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Friends and former neighbours, Asia Upward and Sam Edwards, are fortunate their apple orchard near Blackheath in the Blue Mountains has access to the same water that supplies Sydney.
This weekend should bring some much-needed rain to most of eastern NSW, particularly the north around Moree and Tamworth.
For Blackheath, falls over the weekend could be a more modest 6-25 millimetres during the two days but still very welcome.
"It's so bad - it's the driest anybody's seen for a long time," Ms Upward said.
While the Logan Brae orchard is unlikely to run out of water - unless Sydney does too - the century-old farm is still copping a whack from the weather.
"We feel it because our bills go up," Ms Upward said, noting that the 6000 trees need to be watered twice daily - unless it's raining.
Sam Edwards and Asia Upward, owners of Logan Brae Orchards, near Blackheath in the Blue Mountains.
Photo: Wolter PeetersSydney's catchments are sinking almost 1 percentage point a week. At about 65 per cent full, they have lost about a quarter of their level in the past year.
The Bureau of Meteorology says NSW - now 100 per cent drought-declared - is in the midst of its driest spell since 1965. Its outlook for spring favours drier and hotter than normal conditions, which is also a bad sign for fire authorities.
"It's kind of scary," Ms Upward says. "Anything that catches alight, it will just take off."
With the relatively clear skies has come another challenge to farmers - deep frosts.
The previous record low temperature near Hartley of about minus-7 degrees was broken three days in a row recently, including a minus-10 degree reading, Ms Watson said.
Those frosty mornings draw "a lot of moisture out of the soil", she said. The warm days that follow do the same.
Erika Watson inspects some of the organically grown vegetables on their property.
Photo: Wolter Peeters'Helping others'
The two young couples are taking steps large and small to help themselves and other farmers in a pinch.
Ms Watson has even recently cut her hair short "to save water washing it".
She has also organised Farm Open Day Fundraiser on November 4, including farm tours, live music and food cooked by Danielle Alvarez, a prominent chef from Freds restaurant in Paddington.
Ms Upward is also involved in a fundraiser on September 22 with a Picnics by Hannah event on their orchard aimed in part at helping those battling the drought elsewhere.
"We're nowhere nearly as bad as other farmers," she said. "Everyone needs to band together to help others."
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