Afleveringen
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If you’re a dog lover, you’d be no stranger to the impressive intelligence, agility and loyalty of working dogs. But these special animals gained a whole new fan club with the hit TV series Muster Dogs. Today I speak with the owner of star pup Gossip. There is a lot to breeding these amazing canines that are so highly sought after on farms that some are worth a small fortune. Happily, for those of us who don’t own one, Teesh Grey from Pilbara Working Dogs photographs life on her outback station for us all to enjoy. We discuss:
Teesh’s favorite place on the land. Working dogs weren’t always her thing and she shares how she started. The most famous of Teesh’s dogs is Gossip who had a starring role in Muster Dogs. Teesh gives us an update on how she is going now. Working dogs are so valuable to farmers often doing the work of several people. The Australian record for a working dog is $50 000 and Teesh explains why this is actually a good investment. The most common working dogs are border collies and kelpies and, Teesh’s preferred breed. In her spare time Teesh is a photographer taking gorgeous photos of the kelpies. What she loves most about life on the land. The most unexpected thing to happen in the running of the station. A common misconception about working with dogs on the land. Teesh’s ultimate dream for the futureWe 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
Pilbara Working Dogs
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The humble orange finds its way into most fruit bowls at some stage during the year. We know it’s a powerhouse for immune boosting Vitamin C. But there’s so much more to citrus than many of us know. What better way to find out than with a farmer who grows 14 different varieties. And for a fruit that is usually purchased for its flesh, not its skin, why then is preventing blemishes such a big investment? To learn more, Michael Arnold from South Australia’s Pyap Produce joins me to discuss:
Michael’s favourite place on the citrus orchard near Loxton in South Australia’s Riverland. The history of the family farm as Michael’s father used to be a dairy farmer and bought the place about 20 years ago. He is growing 7 types of oranges, 5 varieties of mandarins and 2 lemon varieties and, the advantage of having such depth in the orchard. Some of the varieties are not just orange in colour but red and pink and, Michael explains how we arrive at these different colours. Outside of colour, different varieties of citrus produce different vitamins, separate from the commonly known Vitamin C. Despite the fact that most of us throw away the peel of citrus, Michael shares why he has invested so heavily in technology to stop blemishes. Harvesting citrus is conducted by hand and the skill required to become a citrus picker. What Michael loves most about life on the land. Common misconceptions about citrus and his work The most unexpected thing to happen in the citrus business. Michael’s favorite way to eat his fruit. The 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
South Australia’s Pyap Produce
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Zijn er afleveringen die ontbreken?
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** Trigger Warning**
In this episode, we do talk about suicide, which can be distressing. If you need resources or support go to beyondblue.org or for 24 hour free counselling in Australia, the number for Lifeline is 13 11 14.
Leila McDougall wears many hats – not just an Akubra. As well as being a farmer, she’s a mother, a teacher, a writer, producer, actor and former Miss Australia. Most recently she’s harnessed all those skills to become a mental health advocate in a self-funded film called ‘Just a Farmer’ which is currently being shown in regional cinemas. Her motivation is to inspire a better conversation around mental health, with her young children at the heart of what she does. To learn more Leila McDougall joins me now to discuss:
Leila’s favourite place on her farm in Victoria’s west. ‘Just A Farmer’, the movie is beautifully shot but, also has a powerful message behind it. As a teacher, Leila decided on making a film rather than a documentary based on her own experience of what people engage with. The film has a great cast, including the wonderful Robert Taylor among others and, she shares what was it like to work with such a team. Leila wrote, produced and starred in the film - she plays a newly widowed mother of two, left in the care of an alcoholic father in law. If the viewer was to take home one message what Leila would want that to be? “Just talk”. The trailer ends on this quote: “An Australian farmer dies by suicide every 10 days. Farming – the most important job in the world.” This powerful statistic and how it shows a real problem laid bare – and Leila shares what motivated her to share this message. Growing up in the country and now living on a farm, she imparts her wisdom and git to her children. There are so many hard things about farming and the film tackles a lot of that – isolation, debt, shame and, how ‘just talking’ can make the difference. Leila’s favourite thing about this life on the land. The most unexpected thing to happen in the making of the movie. The most common misconception about farmers. The 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
