Wednesday, September 4, 2013

blowing in the wind...x







Finally it's spring-time.

And in amongst the bees and the blossoms and the beautiful sunshine filled days, our family are preparing for the next stage of our farming journey.

The stage where we scale back our family farm business and reclaim the growing as our own.

The stage where we step out of the business world for a while. We stop looking at the end product as a commodity, as something that sits on a spreadsheet to sell and be paid for. And we stop trying to get bigger and bigger just to pay the feed costs, the wages and that stack of bills that constantly sits next to my farmer boy's desk.

It's time for us to remember the feelings of excitement and inspiration and ideology that brought us here in the first place.

We've had a wonderful, incredible, successful, first 12 years on our farm, but now we feel ready for something new. A different kind of farming. The next chapter.

So from the middle of this month we'll be stripping it right back to basics. My farming family and I. Simple. Small. Sustainable.

Truthfully, I think we've been ready for something new for a while. We've been waiting for inspiration to strike and take us in a new direction, but we've been so busy and so exhausted that even if it has struck, we haven't noticed it.

Our future is wide open. Maybe we'll open a tiny on farm provedore? Maybe we'll revisit biodynamics? Maybe we'll start a 'pick your own' adventure? Maybe we'll specialise in something? Maybe we'll run courses? Maybe we'll have time to visit the bees more often, get some milking goats, build a studio, host events, write another book....the sky is the limit.

We will be staying on our farm. We will still be Daylesford Organics. We will continue to provide eggs and seasonal fruit and veg grown with love and integrity to our local area. And we will keep our organic certification.

We're really excited to see where the wind blows us. We're really excited to feel excited again. And we're really grateful for all the support and loyalty we've been given. Thank you!

We can't wait to share the next stage of our farming journey with you.

xx

47 comments:

  1. I love new adventures and new beginnings. Happy days to you all in whatever you end up doing.

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    1. Thanks Claire, it's amazing the difference it makes when you start talking about beginnings rather than endings. xx

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  2. mwah. you guys are the bestest of the best.
    xxxx

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  3. Hooray to new adventures. All those possibilities sound amazing Kate. All the best. x

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  4. Similar story going on here, Kate. It's all about making the decision to flow in a different direction, taking the best of what we've worked towards and being guided what really matters at the heart of family....and just doing it. Once again, you and I seem to be somewhat aligned (like the beginning-knitting-on-the-same-day). All the best to you, lovely lady. xx

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  5. Build a guest house so I can come visit please-looks like heaven there!

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  6. Build a guest house so I can come visit please-looks like heaven there!

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  7. Exciting stuff Kate! I like what you said about needing to stop so you can be open to inspiration if it does strike. We are actually at the beginning of this journey, of earning a living from our farm. Our Development Application has just been approved by Council for a Farmgate + "Pick your own" +Artisan Providore on our farm. I'm excited and a bit daunted, but mostly ready for a new challenge - it's been years in the making. I have no doubt whatever new direction you guys take it will be awesome and I hope you enjoy a well-earned break! Mel xxx

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  8. sounds like it will be an adventure for your guys! new adventures are always great! best of to where the wind takes you! I remember once we visited a pick your own lavender farm. That was so much fun!

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  9. What a brave decision - all the best with whatever you choose - small, simple, sustainable sounds superb.

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  10. What an adventure, Kate - lots of happy times ahead. I love your thinking and am in awe of your adventurous spirit and creativity. I hope all your dreams come true. Thank you for sharing them with us.

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  11. Your new phase sounds exciting Kate, I am sure whatever eventuates in your world it will be wonderful! That flower wreath/head dress is the prettiest thing I have seen all day,along with the adorable model of course x

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  12. New adventures and ideas are the best! Good luck!

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  13. That's so exciting Kate! I feel like we need a change of direction in our life but what? Pepper looks so much like her dad in that top photo. Love the pretty crown- my 5 year old would go crazy for it! Xk

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  14. Best of luck on your "new" adventure. You guys are brave! and I'm excited to see where life leads you. LOVE little miss and her floral wreathe. Funnily enough I just posted our spring welcome with similar headgear. Must be something in the spring air.

