24 hour, 7 days a week pre-recorded message line on:

1300 064 775 and leave your name, postal address and the code word “Newsletter” and we’ll send a copy to you ‘pronto’.

SIZE DOES MATTER!

AFTER 70 YEARS POPULAR STRATHALBYN FARMER FINALLY CONCEDES THAT ...

ADDED VALUEAn example of the added value you get with a ‘Grant’ shed. Good, strong welded baseplates and 4 x 24mm footings bolts, where as many others use only 2 much smaller footings bolts and often just a simple non-welded angle bracket to bolt columns to concrete.

FarM Gate neWs: the Farmer’s newsletter P5

Having waited so long to bring his dream shed to reality, David Crawford had plenty of time to carefully consider just what he wanted his new shed to be like. David openly admits to being a detailed person, a planner. So what better person to ask for his ideas on how to plan your new farm shed.

Here are David’s tips:• take the time to consider what you

need and want in your shed

• What do you want to use the shed for?

• does it need to be multi-purpose – eg. machinery storage, workshop, car storage, parts storage, etc. do you need a secure and ventilated area for chemical storage or an area to store hay?

• think about the shed layout that will give you the best use (including where you’ll put doors, personal access doors, benches, lighting, power outlets)

• how big is the machinery or equipment you want to store? this will guide you on how wide your openings need to be.

• Consider where to locate your shed, for workplace efficiency, but also for issues like overhead powerlines, functionality with other buildings, silos etc.

• Consider a concrete floor, lighting and electrical, and workbenches to

make your shed a joy to work in

• think about how you’ll work in the shed and where best to store things

• don’t seek the cheapest shed quote or you may end up disappointed

• Value for money is far more important so check things like the shed materials to be used, how doors are made, size of footings bolts and other fasteners, etc.

• and judge how well the shed supplier will service your needs by the way they deal with you before you order and from the recommendations of others who have been there before.

• and finally ... keep your wife happy... so you can have your shed !

david decided to go all the way and install a concrete floor, concrete aprons, lighting and electrical all straight after the shed was built. I could have saved money by doing it later but I think it’s a false economy because (a) I may never get around to doing those later and may regret it for a long time, and (b) it will cost even more later so I’m saving by doing it now.

In david’s case he decided he needed the following:

• 12m span, 22.5m long, 6.3m high

• 2 wide openings of 9m (30’) each for easy access and storage for his boomspray, tractors and other farm equipment.

• Sliding doors to fully enclose the shed for security reasons

• 6.3m (21’) height to give plenty of clearance for today’s large farm machinery

• a lean-to on one side that could be

used to house the ute and family cars

• a door between the main shed and the lean-to for easy-access from one section to the other

• One bay of the lean-to partitioned off to create a parts and maintenance equipment storage area with plenty of shelving to keep everything well organised

• a personal access door on the house side of the shed for quick access

• Some decent sized work benches

• Good lighting – both general lighting for the shed and over workbenches

• Concrete floor throughout. 6” in the main shed, 4” in the lean-to and exterior aprons

• Gravel around the outside of the shed to reduce the amount of mud around the shed in winter

david said that he looks forward to doing mechanical maintenance on his farm equipment in the new shed. In the past he had to brave the elements of heat, cold, wind and rain outside and that was never much fun. he is also looking forward to undertaking a few production jobs at his new workbenches.

and his wife....? Well david allowed her an area in the new shed for her car and for storing some household items which were cluttering up the house. and we know andrea must be happy because she spent hours sorting through all david’s collections of nuts and bolts, spare parts and bits and pieces to help him get his spare parts section well organised right from the start. and he’s tickled pink with that!

David Crawford’s Personal Shed

Planning Tips Pictured Above: Andrea & David Crawford and strategically placed work-benches and overhead lighting make working enjoyable for David in his new workshop

P6 FarM Gate neWs: the Farmer’s newsletter

Shed party Tip # 1 – PREPARE YOUR SHEDdo a bit of a tidy-up in your shed before the party. Make yourself some clear space for the party. Move out some vehicles, put some stuff away, sweep the floor. Use it as an opportunity for a bit of a clean-up. What better motivation and reward? a party for having a clean-up!