Just A Farmer
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The humble cabbage may not often receive the kudos it deserves. But for one couple who swapped the hustle and bustle of Sydney for the pristine pastures of Tasmania, these cruciferous vegetables are a hero ingredient. Tom and Sue Glynn might be new to farming but the art of turning cabbage into kimchi is something that’s been passed down for generations. Now, they’re giving customers the chance to do it too with on-farm workshops. The woman behind KimchiME joins me now to discuss:
Sue’s favourite place on her farm and, falling in love with the land. Deciding on where to move from away from Sydney, it was between New Zealand and Tasmania so, they flipped a coin! Although the Kimchi recipe was known for generations, farming was fairly new to both Tom and Sue. Kimchi is a staple Korean cuisine with many different varieties however, the most common is made with cabbage. Sue shares with us how she came to be a farmer and, how she learnt how to make kimchi from family knowledge. Sharing her recipe online, while diversifying the business with workshops. Sue has two hectares of certified organic land which was prepared by hand! Tom’s role in the business and why they chose to create a chemical-free product. Sue uses low-cost traditional JADAM Korean soil improvement, and as a result, was nominated for organic grower of the year. Using organic and chemical-free practices to control pests, like garlic and soap. Traditionally, Kimchi is made with cabbage, but Sue has made some tweaks to the recipe using root vegetables. What Sue and Tom love most about the farming life, compared to the hustle of the city. The most common misconception about life on the land. Sue’s ultimate dream for the future of KimchiME.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
KimchiME
Follow @kimchimetas on Instagram
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Not all farm animals are soft like woolly sheep or docile like grazing cows. Some in fact, would eat you, if given the chance. Crocodile farming is not for the faint-hearted and today we’re catching up with the family who established Queensland’s first commercial crocodile farm in 1981. Croc leather, meat and tours are growing in popularity. But this niche enterprise certainly has its challenges from feeding 3000 reptiles to housing them. To learn more about the croc business, Lauren Lever of Koorana Crocodile Farm joins me now to discuss:
Lauren’s favourite place on the crocodile farm. Koorana Crocodile Farm provides educational tours, which is where Lauren’s passion lies. As a farm, they also produce the increasingly popular crocodile meat, as a light white meat and leather. Lauren shares some common crocodile behaviours and her tips if you were to encounter a crocodile out in the wild. She shares the diet of a crocodile and why she considers the farm a ‘meat recycling plant.’ How farming crocodiles assists with conservation of the wild population. They are surprisingly picky eaters and extremely territorial and how they manage this on the farm. How the different seasons of weather impact the temperament of the crocodiles. Koorana Crocodile Farm is one of the last Australian owned crocodile farms in this country and some of the challenges of running a crocodile farm. Some of the crocs, like Buka and Rocky, have become family to Lauren. Some crocodiles can live 100 years and the impact these animals have had on the local community as well as the emotional attachments formed over time. The Australian Crocodile meat and leather industry. The seasonal work from nesting, hatching, grading and breeding. Lauren’s favourite thing about crocodile farming and, learning to read the animals’ behaviours. Lauren shares some unexpected moments on the farm. The biggest misconceptions around crocodile farming. Lauren’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
Koorana Crocodile Farm
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Where do all those marked, undersized, scratched and cracked pieces of fruit and vegetables end up? Most shops and consumers won’t even look at them. But my guest today is turning second-grade produce into top-notch snacks, meals and garnishes. It’s amazing how with a dehydrator, aesthetics suddenly aren’t all that important. The magic of turning fresh rejects to prized dried all happens in a factory at Monarto, east of Adelaide. To learn more about Woodlane Orchard, founder Kelly Johnson joins me to discuss:
