farming
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The buzz on honey
Buying honey from local beekeepers and reading the label are both good ways to ensure you’ll get pure honey, local beekeeper Peter McDonald says ahead of this Sunday’s beekeeping field day at Harcourt. The adulteration of honey has made national news headlines in recent days following a study by Macquarie University researchers that found a…
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Delicious award winners fly high
Springfield Pastured Eggs is flying high after being named a ‘From Paddock’ state winner of the national Delicious Produce Awards. The award is a huge milestone for Ben and Lena Way who only began their business venture 18 months ago and began to sell in local stores in April. “It’s complete validation that our farming…
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Young farmer spreads wings
A first generation farmer who has settled in Springfield is taking flight in the poultry industry. Romsey footballer Benjamin Way traded his Melbourne sales job for country life about 15 months ago to begin Springfield Pastured Eggs and is now kicking goals of a new kind. He was recently awarded a $5000 Young Farmers Scholarship…
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Marathon effort
Kyneton local Joel Bertoncini is about to undertake a massive run to raise money for Aussie Helpers in support of drought-affected farmers. The 33-year-old will run a 29-day marathon from Port Augusta to Bendigo arriving on Bendigo Cup Day and finishing on the course. Joel will tackle 1008 kilometres (42.2 kilometres a day) from October…
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Farm zone housing still a ripe issue
Olive growers in Pastoria’s east have argued their produce, animals and farm plan would suffer without the constant on-ground care that a house on their property would allow them to deliver. The couple recently lost an appeal to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal for a building permit at their 16.25 hectare Langley-Baynton Road property…
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Hay big senders!
Locally harvested hay bales are making their way to drought-affected farms in NSW and Gippsland. It’s the first cut of hay from the newly Bolinda-based International Racehorse Transport’s property and managing director Chris Burke said the 77 round bales would be donated to those in need. “When we heard about the situation for farmers in…
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Pigs do fly!
A well-known stallholder at Macedon Ranges Farmers Markets, including Woodend and Lancefield, has taken out one of the Australian food industry’s most prestigious awards – a gold medal in the From the Paddock category of the delicious. Produce Awards. McIvor Farm Foods’ Belinda and Jason Hagan are based at Tooborac and specialise in a pasture-raised,…
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Goats have the goods
Holy Goat Cheese in Sutton Grange is living proof that small farms can be successful farms. The organic farm has taken out the Producer of the Year title in the 2018 delicious. Produce Awards and earned a gold trophy for its Cheese Nectar, as judged by a national judging panel. Owners Carla Meurs and Ann-Marie…
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Fight to keep farm
Ongoing hardship could spell the end of 12 years supplying top notch organic produce for Angelica Organic Farm. Glenlyon farmers Tim and Deri-Anne Wyatt said the past 18 months or so had hit them with setback after setback and the prospect of recovery looked grim without outside support. “We’ve lost crops valued in the tens…
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Truckies let down
*Published Midland Express: July 24, 2017 Livestock carriers are driving home the need for shower and wash amenities to be installed nearby Kyneton Saleyards’ well-used truck wash. Drivers say most truck wash facilities have personal wash facilities on site or at least nearby, however, Kyneton has operated without since the 1980s. Bloomfields Livestock’s Colin Bloomfield…
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Local organics co-op: an Aussie first
An Australian first in organic farming is blossoming at Harcourt with the formation of a unique local mixed organic farming co-operative. Mount Alexander Fruit Gardens is a driving force behind the formation of the Harcourt Organic Farming Alliance – a new organic farming co-operative with five founding members. Besides Mount Alexander Fruit Gardens these include…