CURATED supports + celebrates the artists & artisans, producers & provedores we meet on our travels as well as design, style & fashion that inspires us from around the world – each with a nod to the love of COUNTRY life + STYLE. From locals we know, to creatives in faraway places, CURATED brings you the essence of grounded, soulful, country luxury & living.

Today’s edition of CURATED seeks shade from the summer sun + dips its toes into the coolness of seaside tones. Ocean bound, we pack our bags and head for the coast with 12 of our summer favs all set to accompany the 12 days of Christmas. Enjoy!

Oh, and this is our last blog post for 2014! Where did the year go! Thank you to all our followers new and old, our fellow Countryphiles + of course the fabulous people who’ve shared their stories + projects + journeys with us since The Countryphiles started back in Feb 2012. We wish you all a very merry + joyous Festive Season and we can’t wait to share a wonderful + creative + inspiring Forest Bound New Year!

Until then, pop on over to say hi + follow our Summer adventures via Instagram @thecountryphiles.

X Danielle

Summer Blues // Feeling Coastal

1. My Little Pixels iPhone cover – The iPhone just got cooler with Anna Jane’s cool + inspired photography from Hobart, Tassie!
2. Juliet Horsley Cowboy Hat – The perfect shape available in cool stripes + tones – I’ve long owned the cherry red stripe.
3. Mason Jar Spoon Rest – Simply selected for its retro cool azure blue tones + it serves a practical use.
4. Violet & Rose – Talented Jo Reid’s Geometric Mason Jar filled with non-toxic soy candles in Frankincense + Glitter.
5. Ahoy! – These designs will float your kids’ boat, modern children’s \ nursery art by Little Design Haus.
6. Stonemen – Create a scene + make everyday special in Sydney-designed men’s underwear that’s cool enough to be outerwear.
7. Squeak - Our tip; seek Squeak the Melbourne designers making wonderful cosy cool homewares.
8. Sarah Jane Leather – Hooray! Stylish alternatives to the classic handmade high country leather belt from Sarah at Tenterfield, NSW.
9. McKean Studio – We’re super keen on McKean Studio’s enamel bangles + silk scarves.
10. Yep, super keen on McKean Studio.
11. Leather weekender - There’s nothing like weekends away to wear in a quality leather weekender.
12. Such a gorgeously bright + cheerful geometric cotton canvas tote – it’s more squeal than Squeak!

Interview * Vanessa + Trent * Timber + Stone Retreat

Danielle White

Posted on November 28, 2014

A Tuscan-inspired getaway in Malmsbury – who’d ever have thought!

I’m not sure if it is the detailed stonework, the patina of its old timbers, the muted palette, the miniature Versailles-esque grounds, the trickle of the fountain on a sunny day, the gentrifying vintage exposed beams, the sun-drenched patio doors that open to an agricultural landscape or the crunch of gravel underfoot that transports you to a world away; but one thing I am sure about is that Vanessa + Trent Hancock have created a truly amazing country retreat!

The Timber & Stone Retreat is not just wonderful because it’s picture perfect, it’s inspiring because it’s a horse-paddock-to-slice-of-heaven project that has taken Vanessa + Trent years of hard work and all the vision, passion, patience, talent and creativity they could muster. While Trent’s varied skills (including those he uses for his landscaping business) set the scene and transformed the open paddock into grounds, Vanessa’s eye for detail, up-cycling collectibles and her own artwork (the large canvas hanging in the loungeroom is an aerial view of the land + the gorgeous floral cushion she made from a vintage apron) added the finishing touches.

These talented folks might not live in the country {well, not yet anyway} but they sure have provided locals and visitors alike with a truly beautiful space for a relaxed weekend, an extended stay or wedding. Yes! Oh joy! It’s available for bookings! Vanessa + Trent say it’s still a work-in-progress. So, as the garden grows and matures and outhouses are added, it will be a great pleasure to watch this space! In the meantime, we’ve added The Timber & Stone Retreat to Forest Bound our guide to the very best our region has to offer ‘up the highway, up my way’!

Enjoy! {d} x

Tell us a little bit about your background/s – what path/s led you to where you are now?

Trent is a landscaper, has been for almost 25 years. He’s been running his own business for the past 12 years. I am a florist. I have been since I was 19yrs old.
I had my own florist for 5 years in East Melbourne, quite a few years ago now, but I am now involved in running the landscape and pool business that we have, which also gives me the flexibility of being a mum to our 7yr old son.

With all the work that Trent has done over the years, there were always materials that were being ripped up and replaced and ready for the tip. Trent wasn’t comfortable with all the wasted materials, so he began keeping materials that he thought could be reused for something in the future. As the house we were living in at the time didn’t have the space to cater for housing such ‘collectables”, we needed to find somewhere to store them. Hence, the search for a vacant block began.

When I was a child, I spent most weekends with my family in Malmsbury. There was a trash and treasure market on every weekend, which was held on the side of the road in the main street –which at the time was the Calder Freeway before they diverted past the small townships. We’d then picnic in the botanic gardens. These memories, always resonated with me and triggered the idea of a country block not too far away.

Malmsbury turned out to be a great place to buy. After much searching, we found this 10 acre block which was a horse paddock that just happened to have a permit with it for building a house. That was 9 years ago.

Over the following years, our collection of building materials began to grow bigger and bigger, as well as purchases that we ‘couldn’t resist”. These were always unusual building materials that you wouldn’t come across very often but which we seemed to find. We knew we wanted to make use of that building permit, but didn’t have the aspirations to build the style of home that the previous owner was going to build.

You not only own the STUNNING Timber + Stone Retreat in Malmsbury – you BUILT it! Tell us about this amazing project! What inspired its design? How did you go about it?

Being on a budget, we saw the perfect opportunity to use all our salvaged materials to build something simple, rustic and recycled. The windows and shutters on the building were the inspiration for the design and dictated the proportions to the size of the home. We purchased these windows from a gentleman who had imported them from Italy out of an old villa to use for his own project, and these were left over.
With Trent having so many skills, he decided he wanted to build it himself. It turned out to be a great idea, as the result is a huge reflection of his skills. However, after spending almost every weekend building the house, it did start to become an extremely taxing and exhausting process, as running the landscaping business and physically working on that flat-out during the week was a real test of strength on many levels.

You not only built it, you did all the landscaping starting with a bare ‘horse paddock’! Tell us about the landscape transformation that has taken place?

The transformation of the property from a horse paddock has been a slow but rewarding one. We always envisaged a central tree-lined driveway. So, we divided up the block into smaller paddocks and formed a central axis from which everything had a starting point, then worked outwards from there. We wanted to keep things simple. As the climate can be quite extreme, plant choice was always very selective and suitable to the elements. So far, we haven’t had many misses, but it is ever-expanding and we are always searching for new additions to the garden. We were also aware that we wanted to have garden views from each window inside the house, which would reflect the changing seasons.

Trent’s landscaping https://affordabletreeservicecharlotte.com/ skills came to the forefront when it came to the landscaping. He built the roundabout and front pillars in local Castlemaine Stone, paved the outside areas and constructed all other facets in the construction of the garden. The plan is to continue expanding the garden. It’s definitely a work in progress.

The Timber + Stone Retreat is set on acreage in Malmsbury. How did you choose your small holding?

We were originally looking for smaller blocks when we first started looking in Malmsbury. However, when we stumbled across the block that we purchased, we both got a great vibe instantly. We continued to look around but kept coming back to this one. Usually, your initial vibe is a great gauge.

Your gorgeous accommodation is filled with handmade, up-cycled + vintage pieces. Tell us about your creations + collections?

The collections and pieces in the house are exactly that. I have been collecting things that I love for many years, some may call it hoarding; others, collecting. I have bought things from our road trip holidays, markets, garage sales, eBay etc and some have been passed down. Some things I have created myself, with found materials on the block and little foraging trips through forests. Also reusing and transforming things into something else is something I love doing.

Vanessa, you create all sorts of truly beautiful + unique things from paintings to cushions. Tell us about your creative processes? What inspires you? Can we buy/commission your work?

As I have always loved creating things of many varieties, I thought it appropriate that I include many of these things in our recycled home. Inspiration comes to me everyday. We are surrounded by it. From nature to people, magazines and books to the internet, there is always something that I love to look at.

The pieces I have made in the house, can be commissioned. I do have plans to continue to create one off pieces for sale. Usually from the recycled materials that I have collected over the years or new additions that I continue to search for. Another work in progress.

Trent, you are a landscape gardener. What inspires you? Can we commission your services?