Kelly grew up on the land and shares what she loves most about working with farmers. While unemployed, Kelly had a friend who had to throw out a tonne of peaches, and shares how she saved them from going to waste. We’ve all heard of dehydrated fruits, but Kelly took it to the next level with dried vegetables. Drawing on her Scouts training, Kelly now makes delicious tasting dehydrated meals, which need no refrigeration and can be prepared in minutes. . How best to prepare the meals as they are raw and dehydrated. Her ultimate goal was to reduce food waste and how she has helped farmers do this. There is no shortage of supply – Farmers have an endless amount of produce which is not sent to the fresh food market. What started as a market-based business has now grown into a wholesale operation. How this circular economy works with farmers and how this had made a profit. Kelly has already saved 40 tonnes of fresh foods from going to waste. What Kelly loves most about her work. The most unexpected fruit or vegetable she has been able to dehydrate. Kelly explains a common misconception – a vegetable soup that weights 300g will turn into a 3 litre this hearty family meal. The nutritional value of dehydrated foods. Returning food scraps back to farmers to feed their animals. The ultimate dream for the future of Woodlane OrchardWe 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
Woodlane Orchard
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You could describe my guest today as a country girl trapped in the city. Growing up in Adelaide, there was always a country calling for Meridie Jackson. But it certainly hasn’t come easy. She’s had to take the long road to get there – from a corporate career, to the job of being a mum. Only in the last few years has her dream come true. She’s officially a farmer, producing beef in Central Victoria around 1.5 hours north-east of Melbourne. To learn how she’s done it without inheriting a family farm – Meridie Jackson joins me to discuss:
Meridie’s favourite place on the farm. She shares a little about her childhood because, it may surprise a lot of people to learn that it wasn’t a rural one. Her first real taste of the country was during her gap year when she did a stint as a Jillaroo. At the beginning of her career Meridie had an exciting corporate career that took her to New York which gave her experience in banking, business and the value of a strong work ethic. How she reached a point within her life – when she had the career, the husband, three kids but, the calling of a country life drew her in. Her story is inspiring and uplifting for other women in Agriculture so, how do you become a first-generation farmer in the Yarra Valley producing beef? About 5 years ago Meridie managed to buy her own farm and says, ‘I just put in small steps, which would walk me down the path of where I wanted to go.’ The landscape for women farming at the moment, and the network of women who are the decision makers on the farm. The importance of monitoring mental health while working on the land, which can be isolating. What Meridie loves most about being out in the country and living this lifestyle. The most common misconceptions about farming. The most unexpected thing to happen on the farm. Meridie’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
Connect with @smith_and_jackson on Instagram
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We’re living in a market where so-called disruptive foods have flooded supermarket shelves in recent years. Think plant-based meats, insect protein bars, synthetic fat replacers and precision fermented milk proteins. A new report by agribusiness banking specialist Rabobank suggests the hype might be over. So, where to next with food innovation? It’s a fascinating topic and to learn more Rabobank’s Senior Consumer Foods Analyst Tom Bailey joins me to discuss:
Tom’s family roots in primary production in Illinois, USA. We are talking about “disruptive foods” and Tom explains what this means. Over the last decade, we’ve seen a huge surge in demand for these products and why we have seen this shift. Rabobank has recently released a new report titled “Disruptive Foods Prove to be More Hype than Bite.” Tom shares the reason for this peak. We discuss the impact of interest rates, economic uncertainty, geo-political environments, volatile pricing and finally, the demand for these products in the first place. Incremental innovation and ‘in-no-vation’, being the concept of redefining a product. The future of packaging, affordability and shrinkflation. Tom gives us some examples of both big and small companies doing this. The fascinating concept of consumer convenience and, how this has shifted in the recent past. Tom’s multiple predictions for the food disruption space. Regenerative farming and some up-coming solutions.
