Producer Alumni

At Hillwood Fresh Food Co. the main product is gourmet mushrooms. Using farm and industrial byproducts Hillwood creates delicious, healthy, chemical free mushrooms. They are completely off the grid and therefore have to be innovative and grow mushrooms as efficiently as possible.

Josh and Patreena West are the team behind Westbae Pastoral. Having both had a background in farming, it was only fitting that they established a farm of their own to implement their ideas and desired farming practices.

Melissa and Luke are ex Queenslanders who had the dream of moving to Tasmania for 15 years. 4 years ago, this dream became a reality as they moved the family south. Melissa is a Registered Nurse working in primary health while Luke is a diesel fitter by trade who spends his time behind a desk managing vehicle fleets.

Rise and Shine Farm is owned and run by Coral and Nick Warren; keen learners who are passionate about regenerating their property and producing quality food and fibre for Tasmanians.

Old Orchard Farm is a small-scale sustainable market garden in the Huon Valley. On what was a paddock in 2019, stands a wallaby-proof fence protecting a 1300m2 market garden with a range of vegetables and herbs and a polytunnel.

Early Bird Farm is setting down roots in Cygnet, Tasmania on Melukerdee Country, a 45minutes drive South of Hobart. On their leased land of 2 acres the founders and farmers Jenna and Zeb believe that how food is grown is a powerful force for change.

Old Beach Berries is owned and farmed by David and Cathryn. In their other lives David is an Occupational Therapist and Cathryn is a Speech Pathologist. They bought the farm in November 2019 and they say it’s been a whirlwind tour and they are still on a steep learning curve. They also say that their mistakes are intermixed with occasional successes which are becoming more frequent!

Chris has worked as a Health Information System Expert and Monitoring and Evaluation specialist in post-disaster and conflict impacted countries for over 16-years. With limited farming experience, Chris feels she cannot call herself a farmer, however her disease management approach informed the farm’s weed eradication strategy and consequent deep respect, admiration and love for her small herd of weed munching full blood Boer goats.

Libby describes herself as a jack of all trades, but a master of none! She has worked in a variety of areas including as a graphic designer, florist, vet nurse, travel consultant, Product Manager and Product Director; has been involved in start-ups and has Bachelor of Design and Masters of International Business. She moved to Tassie 8 years ago and found her piece of paradise in South Arm about 6 years ago and has been growing on a small-scale ever since, selling her excess produce at local markets and community stalls.

Tamar Valley Pastured Eggs was started in 2017 by Katt, Duncan and Meredith, three Queenslanders embarking on a tree change and respite from the heat.

Karoolalla Farm is owned by two passionate farmers, Cate and Rupert. Rupert’s background is in logistics but started life at an agriculture school. He is comfortable anywhere, from the delivery depot to the cow paddock and can turn his hand to any farm challenge or project.  Cate began her professional life as a zoologist transitioning into medical science, veterinary management and horticulture and finally pulling it all together to become a chicken farmer and vegetable grower.   

Rosella Roost became reality after Anthony and Paula took a leap of faith to pursue work that spoke to their hearts. They decided to try their hand at farming high quality nutrient rich food, even though neither had any land farming background! This combined all their passions: great food, animals and nature. They bought a small, neglected acreage where they could raise a family, create a living that sustained them while also leaving the world better than they found it.