With Trent being a landscaper and pool builder, the thing that inspires him the most is being able to turn a patch of dirt into something special. He is one of the lucky people who truly loves what he does for a living. He is passionate about his job, and when he’s not working, he is usually just pottering in his own garden or visiting open gardens! Trent is inspired by the variety of work that can be created and is grateful that clients entrust him to transform their private space. His services are available for many degrees of work with travel never inhibiting his workplace. Feel free to call Trent (0407 390 923) or send us an email handstone@bigpond.com.

You live in the city. Do you consider yourselves to be ‘Countryphiles’ in anyway? Do you love country life? Why?

We do live in the city, but like many converted ‘country folk’ from Melbourne, we are truly grateful for the escape that the country provides. Fresh air, a slower pace and friendly locals are true magnets to driving up the highway most weekends. It definitely recharges your batteries and forces you to stop and smell the roses.

What does a typical day in the life of Vanessa + Trent the ‘Timber + Stone Retreat Owners’ look like; from when you wake to when you go to sleep?

A typical day in the life of Trent and Vanessa during the working week is focused on operating the landscaping business. Trent leaves at the crack of dawn working on any particular job, usually including consulting with potential clients for new works, returning home around 7pmish. Dinner and then a while spent working out quotes is the usual scenario for his day,
My days can vary a bit depending what is going on. After a school drop off, I will be back to the office for the majority of the day, sometimes I’m out sourcing products for clients or driving up and down the highway to Malmsbury to take care of the property at The Timber & Stone Retreat. I’m pretty lucky that our business allows me to also have the flexibility to attend activities and be available to take care of our son. Normally, after the day is done, I relax at night with a bit of creative therapy. Weekends are usually spent catching up with friends or family, going to a market, gallery, café or garden somewhere and always plenty of food.

What aspect of visiting the country are you loving MOST at the moment?

The aspect of visiting the country that we are enjoying the most at the moment is the constant addition of creative people moving to the area. Many towns have such a variety of creative funky shops, together with great choices of food eateries. You can definitely feel the shift of more city influence moving to the country without the hustle and bustle. I also think that country residents have more friendly and relaxed nature and have genuine respect for others in the community.

What are the ups and downs of running a luxury retreat in a small country town?

As our accommodation has only been open for a short while it is hard to predict what the ups and downs of having a retreat in a country town may hold, particularly considering it is very fresh for us. Apart from the obvious one of not having any bookings of course we’re hopeful that things will build slowly and that people who stay at our retreat will enjoy it as much as we do.

Tea or coffee? Do you have a favourite country café? Where and why?

Definitely coffee all times of the day for Trent, but for myself I’m definitely an early morning tea drinker, followed by coffee for the rest of the day. We really love the coffee at Monsieur Pierre in Kyneton, as well as the food. However, we are really lucky to have such an abundance of choice cafes as well in the area. The friendly service is always a winner with me also.

Where was the last great meal you enjoyed/shared in the country?The region’s best kept secret?

The last great meal we had was at Small Holdings in Malmsbury. Not sure if it’s the best kept secret in the region, but it should be. The food, ambiance and service is fantastic. Such delicious food.

Would you ENCOURAGE others to live a country life? Why/why not?

I can really understand people moving to the country but I believe it’s all about timing with things in your life. I would encourage people to make the move as I can see the many benefits it has had on people I know that have taken the plunge from the city. Forming a network of friends, whether it be with people with like-minded interests or groups of some kind is essential. I think if you can get settled with work, even if it’s considerably less than your city wage, but you are happy, the value of that is so much more rewarding. In our case, the timing isn’t right at this point in our lives, however, you never know what awaits around the corner.

What ADVICE would you give those dreaming of setting up a small business in a small town?

Do your research. Watch the degrees of change within the seasons. Be passionate about what you want to do first and foremost. Use social media to the maximum and deliver the best service you can.

What can we expect NEXT from you/Timber + Stone Retreat in the future? What would be your DREAM project?

We have many ideas for our retreat in the future. We would love to expand and add new outbuildings. We have a really small number of grape vines that we have planted, which eventually we will be able to get some lovely Pinot Noir from; just for our own use and the clients that stay at our retreat. We are also looking forward to the continual growth and additions to the garden.

Can you list for us 5 specific things you turn to/do when you need of a ‘dose’ of COUNTRY life?

1. Pack the gumboots, comfy clothes and secateurs in the car, drive up the highway and inhale as much fresh air as possible.
2. Pack some paints/pencils and paper and get drawing.
3. Stock up on fresh produce and cook up a hearty meal and local wine.
4. Fossick around on walks looking for little collectables.
5. Wander around local towns and amble through their streets.
Vanessa + Trent Hancock
The Timber & Stone Retreat
Breakneck Rd,Malmsbury
0415 558 588
Handstone Landscaping

Interview * Cecilia * Fogelberg’s Conservation Framers

Danielle White

Posted on November 21, 2014

Not everyone moves to the country to fulfill a long-held dream or to satisfy a yearning for the bucolic country life. From country Sweden to Melbourne to country Victoria, Cecilia Fogelberg is actually a self-professed Cityphile. An adventurous traveler, mother, talented artist, qualified sculptor, art conservator and food gardener, Cecilia happened to buy a little weatherboard cottage in Kyneton because city real estate was too expensive.

“I do love the country life in many ways but I still miss the city; the excitement, the unknown, the energy, the melting pot of cultures and food and people. I think you could describe me as a country girl by birth but a city girl at heart.”

Nevertheless, Cecilia is making the most of what country life has to offer. Along with establishing a productive food garden, Cecilia has recently converted a little garden shed (formerly known locally as the ‘Tattoo Shed’) into a framing studio + store where she trades as Fogelberg’s Conservation Framers. As well as selling her own amazing art, Cecilia offers a full range of framing services for all budgets and has plans afoot to run handy workshops on how to best look after your personal treasures.

“I used to call myself an ‘economical refugee’ when I first moved to the country. But hey, fresh air, friendly folks and a richer lifestyle really grows on you!”

Oh Cecilia, I get the feeling us Countryphiles might win you over yet! {cheeky smile}

Enjoy! {d} x

Tell us a little bit about your background – what were you doing before you moved to the country?

I moved from Sweden to Melbourne in 1999. Before the move to Kyneton, I spent my last 7 years in Brunswick. I have however also lived in Collingwood, East Melbourne, Elwood and St Kilda.

I have been an exhibiting artist since 1996. I graduated from the Victorian Collage of the Arts with a Bachelor Degree in Sculpture in 2004. My life after art school was to work part time and to operate my own art practice as a full-time business.

In 2009, I commenced a Master Degree in Cultural Material Conservation at the University of Melbourne. The focus then shifted from making the art to conserving the art and to the task of getting my head around all the chemistry involved in art conservation. During this time, I was also volunteering as a conservator at Melbourne Museum.

Life as I knew it was then interrupted by my wonderful daughter who came along in 2010. I might have been badly prepared for the changes that came with the parenting role; however I quickly made some big changes to create a situation that would provide my daughter and I with the daily life that we both needed. One of the early issues we were faced with (and which probably most new parents experience) was the fact that there was not enough time in the day to keep everything going. I soon understood that a move to the country could provide us with the life style I wanted to create for my daughter and myself.

You grew up in Sweden. Tell us how you came to move from Sweden to a little weatherboard house in Kyneton?

Ha, yes, when you put it like that it seems like a very long way! There were however many crossroads and bridges between the two destinations.

I grew up in a country town smaller than Kyneton in the southeast of Sweden. Before leaving Sweden in 1999, I tried living in Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malmo. However, I could not find a place to call home until I arrived in Melbourne at the age of 22. I fell head over heals in love with Melbourne and I knew very early that I never wanted to leave.

Due to this ‘love story’ with Melbourne city, leaving Melbourne for Kyneton was not easy. I had, however, got to know Kyneton pretty well before I made the move as I have friends who moved to Kyneton in 2001 and I used to come for regular visits.

There is actually a funny story of how I had a failing attempt at moving back to Sweden in 2005. When I came to say goodbye to my Kyneton friends, I felt the need to buy a tree as a goodbye gift to the land of Australia. So, I planted a tree in Lauriston (just outside Kyneton) and now with hindsight I understand that you don’t plant a tree as a goodbye present, you plant tree as a symbol of planting new roots!

You are an artist. Tell us a little bit about your creativity.

I have been drawing and painting for as long as I can remember. I went to a private daycare as a child and the lady looking after us had a whole room dedicated to the arts. Once I started school, it turned out I was more of a visual kind of kid and I was lucky to have great supporting art teachers around me.

