We are a small family- Clara (mum), Beau 15 and Coen 9.

We started our farming journey in July 2022. Our plan was to keep chickens and grow vegetables. enough for our family and some extra for Coen to sell at our local market once a month.

Coen is Autistic and we viewed this as a great way for him to continue working on his social skills. Little did we know then what was to come and how quickly our plans would grow.

It all started from a Facebook post selling vegetables and a tag by Lee that linked us with Iceworks 3909. Iceworks is an eclectic repurposed building in the heart of Lakes Entrance. It is owned and ran by an amazingly community minded couple who have spent their lives supporting the Arts and thinking outside of the box to make things happen.

Iceworks was just starting up Every Sunday markets and we were asked to attend. We had no idea how big a stepping stone this market would be for our family and business. Iceworks and those involved have become the Meca to all things ‘Community’ for us and we will forever be grateful for this start.

With the support of this amazing ‘Community’ we have had the passion and confidence to grow. Step outside the box and push the barriers of what is the norm.

We have expanded and continue to expand our Vegetable Gardens and are utilising Hügelkultur as a great low cost, low water intake option. We also recycle Feed bags and make grow bags for Veggies, Mesh cages for potatoes, IBC tanks for raspberries, Tin cans for herbs etc. We will give anything a go, not trying is the only way we Fail.

We have Working Bees each month and we are loving the evolution of these. What started with a small group of helpers continues to grow. Helpers are starting to bring their families and it is just a joy to see kids of all ages working together to build grow bags then going bush to explore, swing from trees and do the things kids should have the opportunity to do.

Our Working Bees are so much more than simply getting work done, although it is a great advantage. They are about building Community, bringing people together, sharing knowledge, learning, growing and having a laugh. We have coffee and cake for refreshments and absolutely everyone is welcome even if they can’t physically help but simply want to be involved in a great atmosphere.

Recently I decided I was going to build a shop; this was much to Beau’s dismay. Beau isn’t always a fan of my constant grand plans that have to happen right now, but he huffs and puffs about it then helps make it happen. The shop stocks our fresh fruit and Vegetables, eggs and vegetable seedling. The shop has been such a success I told Beau I needed to build a bigger one. You can only imagine the look of his face but as the saying goes, if looks could kill…….

My dream for our Shop is that it becomes a community hub of sorts, a place for many small local growers to sell their excess produce and a go to for locals as part of their weekly shop, stock up on eggs and seasonal fruit and veggies before heading to the supermarket.

Farm Visits are our most recent addition to our business. It stemmed from the joy we have witnessed our farm bringing to others during our Working Bees, Open Days and Birthdays.

Our Farm Visits offer a unique hands-on experience in which everyone can milk a goat, bottle feed babies, cuddle a guinea pig and/or rabbit, collect eggs, check the yabby nets, explore our gardens and interact with our chickens and ducks.

A big goal of ours is to remain as eco-friendly sustainable as we can. All our Vegetables are grown organically, we re-use and recycle wherever possible and as a family with regularly pick up rubbish around our beautiful towns. We encourage everyone to be mindful of the impact they have and make any changes they can no matter how small.

We have been incredibly lucky on our journey so far and the biggest thing we have learnt is to jump at every opportunity that comes our way and follow our hearts, even if our ideas seem crazy to others.

A huge thanks to ever single person who has been a part of our success, no matter how big or small.