iHerp Australia Issue 2 | Page 45

The kiwi fruit vines are freshly planted in the ground; both males and females are positioned under the fence with a ‘self-watering’ bamboo pole reservoir buried alongside that will trickle water sparingly to encourage root growth. But autumn is soon approaching, and the young farmer is worried about frost. “We’re going to need a cover for these to prevent the frost getting to them,” he says to his girlfriend and parents, who are surveying their handiwork. “Though it still needs to allow the rain to get through and water them. I have just the thing down in the shed – could you give me a hand?” The others follow to render assistance. Inside the shed stands a tall roll of white fabric designed to prevent the harsh frost from settling on the plants. Some pre-used material is laying bunched up over the roll, and the farmer grabs it to see if it is salvageable. He notices some old leaves clustered together and goes to brush them away. Suddenly, the leaves take off by themselves! The farmer is puzzled, as there is no wind inside the shed, and moves in for a closer inspection. With a start he realises that there are legs on this cluster of leaves, and even two tiny beady eyes peering back at him with some degree of suspicion! There are now four people in the shed, gazing down at this little animal and wondering what it might do next. Although hard to make out in the dim light, it dawns on t