Once you finish Grade 9 in Sweden, you are made to choose your pathway for ‘high school’. I went on to study visual arts in another town from the one I grew up in. It was really amazing when you think back to it. It was similar to a boarding school with students from all around Sweden and we all came to this school to study visual arts, dance, music and theater. The difference in this set-up from a boarding school was that a lot of the students had to live in a private arrangement of small apartments or house-sharing in apartments our parents rented. I therefore had my first own apartment at the age of 16. Back then, all this was subsidised by the Swedish government but I’m pretty sure this would not take place today. Looking back at it, I don’t know if it was such a great idea or if I would ever send my child into an arrangement like that … but let’s just say that it was awesome fun and we certainly made friends for life.

I never really know if I chose the ‘art life’ or if it chose me. As a young teenager I dreamed about becoming an electrician and I think my reason to go with the arts was that the art offered me a pathway that could take me out of the town where I was born and later out of Sweden.

In many ways I think I just took the road that was the easier road for me. The arts could also offer me a lot of intellectual freedom, which is something I have always valued highly. Creativity can, however, have so many different outlets. Creativity for me is daily problem solving. It’s a way for me to understand, organise and process the past, present and future.

Is there a particular philosophy or approach that guides or underpins your work?

I have lately come to understand that the approach to my work is constantly changing and that you must allow it to change with the changes of life. Sometimes you walk hand-in-hand with your creativity but sometimes it runs in front of you and sometimes it gets left behind. It’s not always that you are aware of where you’re at until you have reached a position where you can see it from a different perspective.

During the first two years after my daughter’s birth I was constantly worried about losing my title as an artist. I was walking along with the daily conundrum, “Can you be a bus driver without a bus? Can you be an artist without making art?”

Before my daughter’s birth, my daily routine had been in my studio. Back then, I was never interrupted in my daily thoughts and art dialogue. I had lived a whole life like that and I was ill-prepared for the reality of motherhood. Sleep deprivation and my baby’s needs required me to put my energy in different places. I found it very hard to relate back to my previous studio practice. I can now laugh about it, however, I must admit I felt very lost in this process and I was not prepared to be a parent artist.

I am at present finding my way again. It is a different approach and it has now so many other layers to it; I have recently launched Fogelberg’s Conservation Framers, I’m renovating, I’m establishing an edible garden, as well as being a single parent. Amongst all this, my art becomes my diary notes and my meditative practice. My art becomes the glue in the gaps that makes it the full picture.

Having said that, I do think my art has always had a meditative aspect as well as; I often subconsciously seem to visit the same subject matters. I presume that the essence of me underpins everything I do and a whole lot of it can probably be categorised as an interest in cultural and gender identity.

Can you give us a little insight into your creative processes?

I wake up. I do stuff. I go to bed.

Where or who or what do you draw your inspiration from?

I draw my inspiration from the inside and the outside; from the ordinary and the extraordinary.

You recently launched Fogelberg’s Conservation Framers your conservation framing business. Tell us about how your new venture came about?

To start my own home-based business means that I can do what I love and I can work as hard as I have done for others, for myself. The journey of getting Fogelberg’s Conservation Framers up and running has been challenging but very rewarding.

Before my move to Kyneton, and while I was undertaking my master in Conservation, I worked as a picture framer at Eckersley’s in Prahran. I really love the picture-framing job and I decided it was time for me to go out on my own. I could also see that Kyneton and surrounds was in need of a conservation framer; though I should point out that Fogelberg’s Conservation Framers do all kinds of framing to suit all kinds of budgets and needs.

Fogelberg’s Conservation Framers allows me to combine all my previous skills and to finally have them all operating under one and the same roof. I am also hoping that the business will add to the local economy and the growth of Kyneton village.

Your studio was once a ‘Tattoo Shed’. Tell us a little bit about this curious history and the ups and downs of renovating it into a home studio.

Sometimes, when I look back at the photos of my house as it was when I bought it, I think I must have been mad to buy it! Or, at least I was happily ignorant about what a DIY house renovation involves! However, we are now 2 years down the track and it’s certainly starting to feel like home. I always say that the renovations are going forward at a pace of ‘3 steps forward, one step back’.

I don’t know the exact history of the property. According to the building inspection, the original cottage was built sometime in the 1890s and the ‘shed’ (where I now run my framing business) was previously known as ‘Tin Shed Tattoo’. I think most people in Kyneton knew this place as a landmark and I have met quiet a few local people who had their first tattoo made in this shed.

According to my neighbours, the shed was used by previous owner for radiator repairs. I know very little about the history of the house and I would be very happy to hear some tales if anyone knows any.

You hope to run workshops in your gorgeous garden studio. What might such workshops be?

I am, with time, hoping to run a few different workshops. One workshop I’d like to run is how to use sound materials while practicing DIY framing. Many people don’t know that a lot of the ready-made frames (bought at i.e. IKEA) include acidic materials that actually speed up the deterioration process of your framed items. Framing in a bad frame can be detrimental to your items and the damage is often irreversible.

I would also like to put together ‘domestic conservation’ workshops. These workshops will focus on how to best care for precious items such as your family’s photo albums, a wedding dress or other personal/family memorabilia. Preventative conservation and safety procedures applied to items in domestic homes are an important part of being prepared for events such as bush fires.

What does a typical day in the life of Cecilia Fogelberg ‘The Artist Framer’ look like; from when you wake to when you go to sleep?

At this point there is no typical day apart from the family routines.

You have established a productive vegetable garden. Tell us about your green thumb! Are there any Swedish influences/foods you really miss that you can’t grow here in this part of Australia?

One of the main reasons I returned to the country (if so on the other side of the world) was the fact that I wanted to teach my daughter how to produce her own food. I believe this was, for me, as much a political standpoint as it was a lesson in spirituality.

I think it is a necessary life-skill to be able to feed yourself and especially with the unknown economical future and our growing population. I felt that it was a skill that I had to provide. I definitely see myself as a representative of the ‘food not lawn movement’ and I only plant things that will either attract bees or feed us.

I also believe that a garden makes you ‘streetwise’. A garden answers life’s deeper questions about life and death and these subjects can easily be discussed and understood in a garden. We learn to understand that everything that lives will die and that everything we see around us is a part of this cycle.

Another reason to grow our own food is my disapproval of western diets and we see more and more reports about how our diets are making us sick. Organically-grown food is expensive and any food organically produced at home makes your money last longer. Furthermore, I have a great interest in lacto-fermented vegetables and how fermented vegetables, alongside with kombucha and kefir, have enormous health benefits for our guts and general wellbeing.

Our garden has, however, required a lot of new learning. Even if I, to some degree, learnt about how to grow food from my grandfather and my parents, there is still a lot of knowledge lost. I have at this point read numerous books about such things as permaculture and I am still learning about the seasons and what works and what doesn’t. I know that if you can grow it in Sweden you can definitely grow it in Kyneton! But what works in Melbourne does not work in Kyneton (hence I lost my passion fruit plant last winter!). And even after 16 years in Australia, I find it astonishing that you still can grow stuff in the middle of winter. Last summer, I put down a 150m drip watering system and I am hoping to soon have more of our own produce on the table.

Do you consider yourself to be a ‘Countryphile’? Do you love country life? Why?

No. Or maybe no, not yet … I do love the country life in many ways but I still miss the city; the excitement, the unknown, the energy, the melting pot of cultures and food and people. I think you could describe me as a country girl by birth but a city girl at heart. I do pretty well in both locations. Having said that though, I don’t miss the traffic in the city … and the ever-growing population of Melbourne … and the overcrowded public transport … hmm, maybe I have become a Countryphile after all!

What aspect of country life are you loving MOST at the moment?

The time. There is more time in the country.

The space. There is more space in the country.

The community. There is a very strong community in Kyneton and I know that life would not be the same without that around us.

What is the most CHALLENGING aspect of country life?

You learn that everything is not on your doorstep and that you need to plan for things that in the city you could do on impulse.
You definitely need a working car. I never had a car when I lived in the city.
However, I think I adapt pretty well wherever I am and I don’t consider it a challenge.

Do you prefer Coffee or Tea? Your favourite country café and why?

Depending on the time of the day. I don’t have a favorite café and I prefer my coffee at home as it both taste better and is cheaper!

What and where was the last great meal you enjoyed/shared in the country?

We eat well nearly every day. I love cooking.

Where would we find you on a typical Saturday morning?

There are no typical days in our week.

Would you ENCOURAGE others to live a country life? Why/why not?!

I don’t know; each to their own maybe. I probably wouldn’t have moved if I had been in the financial position to do what I wanted in the city. However, considering the rising house prices and the increasing density in the city it’s not a bad idea. I don’t believe in having a big mortgage that you have to slave over for the rest of your life. I used to call myself an ‘economical refugee’ when I first moved to the country. But hey, fresh air, friendly folks and a richer lifestyle really grows on you!

