Monday, April 2, 2012





G'day All,

Another new flock has arrived and they have laid their first egg within a week! I am really happy with the new facilities and you can see by the pictures the hens are too. I've already trained them to roost at night in their new roosting sheds, except for one "loner" who always wants to roost in the nesting shed, there's always one! lol

Last week was crazy: we had the vet out to tend to a sick piglet; I switched to a new grain company and they delivered their first load of grain which is flowing much better through the feeders; "Don't Forget the Milk" magazine featuring a story on Wwoofing and my farm was published and I was also featured in a TV commercial promoting moving to the country that will be aired in May on Channel 7. All this on top of a crazy dash to get the new sheds ready for the new flock.

Checkout the pics of the new roosting and nesting sheds and Negro resting on the job.

The past couple of months I have attended the very well run Hurstbridge Farmers' Market which has been great.

Happy and healthy eating over Easter!

Cheers,
Dan

Monday, March 12, 2012

More sheds, more wwoofers, more hens on their way



G'day All,

Flock three have settled in well and are closing in on their target of 400 eggs per day! Flock four will be here in two weeks and construction of their new roosting sheds is almost complete (see pic attached), thanks the the amazing talents of Pommie carpenter Richard.

The two piglets are growing incredibly quickly, must be the great eggs they eat each day, and the previous pig is providing many delicious meals. We've also tried some of the hens and they taste great too. The puppies are still very immature and require constant supervision around the hens. In the piepline is plans to get fish into the dams and some cows, sheep and goats. Complete self sufficiency may not be possible but it is my dream to produce most of my own food (and trade with other like minded farmers), capture my own water (which I already do) and also create my own power. We've already enjoyed many meals where all the meat, vegetables, fruit and herbs were all produced on the property.

Hard at work in the grading shed you can see Risa and Indonesian novellist Rhino and don't they look happy!

Cheers,
Dan

Monday, January 23, 2012

New flock, New dog, new tractor!!!




G'day All,

The past few weeks have been extremely exciting! We have a new dog, Sol, a gorgeous two year old male maremma, 450 new pullets and four tiny eggs already, and a new Massey Ferguson tractor. All have settled in well and the tractor hooks nicely onto the slasher and forks, so I've been doing lots of slashing and can now fill the new feeders.

My current Wwoofer is a lovely lady from Japan named Risa. She is a vet nurse and has taught me a few medical procedures and has injected a great energy around the farm.

Sales are going very well with the CERES Cafe being my newest wholesale customer. CERES is an amazing organic farm in East Brunswick.

Cheers,
Dan

Sunday, December 25, 2011

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!!






Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to Everyone!

2012 promises to be another exciting and productive year on the farm. Shed number 3 is complete (see pic attached of Rouven attaching the final cladding) and the paddock is ready for the arrival of my new dog "Solo" later this week. Then flock number 3 arrive on January 9th. There is also a pic of the new shed and the sexy new rollaway nesting boxes which should keep the eggs cleaner and improve the efficiency of the collecting and cleaning process.

Unfortunately my tractor has been written off as it took a journey by itself down the hill and crashed through three fences and into the bush! Most importantly no-one or any animals were injured.

400m of new fencing has been erected in the past week and it looks pretty bloody impressive to me! lol We've also installed some new nipple drinkers in the first two sheds which is a more efficient way of getting water to the birds.

The two pigs are massive now, possibly 80kgs! Next on the list of new animals will be some more piglets, some sheep and some cows. The grass has grown like crazy this summer so I need some help keeping to a manageable level.

Cheers,
Dan

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Accreditation and Video from my farm


G'day All,

Some exciting news that my farm has been accredited with Humane Choice! Check out their website - http://www.freerangeeggs.net.au/



My farm is also accredited with the Free Range Farmers' Association of Victoria who have recently updated their website - http://www.freerangefarmers.com.au/









I have made a video of my farm so check it out below!


Cheers,
Dan

Where can I buy REAL Free Range Eggs???

