by Rebecca Lee

Every year, about this time, the smell of mandarins spins me right back to primary school. No lunchbox would be complete without one. After lunch, the sticky, heady scent of citrus would fill the freezing classroom and I would gag.

These days I do enjoy a Mandy, and there is nothing better than picking your own at Watkins Family Farm or Ford’s Farm in the fresh country air of Wiseman’s Ferry.

The drive to the farms take just over an hour from Ryde, through the nurseries of Dural and Glenorie and onto some lovely country scenery. You might like to take a toilet break at the Glenorie Bakery which serves their famous pies along with full meals in a lovely outdoor setting and live music!

A tip from the farm: Hornsby Council have closed Laugtondale Gully Road (a shortcut through the National Park).  Your GPS generally sends you down this road bypassing Wisemans Ferry.  Council have not put up a detour sign instructing you where you need to go so keep going as far as you can down Old Northern Rd. At Wiseman’s Ferry township, turn right into Singleton Road and Watkin’s are just over 10km along on the right hand side. You will find Ford’s Farm about 10mins further on (traffic pending as the road is single carriageway at times). Avoid travelling on Laughtondale Gully Road (GPS often sends you that way – the road is very rough).

• $5 entry per car
• Cash only (nearest ATM is a 15min drive)
• Mandarins, lemons and limes are $2/kg  Cumquats are $10/kg
• The farm also has farm fresh eggs, their own local honey and jams for purchase.
• Other amenities include basic toilet facilities, picnic tables and some very friendly sheep – just don’t feed them the citrus!!