No farming background? No worries. That’s the attitude one young couple from NSW is taking in their unique business. After purchasing a mountainous, overgrazed and neglected 100-acre property in Putty, just a couple of hours outside Sydney, they are on a steep learning curve. And they’re pulling it off beautifully, producing cattle, pigs and chickens with regenerative agriculture at the heart of what they do. To learn more, the owners of Hillside Food Forest, Sam Rayment and Liz Ferrone are here to discuss.

• Sam and Liz’s favorite place since they moved to their farm in February 2021
• With no farming experience Sam shares how and why they ended up purchasing this land and becoming farmers.
• Previously, they lived on Sydney’s northern beaches with a couple of chickens and an aquaponics system, which led them down this pathway.
• So, where did they begin and how did they learn how to produce animals?
• Turning an old block of land which was neglected, into a functional farm.
• Sam and Liz started with cattle then added in, pigs and chickens.
• Sam and Liz, from the start, wanted to use a regenerative method and share what this involves.
• As Liz has a background in dietetics, the quality of what they are producing has been of the highest priority.
• Selling direct to consumer has been a game changer for Sam and Liz, and they share how it has been received by the local community.
• What Sam and Liz love most about their new life on the land.
• The most unexpected thing to happen so far.
• A common misconception about who is the ‘farmer’.
• Their ultimate dream for the future of the 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

Produced by Pretty Podcasts

There are sheep farmers, and then, there’s Lady Ba Ba. My guest today is an incredible advocate for agriculture and the industry is lucky to have her. Through her social media platforms, she educates people about the wonders of wool and takes on some tough topics, often successfully turning critics into fans. With such a bubbly personality, it’d be a waste if we didn’t see more of her. So, thankfully you can also catch her on television. Lady Ba Ba, otherwise known as Mel McGorman joins me now to discuss:

• Mel has a sheep and grain farm in South Australia and shares her favourite place there.
• Her first viral post, which was footage of a bushfire and it’s impact which, made international news.
• Wool is an amazing fibre and most are unaware it is fire resistant.
• The argument and reasoning around the practice of live sheep export and, the facts around this method.
• As a farmer and a mum, Mel uses social media to share stories about the reality of raising a family on the land.
• Mel shares the opportunities which have arisen with social media and, the importance of ‘putting yourself out there’.
• With the cost of living, Mel explains the different sorts of meat we can be eating to reduce costs.
• Supporting local farmers and butchers.
• Her experience on Channel 7’s “South Aussie with Cosi” https://southaussiewithcosi.com.au/
• What Mel loves most about working on the land.
• The most unexpected thing to happen on this journey.
• Dissolving misconceptions around farming and looking after animals.
• Mel’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 Lady Ba Ba on Instagram

Follow Lady Ba Ba on TicTok

Produced by Pretty Podcasts

Buying a dead cherry patch in South Australia’s Riverland and converting it into a vineyard, may not sound like the best career move. However, for my guest today bold decisions like that have dominated his winemaking journey. The first-generation farmer has been making wine for two decades now. Ricca Terra Wines (meaning ‘rich earth’ in Italian) has found the key to success with carefully selected grape varieties, innovative low alcohol options and in a surprise, even to himself, cask wine. To learn more Ashley Ratcliff of Ricca Terra joins me now to discuss:

• Ashely’s favourite place in the Riverland of South Australia.
• The great story of how Ashley came to live there and the condition of his land when he purchased it.
• The beginnings of the property and the decision Ashley is most proud of.
• Demonstrating innovation in his ability to adapt depending on the global climate.
• Ashley has more than 50 grape varieties, including Portuguese grapes and shares why he has taken this approach in the vineyard.
• Riverland in South Australia is hot and dry, and by taking the weather into consideration, Ashley has proven that this region can be used for vineyards.
• Consumer tastes are so important and, the huge market for lower alcohol options.
• Ashley shares his surprising business choice to launch cask wines and, some of the challenges.
• Ashley has the accolades to back up his success - in 2019 he was awarded a five-star rating in the 2020 James Halliday Wine Companion and again in 2021. He was also listed in the Top 10 upcoming wineries in Australia.
• Ashley is an advocate for the industry and is co-chair of the Riverland Wine Association.
• With China imposing tariffs during COVID and more recently an oversupply, Ashley shares the ‘yellow balloon’ he is focusing on right now.
• What Ashely loves most about life on the land.
• The most common misconception about the wine industry.
• The unexpected aspects of working in this area.
• Ashely’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

Ricca Terra Wines

Produced by Pretty Podcasts