This week began with a job that seems to grow a little bigger every year—pruning the roses. When I first planted them a few years ago, it didn’t feel like there were that many. Now, as each bush has matured, winter pruning has become quite the task. It’s satisfying work though, knowing the effort now will be rewarded with plenty of blooms in the months ahead. Alongside life on the farm, we’ve also been busy working on another project. A nearby farmhouse is slowly being transf

A new financial year, a new milk processor, and the shortest day now behind us — it feels like we’re stepping into a fresh season with plenty to look forward to. One of those things is a little holiday in August. More details on that another time! The week began with finalising the financials, followed by something we don’t do nearly often enough — taking a day off. I managed to coax my husband into Warrnambool while one of our vehicles was being serviced, and we spent a coup

Last Sunday we welcomed 15 participants to the barn for our Butter, Yoghurt and Labneh workshop. It was a wonderful afternoon, filled with plenty of laughter as we churned butter, learnt how simple it is to make yoghurt at home, and everyone took home their own freshly made labneh. These workshops are always a reminder that traditional skills don’t have to be complicated—they just need someone willing to share them. The rest of the week was spent enjoying the slower pace that

After a slightly quieter Patch to Plate dinner, Sunday was enjoyed at a gentler pace — and with fewer dishes to wash, which was a welcome change. Monday evening brought us back into teaching, with another workshop held at the Warrnambool Community Garden. This time, I shared our fermenting course, and it was wonderful to see it so well attended. There’s something special about passing on these skills and seeing others take an interest in traditional ways of preparing food. T

What a difference a week makes. After last week’s downpour, this week opened up with clearer skies and a return to a steadier rhythm. Monday saw a full house at the barn, with a booked-out brunch followed by welcoming 20 ladies from the Timboon Garden Club for coffee and cake in the afternoon. While the garden wasn’t quite ready for wandering after all the rain, it created the opportunity to slow things down and share more of our story — what we do here and what drakesfreshpr

At the start of last week, we launched something we’ve been working towards for a while — our online shop and weekly delivery to Timboon. There is now a “Timboon” tab at the top of our webpage, where you can browse available items, including fresh produce, baked goods, and pantry staples. Orders will need to be placed by Wednesday night, with pickup available on Saturday afternoon at a designated location. We’re looking forward to seeing how this grows and connects us further

It’s been a full and rewarding stretch, with back-to-back workshops across the weekend. On Sunday afternoon, 17 eager participants joined me here at the barn to dive into the world of fermenting — sauerkraut, kombucha, and milk kefir all bubbling away by the end of it. Then on Monday, we continued straight on with another group of 17 at the Warrnambool Community Garden, focusing on sourdough bread making and baking. Two full sessions, plenty of questions, and a lot of sharing

Last Saturday’s Patch to Plate dinner left the barn full and the bellies even fuller. It also gave us a moment to pause and reflect — twelve months of these gatherings. Twelve meals, once a month, and nearly every one of them booked out. That kind of consistency doesn’t happen by accident. It’s been built over time — meal by meal, season by season — and it feels good to say we’re continuing. The dates are set for the rest of the year, and we’re looking forward to many more ev

The weather has finally turned, and with it came some much-needed rain. You can almost feel the land exhale. With the change, a few crops are now finishing up — including the flower patch, which has carried us beautifully through the warmer months. The timing couldn’t have been better for a short getaway. With the cows recently dried off, I saw a small window of opportunity to get my farming males off the farm for a few days. A couple of phone calls later, we found ourselves