FROM BRANCH Talking plantation innovation with Steve Marshall Steve Marshall plants trees and believes in sustainability. With green thumbs the size of the Peninsula, this environmentally conscious man who makes things happen from the ground up likes to get his hands dirty. It’s been 35 years since he planted his first avocado tree down south. There have been many more since. Olive trees and grapes too. Basically, if there’s anything you need to know about growing avocados and olives well, Steve’s your guy. ( 10
Growing up in Melbourne, Steve decided early on not to follow in his lawyer parents’ footsteps. He wanted to be outside where he could breathe. Feel the salty air on his skin and plunge his hands into the soil. As a kid he spent weekends at his family’s farm in Shoreham, which solidified his affiliation with the region, and he went on to study agricultural science at Melbourne University. He planted his first avocado tree on the property in Shoreham in 1985. That turned into 40 trees being planted between the shrubby hazelnut trees his father Bill had already established, but because they were different varieties, not all of them thrived. The 20 that did grew into 100 avocado trees by the time 1992 rolled around. Steve explains: “Mum Pam and Dad were hobby farmers. After planting those first trees I started my business putting in avocado plantations for clients in 1992 across the Mornington Peninsula. My eatdrinkmornpen