Our farm is situated just outside of Wauchope on the mid-north coast of NSW, on the beautiful Hastings River. Wauchope is about 4 hours drive north of Sydney and about 20 minutes inland from the well-known tourist town of Port Macquarie.
Our family has been farming here for four generations, the farm being first settled by Chris’ great grandfather. The farm is currently run by Paul and Jenny and their son Chris with his wife Ann. Chris and Ann have three sons (Lachie, Jimmy and Billy) who love the farming life.
Crop rotation, time control grazing and application of various inputs to create healthy soils, pastures and animals are the main driving forces behind the production of our organic products.
Organic Milk
In 2000, with dairy deregulation, the decision was made to convert the farm to organic production. We achieved full certification in 2003. We currently milk approximately 180 to 200 cows of mixed breeds, producing 1.3 million litres of milk a year.
Organic Eggs
We have been producing organic pasture ranged eggs since 2010. Our eggs are exceptional in taste, a reflection of how they are produced, with the use of milk from our dairy mixed with the organic grain making them stand apart from other pasture ranged eggs.
Organically produced meat
For the last three years we have gradually been increasing our subsidiary enterprises. We now produce organically grown beef, pork and meat chickens which we sell direct wholesale or as individual cuts. This meat is available to purchase from the farm after it is processed and butchered at the local butcher. We specialise in preservative free sausages and nitrate free ham and bacon. If you are interested in purchasing this meat, please text or email us for further details. We also sell this meat at the Wauchope Farmers market on the 4th Saturday of every month.
Organic Compost
The major focus of the farm’s operations is on recycling nutrients and improving the soil. Instead of hosing down the yard every day, we put down hay to collect the cow manure and then turn this into compost to fertilise the farm, saving lots of water and turning a problem waste into an invaluable resource. This means we can minimise external inputs and also minimise wastage of on-farm nutrients. The material collected from the dairy shed and laneways is composted in windrows for six to eight weeks, turned regularly by a compost turner and temperature and moisture are monitored. The final product is full of plant available nutrients and minerals as well as microbes. This compost is then spread by a belt spreader over the whole farm ensuring a complete recycling of nutrients.
Education
Education is also important to us and we have hosted numerous field days, workshops and farm tours over the years. For more information on upcoming events see our News page. We have also hosted WWoOFers (Willing Workers on Organic Farms), vet students and trainees. We are also a long time supporter and participant in the Hastings Farm Gate tour which is held on the long weekend in June each year.
Diversity
Diversity is also an important part of our sustainability – from the microbiology in our soil, to the diversity of pastures and crops, to the enterprises we run. Our next enterprise will be a small on-farm milk factory which is to be located at another organic property which we own in the valley. Stay tuned for more information on this as it draws closer – hopefully to be operational by the end of 2021.