What are your Top 5 tips for moving to the country?

Could you ask me again in another 2 years’ time? I think I am still working this one out for myself!

What one major piece of ADVICE would you give those dreaming of making a TREE CHANGE?

Consider how you will support yourself economically and then have a backup plan as your first plan might fail for one and the other reason i.e. commuting to the city everyday can be quite taxing.

What can we expect NEXT from you/Fogelberg’s Conservation Framers in the future?

The future is here! I am just one month out the launch of the business and just working away meeting new clients and working in the workshop!

What are you looking FORWARD to and why?

A holiday in Sweden during the Kyneton winter in 2015 as I have not seen my two sisters for 5 years.

What would be your DREAM project?

I really don’t know. I suppose I don’t dream much as I am mainly focusing on enjoying the now. Or maybe you could say that I am living my dream…

Can you list for us 5 specific things you turn to/do when you need of a ‘dose’ of city life?

1. A lunch-picnic with a lovely friend at Elwood beach
2. A gig at The Tote in Collingwood
3. A coffee in Richmond
4. A visit to Savers in Sydney Road
5. A breakfast in Preston
6. A lunch at a Vietnamese restaurant in Victoria Street or at Backstreet Eating in Fitzroy
7. A visit to the Vic Market fish market
8. A rooftop drink in the CBD
9. A galley/studio visit to see friends
10. A sleepover in Northcote
11. A stroll in Fitzroy/Carlton
12. A coffee in my old street at St Ali.
Oh you said 5? I could still go on …

Cecilia Fogelberg
Fogelberg’s Conservation Framers

Storyboard * Kyneton Ag Show * This Weekend

Danielle White

Posted on November 14, 2014

Colourful bunting, lambs, hay bales, magicians, flowers, crafts, jams, scones, horses, paintings, photography, sheep, cattle, dogs, children and squeals of laughter; an Agricultural Show is a wonderful experience for young and old alike. Today’s post is a special ‘sneak peek’ to remind you to get along to Kyneton’s 154th Grand Annual Agricultural Show, which kicks off at 5:30pm this evening (Friday 14 November) with the Friday Night Carnival and runs all day tomorrow (Saturday 15 November).

Show Day runs from 9am to 5pm and includes The Farm Shed {where every gets to learn, discover + connect with life on the land; from digging for potatoes to making a rain gauge}, stilt walkers, an animal nursery, treasure hunt, pony rides, face painting + the Bike Emporium; loads of fun and a big crowd pleaser at last year’s show!

Make sure you find your way to the Pavilion where you’ll see all the prize exhibits from best Bunch of Radishes to best Decorated Patty Cakes.

If you see me about (I will be hard to miss wearing my official volunteer photographer’s ‘high-vis’ jacket) stop and say hi! Even better, if you’ve won a ribbon for your show entry let me know and I will take your photo! Hope to see you there!

Enjoy! {d} x

The Kyneton Agricultural Show
Friday 14 + Saturday 15 November

Interview * Lyn Stephenson * Bunjil Farm

Danielle White

Posted on November 7, 2014

When I arrived at the entrance to Bunjil Farm I found myself greeted by the sweetest little Coach house EVER which means today’s story really was a serious case of ‘You had me at hello!”

The long, leisurely drive into Bunjil Farm is beguiling. A meandering track winds guests past ponds, paddocks, ponies and peek holes through pine hedges. Glimpses of historic structures, salvaged and saved, tantalise the imagination of days gone by; a timber butchery with the loveliest pitched-roof, a blacksmiths’ shop, old stables and miner’s huts, not to mention a grand old weatherboard home replete with sunny verandah, rambling garden and towering folly! Oh, then to step inside! Ahead, a dark timber staircase beckons while to the right the northern sun beaming into the kitchen lands upon an enormous black wood-fueled Homestead Cooker. Upon my visit, it was busily baking Anzac biscuits …

OK! I’d better stop there {before I forget my manners} and introduce you to the amazing, passionate, hardworking, delightful owner Lyn Stephenson.

Lyn purchased Bunjil Farm a little more than 18 months ago after working in the high-pressure corporate world. Since then, and with little farming experience of her own, Lyn has already sown and reaped an industrial Hemp crop {read more about this amazing crop in Lyn’s interview below and via the Association here} AND bought herself a tractor!

“A “tree change” is what has allowed the freedom to enjoy home-grown produce and appreciate the bounty that the earth can provide. We are aiming to become more self-sufficient as time progresses, severing the ties of corporate Australia and commercialisation.”

Bunjil Farm is DESTINED for great things. Already a delightful weekend getaway, it BEGS to be enjoyed as a creative space for weddings, photographers and stylists and, who knows, perhaps even to play host to a future Lost Trades Fair and creative weekend workshops. A visit to Bunjil Farm is a lesson in discovery + possibility. To be able to share a snippet of Lyn’s journey is an inspiring privilege + honour. We admire her courage to be creative and to open her world and dreams to other like-minded folk with whom she can collaborate. Watch this space!

Enjoy! {d} x

Prior to buying your farm about 18 months ago, you worked in the high-pressure corporate world. Tell us a little bit about your background and how you came to leave it all behind to buy a farm in Springhill?

My father grew up on a wheat and sheep farm between Moree and Inverell, in northern NSW. My mother grew up on a dairy farm near Bega, in southern NSW. As young adults, they both moved to Sydney where they met, married and had me. Soon after, they moved to Canberra which is where I grew up. In those days, Canberra was like a big country town. My mother always grew vegies in the back yard and took a particular interest in herbs. Dad was an engineering type and, lacking a boy to pass on his knowledge, he tried teaching me some of his skills. Whilst I wasn’t a great student, I think I got the bug to live in the country from a very early age, perhaps by some kind of parental osmosis. I became disillusioned with major corporations – seeing the waste of money and experiencing the brunt of some of the self-possessed ladder-climbers who held no regard for their real bosses (the shareholders). Eventually, I just sold up and moved out.

You have named your property “Bunjil Farm”. Tell us the story behind its naming.

I wanted to come up with a name for the farm that represents my aspirations for the place. I started with using hemp in the name and coming up with puns, e.g. “hemporium”, “hemptastic” or even just “the hemp farm” but none of the names I came up with grabbed me. When I was harvesting the seed from my first hemp crop earlier this year, an eagle was circling above. I thought “Eagle Farm” might be a good name – but that’s a race track! Back to Google. I started looking up aboriginal words and found Bunjil. When I found the story of Bunjil, I knew I had found a name for my farm. Bunjil was the creator of all things. After he had finished creating, he was blown into the heavens and remains there today as a star. I wanted a simple logo and a stylised version of the aboriginal dot painting symbol for a star has become my logo. I asked representatives of the Kulin Nation for permission to use the name Bunjil. They had no hesitation, saying that my aspirations for the farm (putting back more to the earth than I remove) was exactly what Bunjil taught.

Okay, I confess to having serious farm envy. Your ‘outbuildings’ are the stuff photographers, stylists + location scouts’ dreams are made of! Describe them for us and tell us about your vision for these truly amazing spaces?

There are 19 buildings on the property, in varying sizes. All of them date from the mid- to late 1800s and all have been rescued from elsewhere and reconstructed on the property many years ago. This fits well with my philosophy of re-using and recycling. I have just opened a bed & breakfast in the main homestead as well as in a slab-built settler’s hut dating from the 1850s. Ultimately, I would like to open the remainder of the property for expos, functions, etc. and also to establish a focal point to educate people on the uses and benefits of hemp. I think we have the potential to develop an appealing tourist attraction with an educational focus on hemp.

You do a great deal of voluntary work to promote Industrial Hemp (the non-drug varietal of Cannabis Sativa) and all its many uses as food seed, oil, wax, resin, rope, pulp, paper, fuel, clothing, building, mulch, animal bedding and skincare. It sounds like a ‘super’ crop. Why haven’t we heard more about it and what makes you so passionate about it?

Well, that’s a difficult one to answer as far as why we haven’t heard more about it. In the 1930s, when nylon was invented, big business pursued the development of new technologies: the cotton industry was flourishing and newspapers were being produced using wood pulp. Hemp fell into oblivion. Today, the hemp industry is gradually expanding, particularly in Canada and parts of Europe. In fact, France never stopped producing hemp for food and fibre. Some innovators are beginning to realise the possibilities of hemp and are developing processing techniques to bring hemp out of the pre-industrialised world and into the 21st century. I am interested in the plight of many Australian farmers and I see hemp as being an ideal crop to include in crop rotations. If nothing else, it is an excellent nitrogen fixer and requires no herbicides or pesticides. If we can get our politicians to see their way clear to approving hemp seed as a food, then Australian farmers have an alternative, productive crop.

