I hear the voice of my late mother very often. I’m unsure whether this ongoing dialogue is a healthy part of grieving or whether she really is a Diggies resident, but she sure shames me about my windows. Cleaning them at winter’s end brings in an embarrassing amount of light, but is newspaper and vinegar really the only way? More light is streaming in, but the winter fire still goes 24/7 because the frosty Diggies mornings are still biting pretty hard.

The Diggies community group chat has sure been chatty lately with notices about the many burn piles lighting up and the magnificent quality and quantity of citrus and jonquil bulbs at the Diggies Share Shed. Didi’s blood oranges are legion, and so are Angela’s navels, mandarins and pumpkins, not to mention Sally’s lemons. There is nothing like enjoying food you’ve grown yourself, but a close second is enjoying the produce from the carefully tended trees and gardens of neighbours.

Less fun around here was the giant fallen tree that closed the road a few Fridays ago (thanks to Jake and Eva for cutting away enough for traffic to pass before the Council got here); or grappling with the possible impact of avian flu (thanks to dear Maggie, our resident bird expert, for keeping us informed); or seeing the number of dead wildlife on the road, (although the signs asking people to slow down along the dusty patches are apparently working).

The Landcare crew continue to kick goals. It’s such a treat to be at the beautiful places along the creek, most recently at Maggie’s where we smashed a lot of cape ivy flowers and seeds before demolishing an orange cake under a pepper tree planted a century ago. In July, we met up at Sally Anne’s to hear from Danie Ondinea from the Wombat Protection Society of Australia. This inspired four residents to complete an online course and qualify to establish the Dignams Creek Wombat Mange Hub. It is possible to treat and reverse the scourge of mange in our precious wombat community and we’re going to have a red hot go.

Preparations are underway for the annual Dignams Creek Christmas Market, on Saturday 12 December from 3.00 to 7.00 pm. This year’s market will feature live music again, local handmade items, and trash and treasure stalls, the best Christmas cakes and puddings money can buy, delicious treats and the ever-popular raffle with prizes mostly made, grown and enjoyed in Diggies. All local makers, growers and stallholders are warmly welcomed and encouraged to set up on that day too. In the meantime, Diggies residents are striking seedlings, making jams and marmalades, and collecting the treasures from their house declutterings and shed clean ups. Plan on coming along for a festive afternoon of community, music and Christmas cheer (it’s sooner than you think!).

Flick Ruby

Photo: Didi’s delicious blood oranges and lemons, photo Flick Ruby