Shed party Tip # 2 - FOODeating is one of the main focal points of a party. Food should be yummy, but simple and easy to prepare. BBQ’s of course are an aussie favourite, and for good reason. It’s easy... and your friends are likely to help with the cooking. a bunch of blokes around a barbie is an aussie tradition.

Simple salads can be made up in advance and I recommend that you keep to a small number of salad varieties. Better a small number but large quantity of each than fiddling around making lots of different salads that people take a bit of everything, then don’t eat it all anyway. If the weather is cold when you hold your party, then a warm Potato Bake is always enjoyed.

and of course, everyone looks forward to deserts. It’s not critical to have deserts but they certainly top off a good meal. again make it simple. Large bowls of help-yourself deserts are the go. Fruit salads are easy, and see our desert recipes on page 7 of this newsletter for ever-popular deserts.

Shed party Tip # 3 – DRINKSthe aussie acceptance of BYO keeps your party costs way down and then everyone brings exactly what they like to drink. But if you do provide the drinks yourself, use several big tubs filled with ice so everyone can grab drinks themselves. have soft drinks in one, beer in another and wine etc in another. Shed party Tip # 4 – SIMPLE DECORATIONSdecorations always add atmosphere to a party and they can be very simple. String up a few balloons and maybe a few

streamers across your shed for immediate party cheer. If you want something fancier try paper lanterns (available from some “cheap” stores) hung on strings across the shed or around the walls. note though: We did this one year and the affect was really great, but the cheap batteries we bought ran out in about 2 hours so either invest in better batteries or don’t turn them on until the sun goes down.

Shed party Tip # 5 – COMFORThave some fans about if your shed party is held during hot weather. there are now fans available that include a fine water mister to cool the air a lot more.

If your party is in cool weather have some patio heaters or fire boxes that people can warm themselves by.

Some simple balloons and streamers provided a party atmosphere for the 50th birthday party for Julie Ongley of Wanbi when their new ‘Grant’ shed was built.

7 SIMPLE TIPS FOR YOUR SUCCESSFUL SHED PARTY With all this talk about shed parties and with

Christmas just around the corner, I thought it would be

great to talk about a few entertaining ideas.

OK, so for many of you, preparations for this year’s harvest is your highest

priority at this time of year, but the following info may be useful for Christmas

celebrations. Or, consider holding a post-harvest party ... hosting a party is an

excellent way to get together and wind-down with friends.

there are many ways to plan a successful outdoor party.

Shed party Tip # 6 – CLEAN-UPUse plastic or paper plates and cutlery to save cleaning up time afterwards. Yeah, OK so plastic cutlery is not easy to cut a steak with ... so don’t have steak! have meat that is easy to cut up or that can be put between 2 pieces of bread for a sandwich.

Cover your tables with paper tablecloths and tape them down so they don’t blow off. Paper tablecloths hide old, marked tables and can simply be thrown out after use.

and again, if your friends offer help to clean up ... take them up on their offer!

Shed party Tip #7 – ENJOY!Keep your party simple so you can take time to enjoy the party yourself. there is nothing worse than being so busy and so stressed out about being the host that you don’t enjoy your own party. Simplicity is the key.

Keep the food simple, accept offers of help from friends (it will make them feel special too), take time to spend time with your friends at the party and make clean-up easy.

With all this talk on shed parties and as we’ll be entering the BBQ season in a few months I think it is important to refresh your memory on the etiquette of this Aussie outdoor cooking activity.

When a man volunteers to do the BBQ the following chain of events are

put into motion:

1. the woman buys the food.

2. the woman makes the salad, prepares the vegetables, and makes dessert.

3. the woman prepares the meat for cooking, places it on a tray along

with the necessary cooking utensils and sauces, and takes it to the

man who is lounging beside the BBQ - beer in hand.

4. the woman remains outside the compulsory three meter exclusion

zone where the exuberance of testosterone and other manly bonding

activities can take place without the interference of the woman.

5. the Man PLaCeS the Meat On the BBQ.

6. the woman goes inside to organize the plates and cutlery.