This year you will plant about 7 acres of Industrial Hemp. Describe the ‘see for yourself’ opportunities + experiences this crop will provide?

I wanted to touch and feel and try and understand the crop myself so I applied for the necessary licence to grow it. Initially, I will be holding information sessions for members of the Industrial Hemp Association. I then hope to build on this by hosting field days for farmers interested in growing hemp, as well as workshops for people to learn about hemp-lime construction. I already receive guests at my B&B who are interested in learning more about hemp.

Speaking of crops; you’ve just bought a tractor, a harvester + a binder! Give us a little insight into how it feels to buy your first set of big farm ‘toys’!

I confess that there are many days where I feel that I might have bitten off more than I can chew. However, I have a steadfast resolve to progress with my plan, even if it means chewing slowly! I felt a little bit like the possum in the spotlight when I was the successful bidder for the machinery at a clearing sale – stunned! What have I done? My friends then told me there’s no turning back now (they mean that I have really now officially become a country dweller). Well – who’d think I could ever go back to the city now anyway? Having bought all these things, the steep learning curve of country life continues. I now have to work out how to operate all them! Fortunately, I have a couple of very tolerant and patient friends at the ready.

What does a typical day in the life of Lyn Stephenson the ‘Bunjil Farm, Rural Retreat Host, Industrial Hemp Advocate + Tractor Owner’ look like; from when you wake to when you go to sleep?

Wow – no two days are the same. They always start out the same, but then things go off in all kinds of directions. The chooks and the ducks are the first task – feeding them and letting them loose after being cooped up in their overnight fox-proof dwellings. There is always plenty of mowing, weeding, pruning and harvesting to do. But the time often gets hijacked by callers on my mobile wanting information about hemp. These calls generally last 30-60 minutes. Or it could be that the bull has jumped into the neighbour’s paddock and I have to go and retrieve it. Lambs are born; foals are born … it’s all so wonderful!

Where or who or what do you draw your inspiration from?

I’m often told that I have guts. So I guess my inspiration largely comes from within. I tend to become indignant at injustices (such as continued prohibition of hemp food in Australia) and can sometimes go like a bull at a gate to try and change things. When things don’t work out the way I want them to, I try to find another way. A crusty NSW politician once said “Just keep goin’. It doesn’t matter which direction, just keep goin’.” We all need some kind of purpose or we die – that’s what I keep reminding myself.

Do you consider yourself to be a ‘Countryphile’? Do you love country life? Why?

Absolutely I’m a Countryphile – I was a Countryphile even before I left the city! I used to buy the Weekly Times and just dream. I should have debunked from the city years ago but I was stuck on the treadmill. To paraphrase Dave Ramsey, author of “The Total Money Makeover”, I was buying things I didn’t need with money I didn’t have to impress people I didn’t like or rarely see. It suddenly struck me one day and I sold up and haven’t looked back. I couldn’t believe it when I moved here – complete strangers will smile at you in the supermarket!

What aspect of country life are you loving MOST at the moment?

Well, I can’t resist another quote – Darryl Kerrigan in “The Castle” – “Ah, the serenity!” The bird-life at Bunjil is extraordinary. I love to sit on the verandah in the evenings just listening to the birds and the frogs. Bliss!

What have been the most CHALLENGING aspects of your tree change so far?

Every day is a challenge. Everything is new. In the beginning, I didn’t even know how to open a jerry can! Now I can unbog my ride-on mower using fence strainers. I’m learning to drive my tractor; learning to watch the weather and the seasons for reasons other than “Do I need a raincoat today?” I guess winter is a challenge. Those early, dark mornings with blistering winds – it’s a real challenge just to emerge from underneath the doona to start the day sometimes.

Tea or coffee?

Coffee in the morning. Tea in the afternoon.

Do you have a favourite country café? Where and why?

I don’t go to cafes much any more but when I do, I like Duck Duck Goose in Kyneton. The owners are lovely people, the coffee is good, the food is fresh and it has a very relaxed, unpretentious atmosphere.

Where was the last great meal you enjoyed/shared in the country?

Du Fermier at Trentham. Annie Smithers is a genius.

Would you ENCOURAGE others to live a country life? Why/why not?

Well I think that what I’ve done is something everyone should do; but if they did, then we’d just be creating more congestion and another big city right here. I would rather just give people a little taste of country life at my B&B and let them go back to their hectic city lives, hopefully relaxed, enriched and more knowledgeable about the possibilities of hemp.

What are the Top 5 Tips you’d give those dreaming of making a TREE CHANGE?

1. Stop dreaming.
2. Just do it.
3. Don’t procrastinate – there is no point wondering on your death bed whether you should have.
4. My friends advised me that I should rent first to make sure. I did, but I wish I hadn’t – I feel that it just delayed everything. The paranoia that city people have about not being able to buy back into the city real estate market is something I think people worry too much about.
5. Invest in the best-quality gumboots, all-weather coat, slip-on boots (no laces), a good pocket knife and a head torch.

What can we expect NEXT from you/Bunjil Farm in the future?

Workshops, open days, special events …. The sky’s the limit!

What would be your DREAM project or collaboration?

Government funding for a processing plant for hemp to be operated by a co-operative of hemp farmers.

Can you list for us 5 specific things you turn to/do when you need of a ‘dose’ of city life?
1. Phone a city friend.
2. Listen to the traffic reports on the radio
3. Watch TV
4. Drive to the great metropolis of Bendigo
5. It’s hard to imagine needing a “dose” of city life!
Lyn Stephenson
Bunjil Farm
Hemp Association of Victoria

Interview * Christine McKimm * Country Wedding Style

Danielle White

Posted on October 31, 2014

It’s wedding season and today’s feature story celebrates spring + new love + joyous occasions by introducing you to Christine McKimm, founding owner of Country Wedding Style, whose move to the country inspired her to reconnect with her creative skills and start a curated prop hire + wedding styling business.

Let’s face it, it takes creative vision, skill and hard work to turn a paddock, a dusty lane, a bush track, a shearing shed, a garden or a seldom-used timber hall or rustic church into a venue gorgeous enough to create lasting memories and stunning photos. On my visit to Christine’s home, I was treated to a quick mini wedding-styling session. I watched and clicked with delight as Christine magically brought nostalgia, romance, provincial country charm + a touch of luxe to what had only moments before been a gravel driveway. A vignette crafted of glass jars filled with ‘Love Bubbles’ sat atop rustic timber boxes on which twigs, bird’s nests and flowers were carefully placed. In moments (with a little help from her dog Pip and a curious little chook or two), Christine had set the scene for a beautiful soiree. So much talent + passion and with more great plans afoot – watch this space!

Enjoy! {d} x

Since moving to the country, you’ve established a wonderful wedding styling + prop hire business Country Wedding Style. Tell us a little bit about your background – what led you to where you are now?

Well, firstly, I have always loved renovating furniture. I’ve done it on and off for the last twenty years – when I first moved out of home I had hand-me down furniture that was pretty ugly. I have always loved creating homey living spaces that are ‘aesthetically appealing’, so this was an inexpensive way to do that. When we moved to Kyneton our shed was filled with dusty old pieces left by the previous owner. I spent many hours in the shed seeking ‘me time’ when my baby was sleeping, sanding and painting and creating pieces for our home as well as for sale. And when we ran out of things to renovate (and room to display them), I didn’t want to stop, so I started acquiring pieces to renovate and sell in the local furniture shop (that my in-laws own).

Secondly, I did a career change (one of many) in my late twenties and retrained as a florist. I walked the streets of San Francisco asking for an apprenticeship until I landed a job in a teeny tiny little florist shop in the Marina district where I literally was left on my own to ‘learn on the job’. I then did the same when I moved to Sydney, wiggling my way into some of the best florists in the city. I was exposed to not only the retail styling aspect of these beautiful shops, but the consulting and styling of events and weddings. A lot of stylists came into the florist shops I worked for, and I would help fulfill their vision for a photo shoot or styling job. I gave advice to fashion designer Peter Morrissey once on how to decorate his table for a dinner party he was throwing. One of my last roles as a florist was working for an events company on high-end weddings – it was my dream job, working in a warehouse environment surrounded by floor to ceiling shelves of props.

Your FABULOUS business is a bit of a one-stop shop for modern brides who want to add beautiful bespoke atmosphere to their country wedding. Tell us a little about your project – what services do you offer?

