Three passions combined – people, gardening and food!
My passion for Organic Growing really began in Andalucia , Spain. I lived there (in a cave) for 3 years and observed the farmers heading down the valley each day to their plot with their donkeys. Each grower would specialise, either in broad beans, potatoes or garlic. We learnt to cook these 3 ingredients in so many ways ! Due to their poverty, chemicals were not an option , so organic farming techniques were paramount in their crop success.
Returning to Australia, I contacted some local organic growers and offered my help just to learn the ropes. I ended up working for 6 months with no pay, in exchange for gathering skills and taking over their home delivery business.
This grew and grew until I incorporated Organic Foods Australia, which was located in the Perth markets. We wholesaled, retailed and home delivered organic produce to over 200 homes around Perth.
The business was a huge success and was testimony to the concern that people feel over the use of chemicals in ‘conventional’ farming methods. However, it concerned us that so much of the produce came from out of state. We thought that there must be a way of encouraging more local food production.
From that I went WOOFING around Australia for 2 years working on a large variety of organic and biodynamic farms. I then settled in Denmark, in 1999, with my life partner Simone. For over 10 years, I co-ordinated and lectured in Organic Horticulture at Denmark TAFE. A 3-acre certified organic farmlet attached to the campus provided a great training ground for many budding growers.
I now consult privately to clients wishing to either set up their own food production gardens or enhance an existing one. I run training workshops in all aspects of organic growing and teach the kids at the local Steiner school about organic and biodynamic growing. I also work as an independently contracted inspector for NASAA (National Association of Sustainable Agriculture) Australia’s most reputable association for organic accreditation.
I have 2 beautiful children who love being in the garden. As parents, Simone and I feel it is important that we try to have control over what goes in our food. It is very hard these days. Grow you own at home is definitely the best anyone can do. The more we feed the trend, the better for future generations things will be. In the meantime, we are learning lots, keeping active, having lots of fun, and tasting some delicious, freshly picked food.
For expert gardening services with a strong organic commitment call 9848 1942.