Still In The...

Still in the Bindoon Museum and I was lucky enough to get a demonstration of the old wooden citrus sorter. 

The elderly gentleman who was guiding me around the museum explained that his family had donated this piece of equipment, and he remembers clearly working in the family orchard as a child and well into adulthood.

Unfortunately it's now a redundant occupation in the area. Lack of workers was the beginning of the downfall.

Most of the land has been sold or trees either taken out or sadly left to wither and die.

It was really sobering to hear about how so many families have suffered with the loss of the citrus orchards in the area. Once booming businesses all closing their doors and the once beautiful orchards no longer offering a living.

However there are still a few little orchards running in the area.

And so I brought home four bags of succulent sweet oranges. They were sold along the roadside, along with other fruit and vegetables.

These oranges are far tastier than any sold in the supermarkets, and smaller shops. 

I had stopped buying citrus a year or so ago, due to lack of taste. From now on I will head up to Bindoon each winter for a few bags of fresh oranges.

Because, you simply can't beat, fresh local produce...