I offer unique, ‘one-off’ vintage furniture for hire that is either in its ‘raw’ state (ie. rustic but not in need of renovation), as well as pieces that I have renovated myself. For example, old Singer sewing tables, bathroom washstands, dressing tables, and chairs. In addition I supply rustic props for brides who want to add a little character to their country wedding. From wooden ladders and timber fruit crates, to tin chests, handmade personalised wreaths, and birds’ nests. If couples want quirky blackboard signs, I hire out standard ones (eg. ‘Drinks’, ‘Reception’) as well as customised versions in any colour or style to match their theme.

While couples can hire their ‘staples’ from regular wedding hire companies, I provide the rustic vintage touches that create talking pieces and personality to a country wedding. They can literally come and pick up one dressing table and style it up themselves. Or, if the couple are not confident in how to display these pieces themselves, I offer an additional styling service using my own stash of personal props and *flair*.

Where do you source all the wonderful props you have to offer?

I’m fortunate that my husband works for his family’s furniture shop in town and they often come across old pieces that people just want to get rid of, not necessarily seeing (or caring for) their potential. I have a homing device set to a local auction house that you can buy straight off the floor in-between auctions. I try to avoid going there too often though, or we would not be able to afford to eat… Every now and then I hit the garage sales, which is my favourite way of picking up bargains. I literally can’t sleep the night before an ‘all town’ garage sale! I find estate auctions a bit pricey, although fun for a day out.

Weddings have changed quite a bit in recent times. Can you describe some of the changes you’ve observed and in particular the modern country wedding aesthetic?

With the advent of the ‘shabby chic’ era, followed by ‘vintage’ and now ‘industrial/vintage’, I do feel this has opened brides up to considering the bigger picture of theme-ing their whole celebration rather than just the cake decoration and table centrepieces. That, combined with the internet (particularly Instagram and Pinterest), has exposed brides to exciting and different ways of approaching their special day. In the past, a ‘country wedding theme’ would have conjured up images of wagon wheels and hay bales, ‘pig on a spit’ roasts and the odd wine barrel bar table!

In many ways now, the modern country wedding aesthetic is about embracing the childhood memories we hold of our parents and grandparents and the furniture and décor; a hark back to that which we grew up with. Happy memories of the past linking happy memories on the big day.

It’s about creating little vignettes or ‘stories’ using vintage suitcases, lamps and books, mismatched jars and glassware, antique clocks and vases, lace tablecloths, old fashioned kitchen scales, Persian-style rugs and ottomans, rustic timber crates, ladders and tin chests, ‘character’ arm chairs and velvet chaise lounges. Wine barrels and hay bales are still being used, but incorporated in a different way. And flowers, of course!

Do you have any advice for brides-to-be who’d like to organise their wedding in the Macedon Ranges? Any tips + tricks to make their planning and preparations a little easier?

Consider the season – winter is cold here so the best time of the year is typically spring, summer and early autumn.

Get in the car one weekend and go for a Sunday drive ‘town hopping’ and talking to local shop owners. The locals know where it’s all at.

There are some excellent local suppliers to the wedding industry (venues, caterers, photographers, florists etc) that are amazingly talented or offer truly unique venues, but they don’t spend money on having their website appear in the top Google search ranking or advertising in bridal magazines.

And remember that as much as DIY is fun, it is also an additional ‘job’ for either yourself or ‘Aunty Joan’ that can work out to be more time-consuming and stressful than anticipated and often more expensive. A lot of brides look back and wish they had taken on only one or two things and contracted out for the rest; so they could relax and enjoy the lead-up and the actual day.

Many of us dream of moving to the country and starting a creative inspired business that we can run from our home studio. Tell us a little about that journey. Is it as dreamy and easy as it might seem?

Sometimes actually, yes! The actual ‘starting’ or ‘doing’ part is to me dreamy, because it’s about actually having a go at something you are passionate about instead of just thinking of doing it. That’s satisfying in itself. And my work ‘environment’ is certainly beautiful.

But sometimes, no, it is not dreamy. It really depends on what basis you are starting from. I don’t have a lot of spare time or cash for setting up and promoting a creative business, and one thing I’ve learnt since I launched a few months ago is to be patient. There is a favourite quote of mine by Richard Branson (amongst many):

“There are no quick wins in business – it takes years to become an overnight success”.

Constantly re-evaluating my goals and my ‘measure of success’ has been part of this experience.

What does a typical day in the life of Christine McKimm the ‘Country Wedding Style Owner’ look like; from when you wake to when you go to sleep?

My Country Wedding Style hat is typically worn on a weekend, when I have the time to go out into the shed and renovate a piece of furniture or work on some chalkboard art. As my little girl {Charlotte} has grown older she has been able to potter around me, helping to sand or paint her own little piece of wood while I work. It may take me weeks to finish something because of the family-work-life balance, but when it is ready, I will set it up in the front paddock and style the piece to take a photograph for my website. That usually involves telling my daughter to keep out of the shot, and yelling at the dog to stop racing in front of my camera. My cat and chooks then usually photo-bomb the picture, but that’s ok, because they are excessively cute, and I’m all about ‘country’ anyway! At the moment, my days are really spent focusing on increasing my range and not spending much time on promotion. I see the business as something that will grow organically over the years.

Where or who or what do you draw your inspiration from?

I draw my inspiration from my own garden, from houses and properties I drive past in the area, from Pinterest and from beautiful lifestyle magazines such as Country Style. Or just by simply looking at a piece of furniture and its potential – that in itself is inspiration to me.

Do you have ‘another life’ or is Country Wedding Style your primary all-consuming project?

I have multiple other lives really, Country Wedding Style is currently my weekend gig. My husband and I have a two year old who is a full time job. I also work virtually full time hours doing freelance marketing and copy-writing from home, while caring for my daughter. She goes to kindy a couple of days a week, which is when I really go hell-for-leather, but trying to be creative in my job while entertaining and caring for my daughter on the other days is tough. Come Friday, I’m shattered. But I love what I do which makes it easier. That is the other ‘dreamy’ part of working from home in a creative role. My main client is a florist chain in Sydney, so I get to write about, and market flowers all the time. I really am living the dream combining my marketing and writing skills with a background in and passion for flowers! And while I do this I look out to my sheep in the paddock and the chickens pecking away at my garden :), or have my dog at my feet and my cats lying next to my laptop. I also try to work from my favourite local café in town, St Beans, once a week, to get out amongst ‘people’.

Do you consider yourself to be a ‘Countryphile’? Do you love country life? Why?

Most certainly yes. I’ve gone from being an all-out beach girl my whole life to whole-heartedly embracing the country life. And Country Victoria at that. I get a real kick out of simple things, like stopping the car to let a family of swans cross the road, entering cakes into the local Kyneton show, learning about animal husbandry, and watching a flock of galahs fly overhead. Recently I went to my first night CWA meeting called the ‘Twilighters’, that is for women who have families/work through the day. I was gutted I’d missed the month before where our mentor did a scone making session. Scones are my thing, or at least I’d like to think so! I have no desire to go into the city or to live back there. If anything, I can see us moving to an even bigger property one day.

What aspect of country life are you loving MOST at the moment?

Spring. My garden is going off and the weather is delicious for digging in the yard. And the gardens in Kyneton (and the Macedon Ranges) are just so beautiful at this time of the year. Lilac, wisteria, rhododendron, rambling roses. Every street you drive down is just gorgeous. Plus daylight savings means we can sit outside of an evening after a long day in the sun weeding and digging for ‘wormies’, with a cold glass of wine and watch the colours change over the valley.

What is the most CHALLENGING aspect of country life? What are the ups and downs of growing a small business in the country?

Honestly, I don’t find anything challenging about living in the country. It would be nice to have a laundry in the house instead of out in the shed, but otherwise it just has everything and more going for it. The ups and downs of growing a small business in the country – I guess there is only room for so many suppliers of certain services and products. We each have to carve our own niche and unique selling point to offer. Plus, during the winter it is really too cold for me to do furniture renovation and painting, so that side of things generally has to go on hold for a while.

Tea or coffee? Do you have a favourite country café? Where and why?

I have lots of favourite country cafes for different reasons. But, in Kyneton, I tend to go to St Beans Provedore when my daughter is in kindy. The ‘naughties’ are really naughty (and handmade), and the owners and staff are lovely :) I also go to Ruby’s Café a lot because it is super kid-friendly, again the staff are wonderful, and they do great baby-chinos. Their steak sandwiches are yum too.

Where was the last great meal you enjoyed/shared in the country?

In my sunroom with the in-laws last week. We had homemade guacamole by our fire pit, then barbequed up some garlic prawns and marinated chicken, had a Greek salad and vino. A family affair eaten with gusto and a lot of finger licking. The best kind of meal.

Would you ENCOURAGE others to live a country life? Why/why not?

