Pastures are already pretty green in New Zealand, but this newly married couple wanted to find something extra special. They landed on Gippsland in Victoria where dairy farming became their main source of income, but they value added, bringing in a pick your own strawberry patch, on-farm café, petting zoo and playground. If it all sounds very family friendly, it’s because Nicole and Brendan Saunders know a thing or two about kids, having four of their own. Nicole from The Berry Dairy joins me to discuss:

• Moving from New Zealand to have a better life here in Australia.
• Nicole shares her favourite place on her farm.
• In 2018, Nicole and Brendan were newly married and she shares why they decided to move to Australia.
• Brendan grew up on a dairy farm and Nicole is also a generational dairy farmer.
• Diversifying into agritourism and the beginnings of ‘The Berry Dairy’.
• The range of people they see coming through and what to expect on a family-friendly day out.
• As well as strawberry picking, customers can have a meal at their on-farm café where 90% of the produce is locally sourced.
• This model has earned them some impressive awards and, the response they have received.
• The highs and lows of the last 12 months and Nicole’s openness when it comes to the struggles.
• Strawberries, although generally seasonal have been growing almost all year round.
• What Nicole loves most about life on the land.
• A common misconception about farmers.
• The most unexpected thing to happen since starting.
• Nicole's ultimate dream for the future of The Berry Dairy.

We hope to see you back on the road soon, to learn more about how Australia grows on the next episode of Australian Farmers with Angie Asimus.

No farming background? No worries. That’s the attitude one young couple from NSW is taking in their unique business. After purchasing a mountainous, overgrazed and neglected 100-acre property in Putty, just a couple of hours outside Sydney, they are on a steep learning curve. And they’re pulling it off beautifully, producing cattle, pigs and chickens with regenerative agriculture at the heart of what they do. To learn more, the owners of Hillside Food Forest, Sam Rayment and Liz Ferrone are here to discuss.

• Sam and Liz’s favorite place since they moved to their farm in February 2021
• With no farming experience Sam shares how and why they ended up purchasing this land and becoming farmers.
• Previously, they lived on Sydney’s northern beaches with a couple of chickens and an aquaponics system, which led them down this pathway.
• So, where did they begin and how did they learn how to produce animals?
• Turning an old block of land which was neglected, into a functional farm.
• Sam and Liz started with cattle then added in, pigs and chickens.
• Sam and Liz, from the start, wanted to use a regenerative method and share what this involves.
• As Liz has a background in dietetics, the quality of what they are producing has been of the highest priority.
• Selling direct to consumer has been a game changer for Sam and Liz, and they share how it has been received by the local community.
• What Sam and Liz love most about their new life on the land.
• The most unexpected thing to happen so far.
• A common misconception about who is the ‘farmer’.
• Their ultimate dream for the future of the farm.

We hope to see you back on the road soon, to learn more about how Australia grows on the next episode of Australian Farmers with Angie Asimus.

Links:

Angie Asimus

Connect with @angieasimus on Instagram

Partnered with Australian Farmers

Follow @australianfarmers on Instagram

Produced by Pretty Podcasts

There are sheep farmers, and then, there’s Lady Ba Ba. My guest today is an incredible advocate for agriculture and the industry is lucky to have her. Through her social media platforms, she educates people about the wonders of wool and takes on some tough topics, often successfully turning critics into fans. With such a bubbly personality, it’d be a waste if we didn’t see more of her. So, thankfully you can also catch her on television. Lady Ba Ba, otherwise known as Mel McGorman joins me now to discuss:

• Mel has a sheep and grain farm in South Australia and shares her favourite place there.
• Her first viral post, which was footage of a bushfire and it’s impact which, made international news.
• Wool is an amazing fibre and most are unaware it is fire resistant.
• The argument and reasoning around the practice of live sheep export and, the facts around this method.
• As a farmer and a mum, Mel uses social media to share stories about the reality of raising a family on the land.
• Mel shares the opportunities which have arisen with social media and, the importance of ‘putting yourself out there’.
• With the cost of living, Mel explains the different sorts of meat we can be eating to reduce costs.
• Supporting local farmers and butchers.
• Her experience on Channel 7’s “South Aussie with Cosi” https://southaussiewithcosi.com.au/
• What Mel loves most about working on the land.
• The most unexpected thing to happen on this journey.
• Dissolving misconceptions around farming and looking after animals.
• Mel’s ultimate dream for the future.

We hope to see you back on the road soon, to learn more about how Australia grows on the next episode of Australian Farmers with Angie Asimus.

Links:

Angie Asimus

Connect with @angieasimus on Instagram

Partnered with Australian Farmers

Follow @australianfarmers on Instagram

Follow Lady Ba Ba on Instagram

Follow Lady Ba Ba on TicTok

Produced by Pretty Podcasts