Yes, we’re still picking macadamia nuts to help out our farm host family while workers can’t come, making the best of Covid19. The farm manager, Zweli, is doing the lion’s share of the work with his granddaughter, Ane, in close attendance. She is so agile climbing up the trees to get many nuts, and she keeps up a constant conversation if her grandpa is within earshot, because she is definitely most comfortable speaking Xhosa. (That Xh is pronounced as a click/tsk)
The rest of us pitch in picking when we can however we can. The picking is almost done, just a few trees left. Sam has made a drying vat with an old industrial fan and one of our old jojo water tanks. This will keep the macadamias dry until they’re ready to take to the co-op.
When the days are done, we clean up
and then enjoy each other’s company. We might play pickleball or go for a brisk hilly walk on the farm property, or just eat supper and hang out together. We are blessed and we hope you each have some way of working and relaxing in this new rhythm of life.