Absolutely. Besides one of the more obvious reasons that, for a lot of us, the only way we can afford to enter the real estate market is to do so in the country, I also feel that it offers a pace and a sensory environment that inspires creativity and allows us to re-prioritise what’s important. Take a deep breath of fresh air. Stop and smell the wood smoke, so to speak. It is also the best place to bring up kids, no doubt about it.

What are the Top 5 Tips you’d give those dreaming of making a TREE CHANGE?

1. Be open to career change and re-evaluate your idea of ‘success’
2. Remember if you can’t buy something here, there is always online shopping
3. Rent for a while if you want to decide where you’d like to live
4. Join a community group or committee
5. Pack your bags (and a woollen jumper).

What can we expect NEXT from you/Country Wedding Style in the future?

Over the coming months, I hope to do more furniture renovation to expand my range of pieces for hire. I also have some ‘thoughts’ for further developing my other business Facebook page, Made in the Macedon Ranges. That has gone on the back burner for a while, but a seed is forming in my mind on that one…watch this space.

What would be your DREAM project or collaboration?

Oh snap. I have always wanted to style a shoot for Country Style magazine. But, as far as collaboration goes, I’d love to actually be working with other wedding suppliers in the region as a ‘collective’, along with the local council, to market the Macedon Ranges as the destination wedding region of choice.

Can you list for us 5 specific things you turn to/do when you need of a ‘dose’ of city life?

1. A visit to the South Melbourne Market to buy fresh seafood
2. Highpoint Shopping Centre – the closest shopping mall to Kyneton and wow – it has escalators!
3. Alley-hopping in the CBD
4. Café-hopping around Fitzroy
5. I’m stuck on the fifth, because to be honest we don’t ever really need a dose.
Christine McKimm
Country Wedding Style
Made in the Macedon Ranges

Interview * Sophie Hansen * Local is Lovely

Danielle White

Posted on October 24, 2014

Photo – Seth Buchanan

Photo – Seth Buchanan [thanks Seth!]

Equal measures family, friends, farming, local food, cooking and happiness + a generous dash of joie de vivre- these ingredients make us thrilled to introduce you to today’s very special fellow Countryphile Sophie Hansen {we’re pretty darn chuffed, actually}.

From living in Northern Italy, where she worked as a feature writer for the Slow Food Movement’s Slow Magazine, to now living on a venison farm with her husband and two children in Orange, NSW, Sophie has developed a strong passion for cooking with local seasonal produce. So much so, her newly-published book celebrates exactly that Local is Lovely: For the love of fresh, seasonal food, nice farmers and their produce.

We especially love + admire Sophie for her enormous orchard-sized heart + generosity of spirit. Sophie’s blog Local is Lovely is a lovingly crafted tribute to more than simply recipes and her personal love of cooking; it’s a supportive tribute to the good folk who grow our food, an honouring of the seasons and a celebration of what it means to live + share in your local community.

So, as a very special treat, below Sophie’s interview you will find two of Sophie’s divine early-Summer recipes: Peach or Rhubarb Almond Cake + Orange Rosemary Cordial. Quite the perfect combination for a lazy afternoon enjoyed with friends in the dappled shade of a majestic tree. Thank you Sophie for sharing your story with us, for allowing us to curate gorgeous photos from your blog + for indulging us in the joy these recipes are sure to bring.

Enjoy! {d} x

You have lived and worked in north-west Italy {sigh}. Now you live on a farm in Orange, NSW. Tell us a little bit about the path that led you to where you are now?

Well, I’m not sure how far back you’d like me to go but I suppose it started with me studying a BA at the University of Canberra after school with a print journalism major. After university, I traveled and worked in Europe for a couple of years then on my return I was very lucky to find a job as the editorial coordinator for Australian Table magazine (which sadly closed a couple of years ago). I was part of the launch team and found myself working with some really wonderful, generous women who encouraged me and gave me lots of opportunities to write about cooking, food producers and different ingredients. I eventually became the mag’s features editor and in that role came across a guy called Renato Sardo who was the then international coordinator for the Slow Food movement. At our meeting, I glibly asked if I could come and work for him one day and somehow, it happened! I was initially offered a three-month internship and worked in return for my accommodation costs but was then offered a paid job and ended up staying on for a few years. It truly was a dream job; I met and interviewed producers, cooks and winemakers from all over the world and was very privileged to do a fair bit of travel in my role and attend many events celebrating Slow Food’s mantra of good clean fair food.

Eventually, I realised it was time to come home. It had been an incredible experience but I was missing my family, friends and Australia so somewhat reluctantly I booked a ticket back to Sydney and packed up my Italian life. Back home, casting around for my next step, I found myself working in a policy role for the then NSW Shadow Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries Duncan Gay MLC (now Roads Minister) and while that was a great experience, my 12-month foray into politics convinced me that Parliament House was not my calling! I then moved to take up a role as an editor with R.M.Williams Publishing and it was through that job that I met Tim! He was hosting a PR lunch for his business, Mandagery Creek Venison at Longrain restaurant and I was invited. We met for the first time that day and three months later we were engaged! I honestly never thought I’d find myself living in the country but it all happened very easily and naturally and now, unoriginal as it may sound, I can’t imagine living anywhere else!

So, now I live with Tim and our two children Alice (7) and Tom (5) on a deer farm about half an hour west of Orange, NSW. We are really proud of our business Mandagery Creek Venison; the meat we produce is consistent, tender, super healthy, completely grass-fed and free-range and just delicious. Naturally good for you! Tim does all the farm work, I help when I can, and he puts absolutely everything he has into making sure our animals and farm are healthy and happy.

In amongst all of this, I started writing a blog almost three years ago – initially it was a way to keep writing (I was missing my career in magazine land!) and also to share what was happening on our farm and those of friends in our area. Like everything though, it has grown into more than that and I have loved every step of the process.

While in Italy, you worked for the Slow Food movement’s editorial house. What role did you have and what was it like?

My first role was as an intern in the editorial offices, so I wrote short pieces for the website mostly and collected and collated pieces for the various english-language newsletters we put out. As I moved from an internship into a more settled role with the editorial house (and as my Italian improved!!) I took on more feature pieces for the website and various publications. It really was the most wonderful job; I was sent off to interview shepherds in the Maritime Alps as they made fresh cheese in-situ, covered festivals dedicated to offal, wine and various other foodstuffs (lots of cheese!) and helped host visiting english-speaking media around the Slow Food offices and its home town of Bra. During particularly busy times, like every second October when Slow Food hosts the Salone del Gusto and Terra Madre, I’d also work in the media centre helping visiting journalists and writing updates and press releases for the website. Yep – dream job!

Tell us about your gorgeous blog ‘Local is Lovely’. How did this fabulous creative project come about? What philosophies and ethics guide you in creating Local is Lovely?

Local is Lovely was born three years ago out of a desire to write and to share our farm and our beautiful produce with a wider audience. I was also meeting many amazing producers at the farmers markets we attend with Mandagery Creek Venison and wanted to showcase what they do too. I really love my blog and work pretty hard on it. That said – it’s really still a hobby and definitely doesn’t pay the (any) bills, so I have to be careful not to spend too much time on it instead of my freelance recipe and feature writing work which does (sort of!!). I’d love to work full time on Local is Lovely but can’t and get very frustrated at the many posts I want to write, the hours I want to spend creating new recipes and editing the hundreds of photos I have on my memory card and it’s a constant challenge to pull myself away from that and concentrate on my actual work (which I love too!). I suppose all bloggers (at least those who don’t do it full time) must feel the same way!

Regarding philosophies and ethics about the blog – I don’t really have a defined set of ethics that I write by, though probably should!. But that said, I just want it to always be a positive space, to look fresh and contemporary, to be pretty and bright and to concentrate on sharing the pleasures of simple, seasonal food and thanking the people responsible for growing and producing it for us.

I don’t have the breadth of knowledge necessary to make accurate statements about the politics of food production and distribution so keep well away from those things. There’s enough commentary about that on the net already. I just want my blog to inspire people to buy locally and/or seasonally as much as possible/feasible for them, and then share the spoils of those purchases with their friends and family.

You are a freelance food writer and published author of your newly released book ‘Local is Lovely’. Have you always been interested in food/cooking/food photography/styling? What influences this?

Yes, I have always loved working in food media and the process of putting words and images together to create beautiful stories. When I worked in magazines I’d loiter around the art department watching them put pages together and loved it when we, in features, were asked for our thoughts on cover images or anything design-related. So, when I started my blog, I was pretty excited to realise that for better or (often) worse I got to make every decision in my little corner of the web. Even if it was just my Mum and a couple of friends who end up reading my posts, I got to choose what images to lead with and so on. I also realised that I love styling and taking pretty photos of food. I don’t have any training at all in photography though so it’s frustrating sometimes, know exactly the kind of images I want to create but feel very hamstrung by my dire lack of technical knowledge. Am currently taking a few photography courses and hoping to improve with time!

