From the need to survive comes our Self Sustainable Farm

Around three years ago, Robert and I ventured on a new way of life, a slow path for our family to have a life that was different to the norm. This meant that our children, then 1.5 years and 0.5 years, and dog, would have a very different life from the suburban box in which we currently would be living in.

We took a risk, and at the time, it was scary. We had to sell 3 of our five houses due to me being on Maternity leave for the second time within a year. Yes, we had our babies within 1 yr and 4 days of each other. (We learnt babies are expensive) This meant that the amount of money we had even to cover the mortgages took its toll on us as our family. We took a risk in September 2014 and sold the houses off plan before they had been finished. Within 12 months, we took the next risk and used the equity to buy our farm with no house on it. We had looked at the alternative of a house in suburbia (not for us). This didn’t allow us to keep busy with life, and we could not make a difference to the environment. You see, when you are slightly different, you need hobbies to keep you busy and out of trouble. A place to tinker. So we ventured into the unknown.

In the beginning, our family, friends and colleagues thought we were insane, wondering what we were doing. At one point, I think “don’t expect us to bail you out” might have come to the table. Slowly but surely, over time, we've had amazing experiences over the last 3 years with friends, family and colleagues (who are now considered friends) at the farm. Once you visit, a little bit of you seems to stay at the farm. Stories are made. and friendships are strengthened.

Sometimes we are challenged with high rain and wind, or the opposite extreme heat and flies. The farm has seasons which we will get to know over time as we learn all the corners and curves of our little piece of Australia. Over time we envisage native plants mixed with rose gardens and fruit trees, not forgetting the hard work that has gone into planting and protecting our Jacaranda Trees.

“The truth is you don’t know what is going to happen tomorrow. Life is a crazy ride, and nothing is guaranteed” -Eminem. Don’t often quote Eminem, but in this instance, he has a fair point. This was why we bought the farm to have a place to enjoy, go on weekends, and eventually live. It was a vision for a better sustainable life for us and the children. Even better, it also has a full signal for Telstra customers, which means that we could still be connected to our technology life (We had the option to switch off if we wanted to). You don’t know what could happen tomorrow, so right now, we have a plan which will last forever, a plan which will never run out of things to do. At the farm, that is exactly how life is for us.

What do we do when we are at the farm? Here is a list of the many adventures we have had so far, “In every job that is to be done, you can find an element of fun” -Mary Poppins. There certainly is that in every job at the farm:

• Finding awesome rocks

• Pulling out Weeds (Cotton bush, Apple of Sodom, Doublegees)

• Walking (lots of walking)

• Tidying the shed

• YouCamp (HipCamp) Preparation

• Taking Sheep, Lambs and Cows and Calves back to where they belong

• Feeding lambs

• Playing on the park

• Shifting bricks

• Playing in the sand

• Playing with the solar power

• Dam Preservation

• Wood collecting

• Keeping Betty the tractor ticking over

• Drone monitoring of the erosion and the paddocks

• Fixing up after a storm

• Getting the weather station back online

• Coming up with new ideas for the farm

• Drawing up the house

• Planting of trees

• Showing guests to their campsites

• Showing friends, family and colleagues our farm

• Cutting of Wood

• Creating Bonfires (only in Winter)

• Setting up Outdoor Movie nights

• Protecting trees from the cows

• Enjoying the views, the sunsets and the sunrises

• Making the most of the stars

We as a family are certainly in this together as an incredibly long journey. As one of the great technology leaders who founded Google says, “Good ideas are always crazy, until they’re not” -Larry Page '2015'. This original idea is now starting to happen. It has been years of hard work, saving, and financially working very hard to keep the farm and help each other maintain our momentum for what we both love. In 2017 we sold our apartment in the UK, which meant that things got a little easier. With Elizabeth also starting school, it meant that childcare expenses were also reduced.

There have been many friends, family, and neighbours that have helped with our journey with the lending of an excavator, cattle running on the property, endless help from our parents, to the helping hand of our architect moving wood. It's these little moments that make a difference in our lives.

Keeping both of us on a vision of what can happen in the future is hard. It’s the small moments that help, seeing our children play in the long grass, seeing the joy of a friend learning to fly a drone, seeing another couple camp for the first time, and seeing the stars at their most brilliant. Seeing five planets in the sky at once is certainly memorable.

Nothing easy happens overnight, it is a long journey, and many small patient steps are often required to reach one of our goals. I remember in the first year, I think we were asked over 100 times when the house was being built until people realised we had to save and do these things slowly. At times we did feel like giving up. But now we look back and see how far we have come; it is worth it. We will keep going, and the house will be built on the farm by the time I turn 40, and the shooting star I wished upon will grant my wishes.

Jacaranda Hill is a place for us to indulge in our crazy ideas, to have a go, and also a retreat for us and many others. So for us, our farm is a little bit like heaven, a place where we can escape and lose track of time. “You have to go on and be crazy. Craziness is like heaven!” -Jimi Hendrix

Now you know the history of how we got to where we are, we will keep you updated on progress along the way. As our plans slowly unveil and memories are created, we will share some stories with you that have happened in the last three years. It has certainly not been easy, but we wouldn’t have it any other way.

In the words of a very wise woman, Life would be boring if we were all the same.