The Farmer
We are Mon and Cara, a queer couple living on the land we are farming, along with our cows Bobby and Louie, a flock of chickens and a few hives of bees. Mon is a Naturopath by training and a grower + maker at heart. She divides her time between growing medicinal herbs, manufacturing herbal extracts and products and consulting as a Naturopath. Cara has been farming medicinal herbs for 5 years and has a background in environmental land management and bushland regeneration. She loves the connection to earth that regenerative farming brings along with the constant interactions with pollinators and birdlife throughout the days on the tools!
Our vision is to grow and manufacture quality herbal medicine, valuing and prioritising sustainable, bioregional herbalism. With a focus on helping to foster strong, healthy, resilient communities through education and connection.
The Farm
We are an establishing small-scale medicinal herb farm in central lutruwita nestled under kooparoona niara (Great Western Tiers), growing around 50 annual and perennial herbs on a ¼ acre plot. We use biodynamic and regenerative principles across our 16 acre property, minimising mechanisation to produce great quality herbs. We minimise external inputs by using our own biodynamic compost, worm farms and fertility teas and brews. Over the next year or so we will be expanding our cultivated area across 1-2 acres and planting medicinal tree crops. Some of our key crops include Chamomile, Calendula, Peppermint, Tulsi, Echinacea, Lemon balm, Gotu kola and Nettle.
The herbs are harvested, dried and processed on site at the farm and are available in bulk quantities or in loose leaf herbal tea packets. We currently stock retail stores, sell at local markets, sell through our website and provide wholesale herbs to small businesses and makers. Our herbs are also prescribed through Mon in her Naturopathy practice to her clients. We manufacture fresh and dry herbs into medicinal extracts such as tinctures, infused oils, salves and more. As much as possible, we are looking to source ingredients from our own farm or from the local region such as using our own beeswax and honey in our manufactured products. We also run workshops and education around herbal medicine making and practice.