7. the woman comes out to tell the man that the meat is looking great.

he thanks her and asks if she will bring another beer while he flips

the meat. 8. the Man taKeS the Meat OFF the BBQ and handS It tO

the WOMan. 9. the woman prepares the plates, salad, bread, utensils, napkins,

sauces, and brings them to the table.

10. after eating, the woman clears the table and does the dishes.

11. everyone PraISeS the Man and thanKS hIM for his cooking efforts...

12. the man asks the woman how she enjoyed her ‘night off’ and, upon

seeing her annoyed reaction, concludes that ... there’s just no pleasing

some women!

BBQ RULES

FarM Gate neWs: the Farmer’s newsletter P7

david Crawford was so pleased with his new “Grant Sheds” farm shed that he decided to throw a party!

When you’ve waited so long for a decent shed to work in, and you are so delighted with the result, why wouldn’t you want to show it off to neighbours, family and friends? actually it was a great display of community and mateship from a well-liked Strathalbyn couple.

We often need a reason for a large gathering of acquaintances and when there are no major milestone birthdays coming up, what better reason than a “new Shed Party” ?

about 50 people arrived at the Crawford’s on a beautiful sunny Sunday for a BBQ lunch, shed inspection and a chinwag. david & andrea also invited the contractors who had helped with his shed including the Grant Sheds team.

the BBQ lunch was accompanied by a lovely array of salads and some outstanding deserts that no-one wanted to go home before trying. ali sought out andrea’s recipes for a couple of the deserts and shares these with you.

david is truly a lucky man. a new shed others would kill for and a beautiful wife and partner in andrea who supports and loves her man... and his new shed!

Celebrate Your New Shed

Crawford’s

• Insteadofmakinglargeroundpavlovas and cutting them into serving size slices, Andrea made lots of small ones – about 10cm diameter – as individual servings. This means you don’t have the messy job of cutting them up to serve.• Shelaidoutthepavlovabases,whipped cream and fresh fruit in separate bowls on the food table and let guests top them with their own choices.• Shavedorchoppedpeppermintaero bar is another attractive and tasty topping to decorate with

Chocolate MousseAndrea’s chocolate mousse was absolutelydelicious.Sosmoothand creamy. When asked for the recipe she could have been one of those people who keep their best recipes a secret.But she openly admitted it was a simple White Wings brand packet mousse, readily available in supermarkets.Good on you Andrea. Let’s keep cooking simple.

Andrea’s Clever Serving Suggestions:

Andrea Crawford’s Stunning Deserts

ingredients:

• 1tablespooncornflour

• 6eggwhites • 1teaspooncreamoftartar

• 11/3cupscastersugar

• 1teaspoonvanillaextract

• 1teaspoonwhitevinegar

• 200mlpurecream

• Choppedstrawberries,kiwifruitorfruitsalad

to decorate

method: 1. Preheat oven to 200º C. draw a 24cm

(diameter) circle on a sheet of baking paper. Place

it pencil side down on a baking tray. dust lightly

with 1 teaspoon cornflour.

2. Using an electric mixer, beat eggwhites and

cream of tartar in a large bowl until soft peaks

form. add sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, beating

constantly until thick and glossy. add remaining 3

teaspoons cornflour with the last of the sugar. Fold

through vanilla and vinegar.

3. Spoon meringue onto baking paper. Shape

into a circle using the pencil mark as a guide, with

a slightly higher edge and a low centre. reduce

oven to 100º C. Bake for 1 ¼ to 1 ½ hours or until

dry and crisp. turn off oven and open oven door.

Cool completely in oven (pavlova may sink during

cooling).

4. Slide pavlova onto a serving plate. Spread with

cream and top with fruit or chocolate for a colourful

... and yummy ... display.

