Friday Follower - Kate

Kate Ulman of Daylesford Organics is my featured Friday Follower this week. Kate writes an interesting blog that I have found an inspiring joy to read, following her family's journey from humble beginnings to running a successful farming business that produces award-winning products. I will allow Kate to tell us more:


What is Daylesford Organics?
We are a Certified Organic mixed family farm in Daylesford, Victoria. We focus on sustainability and biodiversity. We have orchards, market gardens and chickens. We work with the seasons and in any given year will produce up to 40 varieties of apples, hazelnuts, berries, free range eggs and up to 30 different vegetables often with several varieties of each. We specialise in growing heirloom varieties with lots of different flavours and colours.


How did it all start?
Almost ten years ago, we left Melbourne to live a simpler, slower life that was closer to nature and further from the bright city lights. We dreamed of growing enough to be as self sufficient as we possibly could. I guess things just evolved from there.

Have you had to undertake training for complying to the organic farming methods?
No, it's just been an incredibly steep on the job learning curve. Bren (spouse) is constantly reading, surfing the net and calling people to ask how things are done. We've had many failures to learn lessons from and many successes to celebrate (and eat!)

You have some lovely types of produce that aren't known to most of us. How did you discover and decide to grow these?
Biodiversity is probably one of our most important ideologies. It is good for the planet, great for the farm and so much exciting for us. Why grow one type of vegetable when you can grow 30? Why grow one colour/variety of carrot when you can grow five? It's so hard to imagine a farmer dealing with one crop all year round every year. With us, it is constantly exciting as we discover some of the different /heritage varieties.

Where will we find your products?
We sell to lots of cafe, restaurants, shops in Daylesford, we sell at farmers' markets around Melbourne and our produce is served at many of the best restaurants in Melbourne. I really should pop a list up on my blog. Yep, I think I will.

Would you share something interesting about you that isn't common knowledge?
This is so against everything I stand for and I am ashamed to admit it but I prefer supermarket tomatoes to the ones we grow here. I like a flavourless tomato that can bounce.

Ooh, I feel like we've just discovered a dirty, little secret. That is funny. Thanks Kate for a great interview.

Visit Kate and say hello over at Daylesford Organics and at her personal, crafty blog: Foxs Lane.

Images are courtesy of Daylesford Organics.