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
Connect with Tom at Rabobank
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In sugar-cane and banana country, a Queensland farmer is striving to connect with customers through cutting edge technology that tracks every bunch of bananas from the farm to the fruit bowl. Carbon neutral bananas and protecting the Great Barrier Reef from run-off are also in his sights. A task that has now received a huge boost with a $445 000 grant through the Coles Nurture Fund. The family-run business is no stranger to pushing the boundaries of innovation as they strive for cleaner and more sustainable processes. The owner of Bartle Frere Bananas, Gavin Devaney joins me to discuss:
Gavin’s favourite place on his property in North Queensland growing Bananas. What motivates Gavin as a third-generation farmer, and someone who has seen the industry change over the years. Dealing with the regular cyclones and weather events in Queensland is a constant challenge. Tracking Bananas from growth, all the way to market, with ‘Geolocation.’ The Smart Farming Project Gavin shares how he received the Coles Nurture Fund Grant and, his plans for it. Implementing the best practices for the sake of the future of farming in Australia. The future for carbon-neutral bananas. Gavin shares although there are challenges in farming, the life skills he has gained are invaluable. How Gavin is protecting the Great Barrier Reef from run-off. What Gavin loves most about farming bananas. Misconceptions of growing bananas and the industry in general. The issues around misinformation and, how we can gain the truth. The impact of COVID on the farming community and how Gavin had to manage his staff. The 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
Bartle Frere Bananas
Coles Nurture Fund
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As the days become warmer, our taste buds often get cooler. Ice cream conjures memories of Aussie summers, days at the beach and childhood. South Australian kids have been growing up with one particular brand for 100 years. Golden North started as a true family business and has grown to keep up with demand. It’s won the Canstar Blue Award for Australia’s Favourite Ice Cream Tub for six years and is officially considered an Icon of the State. The company’s Sales and Marketing Director Dimi Kyriazis joins me to discuss:
Dimi’s favourite ice-cream flavour at Golden North or favourite way to eat it – or even a favourite memory that involved it? This is a true medium Australian business, which started in 1880 and has been on the forefront of innovation since it started. Golden North is located in Laura – 240 km north of Adelaide which is where the ice cream is still produced today! Golden North was actually the first company to introduce pasteurised milk to this part of South Australia and had the longest milk run in the world. How the company developed over time as the technology morphed – a lot has changed in 100 years. The Golden North ownership story and, why Dimi wanted to be a part of it. Their ethos of business and how it has allowed a small company to compete with larger producers In 2018, Golden North was awarded the Canstar Blue Award for Australia’s Favourite Ice Cream Tub – they have now won 6 years in a row! What Dimi loves most about the world of ice cream. Ice Cream has strong memory associations for most and Dimi shares some customer stories. Unexpected aspects of Dimi’s journey so far. The most common misconception. What the next 100 years look like for Golden North.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
Golden North
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My guest today calls a million-acre cattle station in remote South Australia home. While her day-to-day life is incredibly remote, she’s also one of the most connected people you could find in the industry. A true ‘agvocate’, Gillian Fennell is on a mission to promote agriculture. She takes on the tough issues and does so publicly, dispelling misconceptions on social media. To learn more about what drives her to put herself in the hot seat, Gillian joins me to discuss:
Gillian’s favourite place on her cattle station. She shares what life is like on the farm as she plays a very active role on the property. Being so remote, her children attend a boarding school over 900kms away and how Gillian manages the challenge of distance. Gillian grew up in a small town and contrasts this with moving to the remote area of Lambina, in the top end of South Australia, over 20 years ago. Gillian is passionate about speaking up about issues that impact rural Australia and is using her voice on social media to bridge the gap between urban and rural dwelling. Dispelling some misconceptions about farming including cotton, live export and land clearing. Gillian believes farmers should be controlling the dialogue when it comes to these big picture issues and, shares how these conversations with the public are being received. Gillain has an active role in Livestock South Australia as a board member and is a member of Cattle Australia. What she loves most about life on the land. Gillian’s most unexpected experience since living on the land. The 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
Connect with Gillian Fennell on LinkedIn
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Four daughters and one dream. On the farm, that means a very full house, lots of teamwork but also tough discussions when it comes to the future. We are so lucky to have Karen Penfold and her eldest daughter Bonnie with us today for a live episode recording at the National Farmers Federation 2023 National Conference in Canberra. This mum and daughter have travelled all the way from Western Queensland to be with us today. Before any of us had ever heard of Wuhan – the Penfolds were exporting branded beef directly there. It has been a bumpy road along the way with a few twists and turns – thank you both for being here to share your story.