5. Serve and enjoy.

ShedParty!Pictured left: enjoying a chat at Crawford’s recent Shed Opening Party are: Chris Littlejohn & ron Koch of ‘Loron’ at Finnis; Brenton halupka of Grant Sheds and don Clark of ‘Sandergrove holdings’ Strathalbyn

Classic Pavlova

Cooking time: 75 minutes

Farm Hints & Ideas

Ammo Tool Boxesarmy surplus ammunition boxes make ideal heavy-duty tool boxes and can be mounted nearly anywhere on a tractor. the large boxes hold plenty of tools and supplies and are tall enough to serve as a jack stand.

the Crawford family have been farmers in the Strathalbyn district for 90 years. david worked on the farm with his father when he left school and took a ‘gap-year’ before starting uni. he never quite got back to uni.

david & andrea now own ‘Middlegrove’ which covers an area of 1200 hectares and they lease another 200 which they share-farm. david works the farm with his son and another worker.

they are mixed farmers and grow wheat, barley, canola, lupins and peas as their main crops. they also have a self-replacing merino flock and they breed cross-bred lambs as well as having a few beef cattle.

are YOU a SUrVIVOr?When I was a kid I didn’t have an XBox or Wii. I had a pushbike and a curfew ... sunset.

I lived outside, not inside. If I didn’t eat what my mum made then I didn’t eat. I didn’t dare tell my parents “no,” nor talk back.

Hands up if you drank water out of a hose, dam, creek or rainwater tank ...with no added chemicals.

Hand sanitizer didn’t exist, but you COuLd get your mouth washed out with soap.

Life wasn’t hard, it was Life. and I survived!

GRANT SHEDS PO Box 29, Monash SA 5342 EMAil info@grantsheds.com.au © Copyright New Horizons (SA) Pty Ltd, Trading as “Grant Sheds” No portion of this newsletter may be reproduced without the written permission of the publisher. This newsletter is distributed with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in rendering any legal or professional advice of any kind. The publisher disclaims any personal liability for the information, advice, recommendations and/or strategies presented within. It is up to the reader to comply with any local, state or federal laws.

“ASk THe PeoPLe WHo oWN oNe”

“The Quality Just Stood Out Compared With Other Sheds”

Grant Sheds have been great. Their helpful advice gave me the confidence to go

ahead with the new shed I’ve been dreaming of for so long.

I was concerned about other companies sheds and I walked into a Grant shed that’s

built locally here and I was really impressed.

You talk to other people and you find little issues that other people have pointed out

to me (with other shed brands) - relatively new sheds showing signs of rust or fatigue.

And it was an obvious thing as soon as I walked into this other Grant shed – the

quality just stood out compared with other sheds.

The builders stayed in touch all the time. I was really pleased with their workmanship

and professionalism. It was surprising how quick a shed like this was erected,

especially with the lean-to on it which added a lot of work.

A lot of sheds I’ve seen, when the frame goes up the frame moves – this shed stood

still. It was rigid a long time before the iron went on, even before the trusses and

everything went up. That was a real confidence move for me ... that we’d done the

right thing. I’ve heard about some sheds that it’s just the iron that’s holding it up.

Another thing that was a real positive was hearing that Grant Sheds has a 50 year

warranty. That had a very positive effect on our decision because when you buy a

shed you want it to last. You want it there for yourself and I’m hoping for my son –

that it will be here for his time.

You spend a lot of money but I’m really happy knowing I’ve got a quality shed.

If Grant Sheds can offer a 50 year guarantee, then you know it’s gonna last ... and it’s

a big confidence boost for us. You pour a lot of money into a shed and you know it’s

gonna be there for a long time.

I have no hesitation in buying another Grant shed. Definitely.

The professionalism, the help from you guys – it’s been great. I’d

definitely come to you guys again.

David Crawford

‘Middlegrove’ Strathalbyn SA

FarM Gate neWs: the Farmer’s newsletter Phone 1800 088 528 email info@grantsheds.com.au

Grant ShedS PO Box 29, Monash, Sa 5342 fax 08 8583 5402 web www.grantsheds.com.au

“I Don’t Suffer From Insanity ... I Enjoy Every Minute In It”

“ It’s better to burn out

than it is to rust. ”Neil Young (1945 – )

Canadian music artist

“ Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it. ”

Ferris Bueller American student from the film Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986)

“If your actions inspire others to

dream more, learn

more, do more and

become more, you

are a leader.”

- John Quincy Adams

MONTHLY HUMOUR