Can you smell the Rain?

We were blessed with about 50mm of rain in the last day or so - may it rain long and hard on the heads of every Aussie farmer who needs it!

The smell of the coming first rains after a period of drought is something most Australians would be familiar with. To a parched farmer it smells better than his favourite tucker cooking or the wife's favourite perfume. It's earth perfume, and nothing beats it... But what is it?

Back in the 60's, 2 CSIRO scientists were trying to identify the cause of this distinct scent of rain in the air. They first described it in the journal Nature in an article "Nature of Argillaceous Odour" - thought you'd love that article title! 

They discovered a yellowish oil they called "petrichor" that is trapped in rocks and soil particles. This oil is released into the air like an aerosol in miniscule amounts when increased humidity – a pre-cursor to rain – fills the pores of the soil with tiny amounts of water - this is why we can smell it before the rain arrives. This is further accelerated when actual rain arrives and makes contact with the earth, spreading the exploding scent into the wind.

Using high-speed cameras, researchers can now observe that when a raindrop hits a porous soil surface, it traps tiny air bubbles at the point of contact. As in a glass of champagne, the bubbles then shoot upward, ultimately bursting from the water drop in a fizz of aerosols. Very cool! See it happening here! 

We can also smell the sweet, pungent zing of ozone (caused when atmospheric oxygen is zapped by lightening that changes it from O2 to O3), and the spores of soil-dwelling bacteria called actinomycetes released via the same aerosol mechanism into the moist air of approaching rain. All in all - a heady cocktail that has put a smile on the weary face of many a cocky this week.

🙏

Upcoming Dates

Jan. 21 (Tues) Real Food Markets, Port Macquarie Glasshouse Forecourt 12pm

Jan. 22 (Wed) Bellingen Farmers Market, Bellingen Showgrounds 3:30pm

Jan. 28 (Tues) Real Food Markets, Port Macquarie Glasshouse Forecourt 12pm

Jan. 29 (Wed) Bellingen Farmers Market, Bellingen Showgrounds 3:30pm

This Week's Garden Produce:

Basil $4 bunch

Beetroot $8 kg

Capsicum $ 8 kg

Carrots $5 bunch

Chard (Rainbow) $4 bunch

Cucumber (Lebo) $6 kg (limited)

Garlic Chives $4 bunch

Kale (Russian) $5 bunch

Kale (Curly) $5 bunch

Kale (Tuscan) $5 bunch

Leek $4 bunch

Lettuce (Red & Green Crunch) $3 ea

Lettuce (Red & Green Crisp)  $3 ea

Lettuce (Red Oakleaf)  $3 ea

Okra (Red) $0.70/100g

Onions (Brown, loose) $5 kg

Parsley (Italian) $4 bunch

Rhubarb $6 bunch

Salad Mix $3/100g

Silverbeet $4 bunch

Spring Onions $4 bunch

Tomatoes (Brandywine) $8/kg 

Zucchini $8/kg

Other yummy stuff:

Beetroot Pickles $5 jar

Beetroot Relish $7 jar

Honey $6/500g $12/kg or refill your own container for $10/kg

Jacko's Almond Butter $10/250g

Jacko's Almond/Cashew Butter $12/250g

Jacko's Peanut Butter $6/500g $4.50/375g (or larger amounts by order)

Kale Powder $12

Pasta Sauce $8

Lentil Veggie Pies $5

Curry Veggie Pies $5

Creamy Veggie Pies $5

Veggie Rolls $4

Spinach Rolls $4

GF Lentil Veggie Pies $6.50

GF Curry Veggie Pies $6.50

GF Creamy Veggie Pies $6.50

GF Veggie Rolls $5.50

GF Spinach Rolls $5.50

Orders

Please have your orders emailed to orders@mastersoffresh.com.au by 12pm Monday.

Or text them to Desley (0401145087) or Kelli (0404 474 841) by 12pm Monday.

Pickup/Delivery Charges 

Packing charge: $5

​Delivery Charges:

• Pickup from Real Foods or Bellingen Market: FREE
• Port Macquarie CBD, Telegraph Point, & Orders over $50: FREE
• Port Macquarie, Wauchope & Kempsey: $5

VeggieYumBox

If you don't have time to make an order and just want fresh organic veggies to turn up in your kitchen each week without thinking about it, maybe you would like to purchase a VeggieYumBox.

You choose the value of the VeggieYumBox ($20, $25, $30, $35, $40, etc) and we select its contents from our super fresh produce - taking into consideration your pre-arranged preferences and aversions, of course! Just text or email Desley with the value of the box you want, and we will do the rest!

To Order:

Please email Desley or Kelli at orders@mastersoffresh.com.au or call/text them on 0401 145 087 (Desley) or 0404 474 841 (Kelli) by 12pm Monday morning.

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