| ENVIRONMENTALIST
"We researched a range of possible niches which included setting up a free range egg farm – we did that for a few years and managed 600 chickens, packaged many more than 10,000 dozen eggs and by then had raised the money to move our 1929 schoolhouse to the farm."
In 1997 they bought and relocated the old (1929) Nar Nar Goon North schoolhouse, to establish a private TAFE and offered the first Diploma of Conservation and Land Management in Victoria through distance education with weekend workshops for each subject.
"We did this while I was still teaching part-time and Anthony was teaching Community Development full time at Dandenong TAFE."
Over the years Peppermint Ridge Farm has grown as a diverse business, with an Australian bush foods garden and nursery, a small oil distillery, a cooking school (complete with Julie’s own cookbooks), B&B accommodation, as well as a flock of sheep and chickens.
"I have never really left teaching -
it just continues now at the farm."
Julie and Anthony hold regular workshops and events in their on-farm school, from teaching weed control to how to grow bush food. They have established a heritage centre on the site of Julie's father's old museum, which details farming history, Aboriginal culture and the local environment in the Cornucopia Australis Exhibition.
Julie declares, "I am having a wonderful time doing all of the varied activities we have set up at Peppermint Ridge Farm."
"I have never really left teaching – it just continues now at the farm."
"I ran a native foods cooking school for Year 11 Food Studies students, sharing my knowledge of native foods gained over the last 20 years. We took a tour through the native foods kitchen garden, harvested produce such as Warrigal Greens, Lemon Myrtle, Anise Myrtle, Strawberry Gum and Mountain Pepper. The students work in teams to create morning tea and lunch with the garden produce. The cooking school is popular with a wide range of groups including groups of friends and businesses wanting to do some team building."