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  15. Wow, it sounds so exciting. To new beginnings! :)

    Jes | www.NaturallyJes.blogspot.com.au

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  16. How exciting and wonderful Kate! Good on you. xx

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  17. Lovely camellias - can't wait to follow this next step in your family's life. Hope you still get time for your crafting and writing too.

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  18. Fantastico !! Una nueva aventura , es importante seguir lo que nos hace vibrar y sentir alegria. Me alegro que el camino que estais eligiendo os llene de ilusión. Un cariñoso saludo desde España.

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  19. Sometimes a change is as good as a holiday and farmers bloody well deserve their holidays! My grandparents ran an orchard and my aunt and uncle worked it with them. There was quite a variety of fruit grown on 38 acres. After my grandfather died my uncle eventually decided just to focus on one fruit variety (lemons) and life became much easier. It was a stable crop, rarely got weather damage and it made for easier maintenance of the orchard.
    I wish you well in whatever you intend to do.
    xXx Helen

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  20. Its wonderfull, its so curious, i really want to know what time and schedule you doing the farm work and you still have time to share your days with all your readers, hope your next step will always bring good things

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  21. It always feels great when the wind is blowing kindly in your direction. Hope you get all you wish for. Jo x

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  22. Good Luck with whatever you choose - and keep taking those lovely photos...

    Penny
    x

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  23. How exciting Kate! And seriously, Pepper just looks too grown up doesn't she?! When did that happen????

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  24. I am thrilled for you, Kate. An exciting new chapter, as yet unwritten, in this glorious book of your family life.

    Sweet pictures too ;-)

    Warmest wishes from France,

    Stephanie

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  25. That sounds very very exciting!xx

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  26. I know whatever you all do it will be amazing!

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  27. Please please write a other book. Vantastic was such a gorgeous book that my husband and I both read cover to cover.
    Best wishes with your new adventure whatever that may be.

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  28. Good luck, where ever it shall take you.

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  29. Sounds all very exciting and welcoming, can't wait to see where your family's new life chapter takes you all!

    xx

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  30. Hi Kate,
    As always I love stopping by here and seeing what your up to, you are surrounded by so much beauty in such a wonderful place. I look forward to your new ventures on the farm, I am sure whatever it will be it will be great.
    Thank you so much for getting back to me on the question of your amazingness in photography. I admire and love your work, how can you say it is the aspect of your blog you are least confident in????? I am sure I am not alone in coming by here for your ability to capture your lives and the beautiful moments you make and share here.
    Download that darn photoshop and you will rock your blog even more, not that it needs anything more than you give it already.
    Again thank you for your kind words and that little boost of confidence I needed.
    xx

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  31. Oh Kate your little girl got so big! She looks so sweet in these pictures.
    Happy new beginnings dear lady. xx

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  32. Beautiful floral crown! I was wondering what type of flower it is made of?

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  33. On you way! Looking forward to this chapter.

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  34. Hope it all pans out just exactly how you want it to, sounds like a wonderful way to live. Thanks for the wonderful photos too!

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  35. I am excited FOR you all, Kate! You write with such honesty. There is a beauty and gentleness in every word you put together.. and you are absolutely right - the sky IS the limit. I know whatever road you and your beautiful family decide to go down next, it will be a wonderful adventure, journey - and success. x

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  36. How exciting! Looking forward to hearing what you get up to!!

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  37. Sounds exciting, and I know whatever it is you do, where ever the wind takes you it'll be wonderful x

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  38. Ohhh please - a farm stay ?!? I'd love to visit and sit and drink tea and listen to stories about your farm and family and travels !!!!
    Bestest of luck !!
    Lauren
    X

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  39. Beautiful photos! Best of luck with your new adventures! I love when I'm ready for something new :)
    http://youngnasawife.blogspot.com/

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  40. Lovely-change can be the best thing that happens. Best of luck to you as you move thru these months.

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  41. Lovely-change can be the best thing that happens. Best of luck to you as you move thru these months.

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  42. I'm so happy to hear you've made the big decision to go in new directions - exciting times ahead! :)
    A change is as good as a holiday, don't they say?

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Thanks so much for stopping by...

I do read every single comment you leave and appreciate it very much, but I should let you know that I can be a wee bit on the useless side when replying to comments, that's just me, everyday life sometimes gets in the way....so I'll apologise now, just in case.

Kate XX

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