See that photo over there in the A2 supplement in The Age newspaper?I took it!
When The Age journalist called me a few weeks back to ask permission to use the photo and for some facts about our farm gate stall, she told me it was going to be quite small.
This morning when I opened the paper up in the car park of the service station in town I screamed. Loudly. I feel a bit bad for all the people filling up with petrol who still don't know what the fuss was all about.
Its also pretty exciting to be number one in their list of farm gates.Yay!
We're in the middle of a crazy, crazy, crazy weekend here at the moment, but I have been thinking a lot about heroes.Do you have a hero?
Have you ever met your hero?
Would you like to?
When we first moved to this farm nine years ago and had no practical farming or organic knowledge whatsoever, Bren set about calling every number he could find of anyone who might be able to help us with a bit of information. We didn't want anything for nothing, we just wanted a bit of help.
Nine out of ten phone calls were dead ends.
And then Bren discovered an American self confessed 'lunatic farmer' called Joel Salatin who was breaking the rules and inventing new ways of farming. He bought all Joel's books and became an avid follower.
So much of how we originally set this place up was out of Joel's books and so many of Bren's sentences at that time started with 'Joel says...'.
Fast forward nine years and this time yesterday Joel came to visit our farm and meet us. He wandered around and was only complementary as to what we are doing here, of course he recognised some of his systems and advised us of some new directions we could take.
Like I said, its been crazy here and I still haven't had the chance to talk to Bren about how he felt about the experience but at the end when Joel was leaving Bren asked him to sign one of his books. The book is called You Can Farm and Joel wrote 'Oh yes you can - and yes you are.' Must be a pretty amazing feeling I think.
I hope you are having fun and being inspired out there. X
Hey Kate and Bren, CONGRATS. no 1 on the list, that's fantastic. All that hardwork is hopefully paying off. Must've been really exciting to meet Joel in the flesh and talk to him about what you are doing.
ReplyDeleteLove the photo of the chooks and ducks. Have a great weekend.
Wow you must both be buzzing with excitement. Congratulations!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations. Well deserved after all your hard work.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations fabulous story and never mind the peeps in th garage it maybe made there day you screams...you just added bit of excitement in their lives by sharing your excitement lol
ReplyDeleteFabulous bloggers inspire me every day
Hugs x
well done Kate!!! fabulous pic, LOVE it.
ReplyDeleteI would be screaming aswell x
Congratulations, you must be on cloud 9...... Hope it's good for business too.
ReplyDeleteThat's wonderful, how exciting for you both & what a huge achievement to set up such an inspiring farm! My husband is quite in awe of your set up, we might have to head out your way to take a closer look...enjoy the rest of your weekend!
ReplyDeleteKate that's bloody unreal! Congratulations! It is an awesome photo. You should be very proud! xxx
ReplyDeleteYay! Congrats Kate!!! Seems like hard work does pay off =))
ReplyDeleteOh wow - what fantastic news! I truly can't to come visit someday, i imagine that the produce bought will be the tastiest meal ever. Hooray for Farmer Bren too, I have so much respect for people who can research and learn and put things into practise and make dreams come true. Amazing stuff.
ReplyDelete(p.s would love to mind your darlings while you pop into the hairdressers! hah! xx)
Yay! Go team Daylesford! All your hard work is paying off in more ways than one! How fantastic to be featured as number one like that! Makes me want to hop on a plane to come and try some of your fabulous produce (I just have to win the lotto first!). And congrats to Brendan too having his hero visit the farm. It must have been fantastic for him to show all his work to him.
ReplyDeletewow - that must have been an amazing experience for both of you. i'm going to look that book up for david now - can you use it on a small scale or is it for big serious farming?
ReplyDeletecongratulations on the pic - i would have screamed too!
oh and by the way, that very last picture is just gorgeous - i have a thing for chickens at the moment ;-)
l
x
How fantastic, I'm so happy for you!!! What a wonderful man to visit you as well, hope it takes you all a while to come down from cloud nine!
ReplyDeletethat is so so cooool! how exciting to meet your hero and to be living your dream x
ReplyDeleteCongrats on all of it Kate, so glad the visit went well and the newspaper article is awesome. Judging by the taste of the eggs I had for my lunch, you're doing it all right..
ReplyDeleteLizzie
xxx
What a wondrous experience !!!
ReplyDeleteSo nice to get some recognition - you guys work HARD!
I want to scream for you and with you, I would be so excited I think I'd pee my self !
ReplyDeleteDo you know, I felt all tingly when I read this Kate. I am just so inspired by what you guys are doing. It's a million miles away from my world but I feel like we have so much in common with how we approach life, regardless of what we are doing. Thank you. Beautiful post, just when I needed it. You are such a star :)) Kx
ReplyDeleteHi again Kate, I have just been over to your Daylesford Organic blog and have been totally engrossed for ages, I even watched the video ! Tomorrow I am going out the back to our bare vege patch that was dug over and cleaned up months ago and I am going to plant !
ReplyDeleteI wish I lived near you!
That's just fantastic and all your hard work is paying off. I just love that last shot with the ducks. Whilst I appreciate it must be incredibly hard work, it looks like an amazing life and one in which I'm sure your children will absolutely cherish.
ReplyDeleteIts nice when the amazingly hard work pays off!!!!
ReplyDeleteScream and jump for joy all you wish! Congratulations to both Bren and Kate.
ReplyDeleteI'm not surprised you were number one and that pic is perfect.
Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!! I neary screamed with excitement for you when I was reading this Kate! (Glad I didn't, for the kidlets are all sleeping!). Well done to you and Bren!!!!
