Who’s Growing What Where

Australia & New Zealand

1. Organica Floret

Eudlo (QLD)

Edible flowers, prepared with love.

CREDIT: Organica Floret

While rose petals may smell sweet, they are usually unsuitable for eating. However, Organica Floret is a biodynamic and certified-chemical free rose farm and gardens, run by Caz Owens, an avid collector of heritage old world English roses and modern perfumed rose varieties. Her goal is to supply organically-grown fresh, clean and fragrant roses, flowers and herbs to florists, cake decorators and the hospitality industry. Providing perfumed blooms without the poison. The chemical-free highly scented flowers are in high demand for wedding bouquets and whole flowers for cake decorations. The pretty petals are supplied as edible blooms and dried flowers for environmentally friendly confetti and decorative purposes. Caz also opens the gardens to the public with certified chemical-free farm tours and is proud of showing customers her safe garden refuge for bees, beneficial insects, local flora and fauna. A place to enjoy the beauty and the bees.

Learn more: instagram.com/organicafloret_rosesfarm

2. Margaret River Organic Farmer

Rosa Brook (WA)

CREDIT: Margaret River Organic Farmer

Lawson Armstrong, a biodynamic viticulturalist and Laura Bailey, a sustainability educator, own a farm in conversion to organic certification in the beautiful Margaret River region. They practice regenerative farming, holistically managed rotational grazing and long pasture recovery periods for their herd of high-welfare beef cattle, producing organic pasture-raised meat. Their flock of laying hens are also rotated around their pastures, ensuring they restore ecological systems while producing organic open range eggs. Lawson and Laura also sell seasonal organic vegetables in their local community, practice closed-loop waste recycling and host educational farm tours for schools, interest groups, and environmental organisations. They aim to go beyond ‘sustainable agriculture’ by applying regenerative methods and revitalise their environment. In 2019, they proudly received the Australian Government WA Landcare Farming Award for ‘’excellence and leadership in implementing integrated land management practices on a farm that protects soils, water and vegetation.’’

Learn more: mrorganicfarmer.com

3. CERES Environment Park

Melbourne (VIC)

CERES is an award-winning urban farm, environmental education centre and social enterprise hub on four hectares in inner-city Melbourne. The former rubbish tip is now a biodiverse organic farm run for and by the community as a not-for-profit. The CERES Community Food System is a working collection of farms, animals, food swaps, ethical retail enterprises and food projects that train, employ and connect diverse groups of people through locally grown organic food. This city farm contributes to the local economy; providing an ethical market place, employment and opportunities for farmers, producers, teachers and food workers. It maintains financial sustainability through 17 social enterprises including a plant nursery encouraging backyard food production, two market gardens and organic grocery. CERES runs extensive environmental and cultural education programs for children and adults, with approximately one million people visiting the park, learning in affiliated schools or interacting online.

Learn more: ceres.org.au

4. Viridity Organic Farm

Kandanga Upper (QLD)

Steve Bartolo and partner Veronica are certified organic avocado growers on a 67-acre farm in the Mary Valley. With 1000 avocado trees and 200 mangoes, they have been implementing organic practices since 2014 by taking a ‘working with nature’ approach to farming. Using legumes and grasses as a living mulch to build organic matter and improve soil health has created an environment that supports beneficial bacteria, fungi and insects. The result is fewer weeds, an increase in yields and growth of beneficial plants, grasses and herbage. Soil health has improved so dramatically that Steve often works on his farm in bare feet because it has “become soft like a carpet.” Steve and Veronica are responsible in their approach to all facets of farming, locally sourcing grass for compost and hired help for harvesting. They sell high-quality fruit to Fresh Box, a food box service, other local organic food retailers and wholesale to capital cities interstate.

Learn more: facebook.com/viridityorganicumnaturalis