Our story…
We believe in old fashioned hard work, doing things the right way, sometimes even the hard way, to create a better future for the next generation.
From the moment we first met,
we knew one day we’d be raising our children on a farm. Rory grew up on a mixed farm in Zimbabwe, gaining experience and knowledge in many industries including citrus, tabacco, cattle and transport. So when we saw a farm for sale in the Mary Valley the year we married, we knew we were home. As a child I longed for green paddocks & rolling hills with horses grazing nearby. I was from central western NSW where the landscape is a far cry from this! We had finally found our little place to call home, and Gilldora Grove was born. For the last 15 years we have been developing our farm, and our climate…and not just the environmental climate, the climate within us. Our ability to learn and stretch the grey matter whilst on our quest to be better regenerative farmers. We believe that growing food or fibre can be done without the expense of the environment. This attitude is at the very heart of what we do. Regeneration isn’t just a practice for us, its a way of life. To leave our place in a ‘better’ state for the next generation. Encouraging biodiversity is a crucial part of our bigger vision. A year ago, we decided to start an advanced tree nursery. I love to grow things and it is a perfect way to increase our biodiversity on the farm. Any trees that aren’t sold will be planted out in the paddocks. My passion for growing things and Rory’s passion for regenerative farming together creates our shared vision for Gilldora Grove. We’ve been slowly developing our vege patch, adding in fruit trees, garden beds and growing most of the food we eat. Surplus is often turned into preserves, traded or given away.
Over the years we have been learning about and implementing organic farming. We’ve since moved away from conventional practices and love the results of natural organic and biodynamic practices. We brew our own fertilizers and apply these to our orchard, farm and vegetable garden. All of these elements come together in a beautiful symbiotic relationship where we can help promote soil health, which will in turn help our trees grow.
Growing our trees in the lush climate of the Mary Valley, Queensland.
In our orchard..
Our certified organic lime orchard sits on the highest part of our farm, surrounded by bamboo windbreaks. Its a hive of biodiversity with plenty of beneficial bugs!
“We always dreamed of being able to raise our children on a farm, just as we had been raised. To give them a sense of freedom, allowing them to be in their natural environment, learning and being creative as they grow.”
— Amy Watson