G'day All,

2011 certainly has been an incredibly exciting and challenging year!

Egg sales have been incredible all year and I am now supplying some of Melbourne's best and coolest restaurants (including Jacques Reymond and The Lawson Grove Shop!!!), cafes and health food shops, as well attending farmers' markets every weekend. (See full list of places you can buy or sample my eggs below)

I have two new puppies (Blanco and Dorada) who are both gorgeous but still have a lot to learn and require constant supervision around the hens. I also have two piglets who are very funny and are growing at an incredible rate. I will probably try breeding the female next year. The male I have named "Christmas", you work it out!?! lol

Work is currently underway on building the shed for flock three who arrive in January. I have built the shed from scratch, including felling trees from my property to construct the frame. The shed is 5m x 5m and will only cost about $100 to build!

Where can you buy my eggs???

Spotswood Farmers' Market - Spotswood Primary School, Reedd St Spotswood, 1st Saturday of every month (9am-1pm)

Pakenham Farmers' Market - Cardinia Cultural Centre, Lakeside Bvld, Pakenham, 2nd Saturday of every month (8am-12pm)

Flemington Farmers' Market - Debney Park Primary School, Mt Alexander Rd, Ascot Vale, 2nd & 4th Sunday every month (9am - 1pm)

Fairfield Farmers' Market - Fairfield Primary School, Wingrove St, Fairfield, 3rd Saturday of every month (9am -1pm)

Abbotsford Slow Food Market - Abbotsford Convent, St Helliers St. Abbotsford, 4th Saturday of every month (8am - 1pm)

Retail:

CERES - Stewart St, Brunswick East

Ruckers Hill Food Store, 339 High St, Northcote

Pete N Rosies Deli, Prahran Market

The Elwood General Store, 5 Ormond Rd, Elwood

Wholefoods Food Store, 320 Bay St Brighton

Restaurants and cafes:

Jacques Reymond, 78 Williams Rd, Windsor (Melbourne's BEST fine dining restaurant with three Michelin stars!)

Collective Espresso, 3 Cookson St, Camberwell (One of the busiest cafes in the eastern suburbs)

Empire Cafe and Gallery, 295 Sydney Rd, Brunswick (A funky cafe with awesome artwork)

Caffe Bellino, 281 Victoria St, Brunsiwck (Say g'day to Toni and check out the cool posters out the back)

Anada, 197 Gertrude St, Fitzroy (Fine Spanish dining, the homemade ice-cream is a great treat!)

Lawson Gve Shop, 1 Lawson Gve, South Yarra (The hidden gem of the inner suburbs)

Fog, 142 Greville St, Prahran (Classy, elegant, great food)

Nacional, 36 Mills St, Albert Park (Great coffee, scrumptious food, see if you can spot Ray without his hat! lol)

Enjoy the eggs and please support these amazing businesses!!!





Saturday, February 12, 2011

Dan's Eggs for Sale





G'day All,

(It certainly has been a testing few months. It has been a long while between posts because my previous internet provider Skymesh refused to repair my faulty internet connection and offer me any assistance at all, so I've been without the net for over two months, which has made running my business almost impossible and sent me to the brink of financial ruin, thanks Skymesh! This matter is now in the hands of my solicitor.)

Anyway, my eggs are now for sale at the Highett Deli and Cafe, 509 Highett Rd, Highett. So, please drop in and say G'day to John and Vicki, have a great cuppa and buy some of my eggs of course! lol

My eggs are also being used in dishes at the following cafes: The Empire Strikes BAck Cafe, 295 Sydney Rd, Brunswick and Caffe Bellino, 281 Victoria St Brunswick.

The chickens are laying well and I now have five dogs, a silo, coolroom, tractor, electricity to the shed and garage, a new water tank, two massive chook sheds, so its been a busy, exciting, challenging, stressful and rewarding few months!!!

I have also been accredited with the Free Range Farmers' Association of Victoria, your guarantee of quality eggs produced in a humane and environmentally sensitive manner.

Cheers,
Dan