Bonnie shares the values and the driving force behind Four Daughters Beef. What stands out about Karen and Dan’s family farm is having four daughters - Bonnie a teacher, Molly an accountant, Jemima and Matilda who is in aviation. Raising beef on their 40 000 ha operation at Old Bombine and Mamaree located near Meandarra QLD. Karen and Dan see their daughters as an asset to their family farm. A chance meeting at a bar, led to the first box of beef being exported to Wuhan China, in 2019. Travelling to Wuhan, to see how the beef production is different to Australia and, how they could work together. The learning curves and challenges of exporting beef to China and, if exporting has been worth it for Karen and Dan. This export relationship happened just before the world changed forever during COVID and, the pivot to delivering Pink Beef Boxes locally. The week to week running of the farm and how the daughters manage their jobs at the same time as the family farm. The passion Karen has for the industry is clear and each daughter has that same passion for the land and beef. Bonnie shares why this is the career for her and what she loves most about life on the land. The most unexpected thing to happen along the way. The most common misconception about working and living on the land. The Ultimate dream for the future of Four Daughters Beef.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
Four Daughters Beef
Follow @fourdaughtersbeef on Instagram
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Seventeen years old, living on the family farm in western Victoria with her life ahead of her. It all sounds pretty idyllic for Holly Draffin, until she was struck down with Lyme Disease in April last year. Forced to take time off school, she filled in the time showing off her family’s historic property to the wider community through her Instagram account Emu Hill Ag. She describes the immense response as a positive light in a dark situation. To learn more, Holly Draffin joins me now to discuss.
Holly’s favourite place on the farm. Being a generational farm and the significance of the Emu Hill property for the region. Emu Hill is a busy farm with 70% broadacre cropping and 30% prime lamb. Holly shares how she contracted Lyme Disease in April 2022 and how this impacted her. After months of intense sickness and being bed-bound for months, Holly finally received the Lyme Disease diagnosis but, needed to move to Mexico to seek treatment. Living with Lyme Disease at the young age of 16. Starting an Instagram account as a way to share Holly’s passion for the land, while being bed-bound. Holly says, ‘My passion came through in the darkest of times – it was the light that kept me going.’ Starting with their own farm, Holly has built @EmuHillAg to be a regular project which, showcases life on the land. Juggling life with Lyme disease now as she still battles her illness and symptoms. What Holly loves most about the land. The most unexpected things to come out of this experience for Holly. Bridging the gap between city and country and common misconceptions about life on the land. Holly’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 @emuhillag on Instagram
Follow @emuhillag on TikTok
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Living and working in a rural area is a rich and rewarding experience in so many ways. But it can also be isolating. When my guest today moved to Byaduk in Victoria’s Southern Grampians, finding her people was difficult. However, she went on to do more than simply make personal connections by founding the Australian brand of “Rural Women’s Day” which is celebrated during the month of October. Her local gatherings highlight the United Nations International Day of Rural Women on October 15. A lot has happened since the inaugural gathering in 2019 and Jackie joins me now to discuss:
Jackie’s favourite place on the land. Her experience of moving to rural Australia half-way through year 9 and having to start from scratch in relationships. The challenges of moving and finding her place within the community. The first Rural Women’s day was in 2019, and how Jackie went about reaching out to others to establish the event. The impact it had for regional and rural Australian women. Fast forward to Rural Women’s Day 2023 and it has now expanded to 10 events, hosted by different communities around the country. Jackie has been surprised at how eager the women are to connect, collaborate and celebrate each other. Jackie shares some of the success stories to come from this, including lost-lasting personal relationships. Rural Women’s Day is usually hosted in October and is run over the weekend but, Jackie encourages a simple garden party with friends if there is not one locally. The collaboration and new ideas which have come from the women volunteering their time to host events. What Jackie loves most about country life. The most unexpected thing for Jackie since this started. Common misconceptions about women in rural and regional locations. The ultimate dream for the future of Rural Women’s Day.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
Rural Women’s Day
Listen to the ‘Ducks on the Pond’ Podcast
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Life sounds pretty sweet in WA’s pristine Kimberley when you’re producing beautiful raw bush honey. Given the region has no industry or other pollutants, the bees thrive among the Saltwater Paperbarks, Grevilleas and Melaleuca. This Indigenous owned family business has just been awarded a grant as part of the Coles Nurture Fund. And they have some exciting ideas about how to spend it. To learn more, David Appleby of Walaja Raw Bush Honey joins me now to discuss:
