We are open seven days a week; the animals still have to be fed, the farm work still needs doing but is Easter Sunday just another day on the farm? Not here at Diamond Forest Farm Stay.
It all starts for me the night before as I sit down preparing the Easter Eggs for the Easter Egg hunt. Easter Egg hunts are a simple way to have fun, get out and about in the sunshine with a nice reward of chocolate at the end. But on a farm it’s not quite that simple. Hiding eggs where there are animals requires some thought and planning. Firstly, contamination can present a problem if you’re not careful. Secondly, we really don’t want the animals eating chocolate or foil wrap.
So on the night before Easter Sunday I take time out to wrap up all the Easter eggs in protective cellophane and then tie them off with a ribbon. I have already counted the number of children we have staying at the moment and have made sure that I have enough eggs to go around without being too excessive. As any parent knows, too much chocolate can have kids bouncing off the walls. Luckily for us we have plenty of open spaces for kids to run around and burn off some steam.
First thing Sunday morning, before the daily animal feed, I am out and about hiding the eggs. I have to be careful: too early and the crows may spot the brightly wrapped eggs and take them; too late and the kids are up and about and have spotted me wandering around the farm with a basket of goodies.
I follow the daily animal feed route and hide all of my eggs all of the way around. I have made the ribbon long enough so that I can tie my little parcels to trees. I have to be careful not to make it too easy or too hard, or to put it too close to the animals; I think they would like some chocolate too.
This Easter Sunday it was a lovely sunny morning, mist floating on the dam with a light breeze. The Kangaroos want to know what’s in my basket but I am too quick for them to snatch something from it as I hide an egg in their feed bin. The chickens all clamber to be let out but I am busy hiding an egg in their nesting box and one in the tree. I think about hiding one with our rabbits, Pepper and Nutmeg but I see them eyeing off the eggs and I’m sure they’ll eat them as soon as I walk away so I decide not to. The ponies greet me thinking I have some carrots. ‘No chocolate for the ponies,’ I say and I move on past the ducks too. They are anxious to get out but I pass by and head for the canoes- always a great spot to hide Easter eggs.
Across the dam wall I hide some eggs in the branches of trees and then the donkeys catch sight of me and start braying a welcome. No chocolate for them either. The goats and the sheep race to the fence hoping for a taste but I keep moving. I slip an egg under the picnic table and one amongst a gnarly old willow. I’m nearly finished as I hang a few eggs on trees and I head up past the sheep to the Alpaca pen. One beside the gate and then another near the aviary. I don’t go right to the end of the feed run up to our big horse and our cows because I’ll be right in view of Forest and Bluegum Cottages. I don’t want to spoil the surprise. I have already spent half an hour going around the farm and it’s not even 7.30 am. Now I am back to the house for breakfast and coffee before we start preparing the animal feed with a difference this morning.
At 8.30 our Daily Animal Feed begins but this Sunday, Easter Sunday, there is the added bonus of an Easter egg hunt. I’m not sure who has had more fun: me or the kids. And the great thing about it all is that I get to do it all over again next year for a whole new batch of young guests. Man I love my job!