Who/what do you turn to for inspiration?

I find cooks like Tamsin Carvan particularly inspiring. I love how she lets the ingredients do the talking and how beautifully simple her food is. She reminds me a bit of another food hero; Alice Waters who believes, as I do, that cooking simple food is an art. I love photographer Luisa Brimble’s work, am more recently inspired and excited by the photography and styling by Annabelle Hickson of The Dailys blog and think Molly Yeh of the blog My Name is Yeh is brilliant. Oh, and not forgetting Mimi of French/English blog Manger - it’s almost too beautiful. But, my all-time favourite food writer is M.F.K. Fisher. I think I have read The Art of Eating at least four times! Every time I feel a bit stuck or low in inspiration I re-read a chapter and am always struck with the empathy, economy and feeling she puts into her writing.

Your family owns Mandagery Creek Venison and your sister-in-law owns the beautiful 1803 Artisan Deer Design and your Mum, Annie Herron, is a wonderful illustrator. Tell us a little about your family collaborations?

Tim and I have been very lucky to have lots of support from our family in everything we do. Tim’s parents were instrumental in the birth of our business and themselves have farmed deer for over 30 years. They help at the markets, look after our kids often and because they have both run their own small businesses are a great source of advice on our own. Tim’s sister Penny has also been a big part of Mandagery Creek Venison; from day one she worked with Tim to establish the brand and because she is based in Sydney she is a great ambassador for us there. More recently Penny launched her own business 1803 Artisan Deer Design, which produces beautiful, hand crafted pieces using products from the farm; deer leather handbags, antler-handled knives and a range of homewares. She collaborates with craftspeople all over Australia and has worked really hard to create a range that is completely unique, contemporary and I think, a wonderful example of new Australian luxury!

On my side of the family, I was incredibly lucky to have my mum, artist Annie Herron, illustrate my book last year and we also work together at the art classes she runs at our family home near Rydal NSW. Every Autumn and Spring, Mum runs three five-day residential classes and I do the cooking for them. It’s a bit of an effort getting away and Tim is incredible the way he runs the show at home while I’m gone but also it’s pretty great to have all that time in the kitchen, often quietly myself, to cook and develop new recipes for each group.

What does a typical day in the life of the ‘Sophie Hanson author, blogger, cook, host, farmer’s wife’ look like; from when you wake to when you go to sleep?

Um, wow! I don’t think there’s such a thing as a typical day for us! But, during the week we start with the normal morning race to get everyone up, fed, dressed for school and in the car and into town before 9am. Then, I usually grab a coffee in town, hopefully run into a friend for a quick chat, check the post then head home and either hit the kitchen or my office (which is currently just a desk in our hallway!). I develop recipes for a few clients/websites then shoot and style them so that’s a big part of my working day. Which, I have to say is way too short! To make school pick up on time, I need to leave home at 2.30pm so it goes very quickly! Weekends we often host events at our Farm Kitchen so I’m either prepping for them or cooking for our guests. And on our days off – my favourite thing to do is just be home with the four of us, have a late breakfast then head out for a bushwalk and picnic on the farm. Heaven.

Do you consider yourself to be a ‘Countryphile’? Do you love country life? Why?

Yes definitely! From somebody who never ever thought they’d live in the country – I now can’t imagine moving back to the city. I love the space, that we get to live in such a beautiful part of the world, that we are so in sync with the seasons, that our kids can explore and be a bit wild in relative safety! I also feel very lucky to live in such a thoughtful, vibrant and fun community.

What aspect of country life are you loving MOST at the moment?

That we live in such an incredibly rich food bowl! Orange is home to wonderful orchards, vineyards, market gardens and farms producing beautiful meats. We are so lucky to have all of this at our door step.

What is the most CHALLENGING aspect of country life?

The weather! Last summer was horribly hot and dry and I find that whole business of waiting/praying for rain so stressful.

Do you prefer Coffee or Tea? Your favourite country café and why?

Oh definitely coffee. We are so spoilt here in Orange with loads of wonderful cafes to choose from. My current favourite though isn’t in Orange, it’s a little closer to home in the village of Cargo which is home to the most fantastic little cafe called Rustic Notions. They do great coffee and light meals, host regular afternoons of live music and have provided a wonderful meeting place for this little country town.

What and where was the last great meal you enjoyed/shared in the country?

Our Mandagery Creek Venison at Lolli Redini restaurant in Orange. One of the best meals I’ve ever had and I’m not just saying that because it was our meat!!!

Where would we find you on a typical Saturday morning?

Either at a farmers market in Sydney, behind our stand for Mandagery Creek Venison, cooking at our Farm Kitchen or preferably, catching up with friends for coffee in town before heading home to a lazy day in the garden with Tim and the kids.

What can we expect NEXT from you/Local is Lovely in the future?

I’m hoping to put together a really exciting program of events and workshops at our Farm Kitchen in 2015 so watch this space! Am also co-hosting the first Local is Lovely food photography and styling workshop at Rydal in a couple of weeks and am so excited about that. If all goes well we will be doing more of these next year too! In terms of the blog, I’m planning on introducing a few new elements next year and hopefully spending a bit more time organising a proper editorial calendar and sticking to it!

Can you list for us 5 specific things you turn to/do when you need of a ‘dose’ of city life?

I grew up in Sydney, so I still have family and friends there and we visit them often. The kids and I usually spend a few days there every school holidays and Tim comes too if he can get away. When we’re there, we usually try to do one or more of these things!
1. Catch the ferry to Camp Cove Beach at Watsons Bay for a swim then fish and chips for dinner.
2. Take the kids to a play at the Opera House or to the Powerhouse, gallery or museum.
3. Go out for dinner! My current favourite restaurant in Sydney is Honeycomb on Boundary St in Paddington.
4. Go to my favourite kitchen shop of all time, if only to window shop… The Bay Tree in Woollahra.
5. Catch up with my girlfriends for a few glasses of wine somewhere like 10 William St; a fantastic little Italian wine bar in Paddington.

A VERY SWEET + SPECIAL TREAT // TWO RECIPES FROM SOPHIE HANSEN

Peach or Rhubarb Almond Cake

This dense, nutty cake is based on a recipe from River Cafe Cook Book Easy, and is just beautiful. Yesterday we made two, filling one with rhubarb and the other with peach. Both were well received but the rhubarb slightly more so.

One thing to note; if you fail to line your cake tin properly (like I did) and then struggle to release it from said tin (like I did), you can always make up a sort of ‘plate trifle’ by cutting out chunks of the cake, arranging them on a platter and topping with whipped cream (like I did last night).

500g peaches (sliced thinly), rhubarb (cut into cubes) or any other seasonal fruit
1 orange
50g caster sugar
1 vanilla pod

cake
150g unsalted butter
150g caster sugar
2 eggs
1/4 cup buttermilk
180g freshly ground almonds
1 tsp baking powder

topping
Finely grated zest of one orange
30g butter
25g brown sugar
1/2 cup slithered almonds
Icing sugar, to dust

Finely grate the rind and squeeze in the juice of the orange. Preheat the oven to 180C and grease and line a cake tin with baking paper. Place the fruit, orange rind and juice and sugar in an ovenproof dish and toss to combine. Bake for 20 minutes and then scrape in the vanilla seeds.

Cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs, one by one. Fold in the buttermilk, almond meal and baking powder and spread into the prepared cake tin. Push the fruit (with its juices) into and over the cake and bake for 1/2 hour.

For the topping, finely melt the butter and stir in the grated zest and almonds. Spread this over the half-baked cake, lower the heat to 160C and bake for a further 20 minutes. Cool the cake in the tin and then top with the almonds and dusting of icing sugar before serving.

Orange & Rosemary Cordial

Grated zest of three oranges
3/4 cup caster sugar
2 long sprigs rosemary
2 cups freshly squeezed orange juice

Pour one litre of water into a large saucepan and add the orange zest and one of the rosemary sprigs. Bring just to the boil then remove from heat, stir in the sugar until dissolved and pop in the fridge to cool down for 10 minutes. Discard the rosemary sprig then stir in the orange juice and return to the fridge.

When ready to go, pour the orange syrup into a large jug or punch bowl-ish-container, add the remaining rosemary sprig, pour in water to taste and fill with ice (I like to go with a ratio of four parts water to one part orange syrup mixture). Recipe adapted from one given by Stephanie Alexander in The Cook’s Companion.

Sophie Hansen

Local is Lovely

Buy Sophie’s book here.