David’s favourite place on the farm is being surrounded by Melaleuca Trees. David is a retired commercial pearl diver and shares the correlation between the two careers. He currently keeps 400 bee colonies and has only been in the industry 10 years. The mentors David has relied on. The challenges, and advantages of the West Kimberly environment for bee keeping. This beautiful region has no pollutants and David shares the uniqueness it brings to the honey. How David and his wife, Diane, started Walaja Raw Bush Honey – an Indigenous Family owned and produced business. The indigenous practices they use to manage the land and bees. Sharing knowledge and pioneering a new way in the industry. David won the Coles Nurture Fund grant and his plans for this money. The advancements David has made to medicinal-grade premium Melaleuca Honey which comes from the ‘Medicine Tree’ The similar mindset between bee keeping and pearl diving and, what David loves most about working with bees. The biggest challenges and learnings from bee keeping. The most unexpected thing to happen since starting to keep bees. The most common misconception of bee-keeping. David’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
Walaja Raw Bush Honey
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Eating our greens is often hailed as the key to good health but my guest’s influence goes well beyond her own dinner plate, or any one farm. She’s doing her part to spread that message by making vegetables the star of their own tv show and a popular choice in schools by teaching the next generation about these superfoods. Under her vision, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, kale, lettuce, celery and spring onions are celebrated. A strong advocate for horticulture as we’ve never seen it before - Catherine Velisha, managing director of Velisha Farms joins me now to discuss:
Velisha’s Farm is based at Werribee South only about 30 minutes from Melbourne and she shares her favourite work space. Catherine has been in the business for over 20 years and really celebrates fresh veggies. The supermarkets Velisha Farms supplies too and their long-term partnerships with Aldi. She has started VEG Education where they have had 3000 primary school students come to learn about the importance of where their food comes from. Some of the surprising facts about Vegetables which may change your perspective on price. How we grow our food is fundamental for all our existence. Catherine says, ‘It’s a great reflection of who we are as a culture. VEG TV and the broccoli song. Catherine hopes that behind the scenes glimpses will encourages some students to look at a career in the industry. Catherine is a strong leader in this space and her hopes to inspire women to strive for leadership positions in agriculture. The biggest challenges Catherine has experienced in her time in the industry. The most unexpected part of this journey has been enjoying the education space and sharing her message with the Media. The most common misconception about her world. The ultimate dream for the future of Velisha’s Vege.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
Velisha Farms
Connect with @catherinevelisha on Instagram
Follow @velishafarms on Instagram
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‘Deep mulch’ and ‘compost teas’ may not be in our every day vernacular but at one commercial scale market garden in southern NSW, they are commonly used terms. Maple Tree Farm is all about healthy soil and nutrient rich vegetables. You won’t find a tractor in sight - everything is harvested by hand. The founder of the business is passionate about localised food systems and the land share movement as a means to achieve that. Founder of Maple Tree Farm Samuel Hansen is today’s guest. We discuss:
Sam’s favourite place on the land and, his Market Garden. He shares how his interest in agriculture started after working at a local supermarket and seeing how ‘local’ produce is grown. Deciding to make a change Sam, a city boy, made his way to the farm. Justin Hartley, from Duck Foot Farm, introduced Sam to deep mulch and took him on for a 3 month internship to learn the system. Implementing large scale food production on a small size plot of land. We hear about compost tea and Sam’s recipe for micro-organism growth. The highest barrier for young farmers is the price of land and how Sam discovered land-share. Sam explains how his agreement works and the $1 a year to land lease. Having only launched Maple Tree Farm in July 2021, Sam has shown he can scale quickly. Sam says, ‘I look into the future and I see the industrial food system collapsing. We can use deep mulch as an alternative method to produce our food locally. ‘ Tours of the property and, Sam’s interest in teaching others the deep mulch method. What Sam loves most about life on the land. The most unexpected thing to happen to him since starting the business. Sam’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
Connect with Sam on LinkedIn
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What happens when experts in engineering, agriculture, marine and terrestrial microbiology join forces? They develop a company that drops nutrient encapsulated seed pods from a drone, mapping out their placement using artificial intelligence and monitoring their growth using GPS. The method allows up to 40-thousand seed pods to be planted per drone in a single day. It’s an Australian company taking on climate change with simple seeds boosted with bio-technology. CEO and Co-Founder of AirSeed Andrew Walker joins me now to discuss:
