Deon to Australia: Tasmania!

I traveled to Tasmania with Cara Ausmus, Illinois Association of Home and Community Education's International Director. We spent four days with two different hosts in the Devonport area. Tasmania is about the size of the US state of Ohio. Flying in to Devonport from Melbourne was absolutely FABULOUS! The plane banked so we could see the patchwork of the lush green farm fields. I was not next to the window, so couldn't get a photo. It was one of the most spectacular views of my life.

I did get a photo of this guy...no, not in the wild (thankfully). This was at a wildlife park. I thought, "How cute!" as it lifted its little nose as I approached the pen...it looked really friendly. I saw a second one, so started filming them. Oh, how cute it was as they frolicked together! A second later they were viciously attacking each other. Yikes! I about dropped the camera into the pen--I was so startled.

These are still found in the wild because Cara saw some dead on the road.

This is the famous kookaburra. I'd heard its call several times, but a wildlife park was the only time I saw one.

No, I don't know if it is sitting on an old gum tree...

The entire time I was in Australia, I heard about the bushy tailed possum. Apparently it is not related to the American opossum...apparently not...because these are cute. Well, you could see it was cute if it wasn't snoozing. Must be nocturnal like many of the Australian animals. Many trees have a metal or plastic band around them so this animal doesn't climb them.

I saw animal crossing signs all over the mainland warning of kangaroos, emus, wild horses, lizards, snakes...in Tasmania these are the beasts that might cross your path.

The farms in Tasmania tended to be smaller than the mainland ones. We visited one that was 500-600 acres and another one that was 4000. In Western Australia, I visited some that were 10,000 acres or more. The soil is much more productive in the northern area of Tassie than in most areas of Australia. The soil I saw was a dark brown/black.

Many ponds dot the landscape to water the livestock. Farms might raise many crops such as potatoes, poppies, carrots, strawberries, hay, or blackberries. Some are experimenting with sweet corn, baby corn or popcorn in small batches. Lots of farms had plastic greenhouses for strawberries or blackberries. This way, the farmer can protect the fruit from birds. There is some irrigation. Sheep or cattle are put into fields after the crops are harvested. The field is then planted with a cover crop. The residue or sludge from the carrot harvest, for example, is fed to livestock.

We drove up into these highlands to The Wall (http://thewalltasmania.com.au/index.html), an amazing work-in-progress relief sculpture of the history of the area. It is a must-see if you are ever nearby!

The coastlines were beautiful.

The town of Sheffield is filled with murals. Each year, there is a mural festival where artists from around the world are invited to compete. Those murals are done on plywood, which are then sold. Around the town are murals painted directly onto the buildings. This one depicts an early settler who had local critters visit him each evening. (http://sheffieldmurals.com/)

The alternate way to get to Tasmania from the mainland is by a daily ferry. You can take your car or RV with you if you wish. It is an overnight ferry where you can book a room or sleep in a chair.

Tasmanian sheep. So beautiful on the hillsides!

Taken at dusk.

This is a reversible plow with plastic mull boards.

Cara had hosted Amanda Bayles in 2016; she was a member of Rural Youth, the Australian organization for young people interested in Agriculture. Amanda's experience is online at: https://www.ruralyouth.com.au/amanda-bayles-2016-exchange-to-usa-(progress-reports). Rural Youth is kind of a mixture of FFA and 4-H. They are in charge of Ag Fest, an annual statewide showcase for agriculture in Tasmania. There are opportunities for (USA) hosting some of these wonderful young people through your local 4-H groups. I believe there are also opportunities for being an exchangee there.