ReplyDeleteI was just stopping by to congratulate you guys, I nearly choked on my toast in excitement this morning when I opened the Age and saw you at No 1!!! Then I find out you took the beautiful photo I've been fawning over all day-GO KATE!! Well done you two xx
ReplyDeleteWow!! I had no idea you took the photo, when I saw it this morning I jumped for joy tooo! How exciting! And how special for Bren to meet his hero, and i love what he to Bren in his book, so true too.
ReplyDeletexo
How is that for a great start to the day!!! Congratulations and how wonderful to be visited by your Hero...Bren must have been beside himself :-) Its wonderful to get a pat on the back and to know that you are growing in the right direction ( ;-) ) I love that photo of all your birds doing the debugging for you, don't you just love it when they get a big juicy morsel and they all fight over it....and to know its not eating your goodies anymore...My sort of Karma :-)
ReplyDeletewow- how exciting - i would have screamed too!!
ReplyDeleteand how fantastic for Bren to have his hero visit him too.
Will you be open next weekend (june5) we are still planning on getting to Daylesford for the market, and your farm gate is on our list of places to visit if youre still open:)
cheers
jane
a well earned scream by all accounts kate. good on you, it is a lovely photo and well done for all of your hard work. it's good to know that the rewards are there. congrats
ReplyDeleteWell how wonderful is all of that :-) Hooray!
ReplyDeleteOh WOW I jumped for joy for you two!! What an absolute bobanza and having Joel visit too - your feet must be off the ground. Good on you, you look to me like you deserve every accolade you're receiving. Did you ever think farming would make you famous? You're my hero's for now that's for sure. Applause, Applause ;-)
ReplyDeleteFantastic! I know how hard you all work, so I know it is well deserved.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful thing to meet up with the farmer, I would have liked to listen in on the conversation too.
Congratulations to your family and I hope that soon you will all be able to slow down a little and put your feet up.
All the best to you.
I would have been screaming too!! Well done - you obviously deserve your success after all your hard work. I noticed the piece tom the left is about Mallorca - we've just been there on holiday!!
ReplyDeleteWow that is amazing!
ReplyDeleteMy hero is my mom so yes I have meet her. She is a mother of 6 and still sane. I think that is amazing. She sewed all of our clothes and had a huge veggie garden (mostly just potatoes though because she lives in Iceland).
Now she is a grandmother of 16 and a great grandmother of 2. She inspires me to be the best that I can be for my children and my husband.
Wow! That is so amazing I'm so thrilled for you and fabulous pics by the way! x
ReplyDeleteOh - what a buzz!
ReplyDeleteHow lovely to have Joel there. He is truly inspiring and is doing a world of good things on this planet!
Enjoy the high of it all.
xx Amy
Congrats on the feature in the paper. How super special for Bren to meet his hero. I bet he can't believe it happened!
ReplyDeleteS-T-O-K-E-D for you guys, it's so great when a plan comes off and I L-O-V-E to see people succeed in reaching their dreams. i love this post, i feel your enthusiasm and feel for you both. big pat on the back reaching over. and when's the country style feature? i've been really looking forward to it.
ReplyDeleteYou're totally famous!!!
ReplyDeleteCan you autograph my boob?
Well done lovey, you both rock my socks.
Ab x
Double yay!! How cool are both of those things?!? Meeting a mentor, and getting some great coverage and recognition for all your hard work? FANTASTIC weekend! xx
ReplyDeleteI found this so beautiful I actually have a tear streaming down my cheek.
ReplyDeleteWow! Can you guys get any more amazing? I dont think so. Is there anything you cant do?
ReplyDeleteThis was such an endearing post.
The photo deserved to be shared. Well done.
Ps Ive given you a Versatile Blogger Award so I hope you feel like sharing even more about yourself, x
Wow, Joel Salatin came to visit?? That is the coolest thing ever, well, apart from the newspaper thing of course! A farming legend, you guys must be on such a high over everything, congratulations!
ReplyDeleteIt must be wonderful to receive recognition after all your hard work. Bren must be over the moon too. Happy, happy times.
ReplyDeleteJak x
and you were top of the farm gates! #1!
ReplyDeleteyay!
I was wondering how excited you guys might be this week with Joel coming to visit Daylesford- I'm sure Bren must be bursting with pride!
So touching!! Congrats to you for the photo and to Bren for so much success and that great feeling of pride and and a pat on the back. He looks pretty chuffed to me- what a magical weekend! xo m.
ReplyDeleteFANTASTIC pic kate and well deserving of it publication, oh and as for bren's hero.....how brilliant was that? Him popping in like that!!
ReplyDeleteThere are so many things in this post that you must feel just so proud about.
ReplyDeleteI love it. I love to see people following their dreams and be rewarded for it.
And I love the photo.
I must visit that wonderful farm gate sometime.
a great inspiring post, so much to celebrate, well done you!
ReplyDeleteOh Kate. A truly lovely post. Congratulations on so many levels.
ReplyDeleteHow exciting for you and Bren, Kate! Meeting someone who has been such an inspiration must have been wonderful. And to be number 1 has to be pretty damn good too. Well done. Hard work does pay off! Kim x
ReplyDeleteI was listening to Joel on ABC Radio the other day. Can't help but understand a bit of Bren's inspiration! Yay for you guys on all fronts!
ReplyDeleteawesomeness :-)
ReplyDeleteWhat an amazing post - where to start!! The article is fantastic, what a terrific photo and Bren, my goodness, he must be on cloud 9! Joel sounds awesome, it must have been such a out of this world experience!! Well done!!
ReplyDeletecongrats, that is excellent!
ReplyDeleteSuch fantastic news! congrats, congrats, congrats. And the photo ~ more congrats, that is very cool.
ReplyDeleteA-C-E!!!
ReplyDeleteHow exciting is that??? I'd be screaming too.
Congratulations Kate. Wonderful.
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