AirSeed operates in Australia and South Africa and some of the some interesting places he has seen so far. AirSeed’s main aim is biodiversity - which has been identified as a critical climate solution as carbon sequestration has increased. By using drone technology and AI, Andrew’s system is a lot more efficient than planting seeds by hand or by most machines. The AirSeed Drones and how they work to deliver the seeds. Andrew gives us a deep dive into the three-step process which gives them the capacity to plant over 40,000 seed pods per day vs the 800 which can be done manually. Once planted they return and identify the success, or failure which is monitored between 2-3 years. Plant species are tailored to the location and then encased in everything they need to survive including nutrients, minerals and microbes. Andrew has a background in automotive and aerospace design and shares how he came to be in this space and his passion for the environment. Globally, the largest land owners in agriculture and how AirSeed could be used to restore the land across agriculture both now and into the future. The exciting partnerships developing and, how Andrew is looking for more. The adoption of new technology in the space and how this is helping communities restore the impact of natural disasters. What Andrew loves most about this work is the people he works with, who are starting to see the impact we can have on the land. Unexpected things happen every week and Andrew loves the pioneering aspect. The common misconceptions about what he does. Andrew’s ultimate dream for the future is to use this technology on a global scale.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
AirSeed
Produced by Pretty Podcasts
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How many commercial insect farmers have you met? Today, was my first. A woman who always wanted to farm but couldn’t afford land or the costs associated with looking after big animals. These tiny creatures are packed with protein and serve as a valuable food source for farm animals and aquaculture. But looking at the bigger picture, these bugs, specifically maggot powered robots, could be the solution to ending Australia’s food waste problem. The pioneering technology has earned my guest today the title of ACT Australian of the Year. Olympia Yarger, founder of Goterra joins me now.
We discover what an Insect farm looks like and how Olympia found herself here. Olympia is a climate action warrior, founder of the Insect Protein Association of Australia, and now ACT Australian of the Year. It’s an impressive resume that all started with a decision to farm the one thing she could afford –insects! The agritech start-up Goterra and the role of the insects both as a food source and food waste management. It’s been likened to a maggot robot system – aerated containers house the larvae of the black soldier fly and, while growing the maggots break down waste Solving our food waste problem on a commercial, and residential scale. How Olympia is also turning her maggots into feed and, who is buying this high-protein product. The maggot is the hero of the farm and Olympia shares why she chose maggots over worms. Maggots are very high in protein as they are fed to both stock and fish – it truly is a circular economy for food. Large supermarket chains have already seen the value of this method and implemented locally to reduce waste. Olympia has processed 35,000 tonnes of waste and saved more than 66,000 tonnes of carbon emissions. How her initial idea of an insect farm was perceived. So, does she see herself as a farmer? The most common misconception about Australia’s waste Olympia’s most unexpected thing to happen on the farm. The 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
GOTERRA
Australian of the Year Olympia Yarger
Produced by Pretty Podcasts
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When you’ve been farming in the same pocket of South Australia’s Barossa region for 7 generations, marrying into that kind of legacy is immense. The family specialty is wine with the oldest remaining vineyard dating back to 1875. But something else is cooking on this impressive estate - sourdough bread - and just like the wine it's baked with the principles of biodynamics and organics in mind. Amie Kalleske has turned a hobby into a thriving business, offering diversification to the regular income streams on the property. The woman pairing the bread with the wine joins us to discuss:
Amie’s favourite place on the family estate. Her husband’s family has been farming there since 1853 and the history of the farm. Amie’s transition to country life she says, ‘For me, I always thought it was the city or the country – I didn’t realise there was anything in between.’ The skills she quickly learnt and fell in love with, once making the move to the farm. The Kalleske Farm does it all including, livestock, cropping, grapes and of course bread! The beginning of Amie’s micro-bakery and how this hobby turned into a business. A day in the life of Amie the baker. The huge demand of from the community for her bread and, how she manages to balance life and work. Feeding her family with the food she grows is paramount for Amie and she shares how she has created balance between work and business. Each loaf contains a small amount of farm grown flour and she shares her aspiration to become 100% home grown. The garden to plate cooking and Amie’s approach to feeding her family. A small history of the winery and Kalleske Wines. What Amie loves most about life on the land. The most unexpected thing to happen since choosing this path. The biggest common misconception about her work. The ultimate dream for the future of this historic 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
Follow @kalleske_farm on Instagram
Produced by Pretty Podcasts
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