Mixed enterprise farmer Jasmin Piggott, Cowell, has expanded the family farm, Poodra Springs, introducing a commercial native flower patch.
This is one step of her goal to make their nearly 4000-hectare farm a sustainable agricultural space and then educate future generations.
Jasmin had a vision for a 1ha space where she planted an array of native flowers and fruit trees to contribute another income source when other farming practices struggled through drought.
To support this, using her Department of Environment and Water-sponsored Sustainable Agriculture scholarship from the SA Agricultural Bureau Spirit of Excellence in Agriculture awards in October, she has enrolled into a cut flower course, hosted by Floret Flowers and starting this month.
"I am hoping because of the community that enrols into the course, it will open up the network to speak to people involved in native (flowers)," she said.
Jasmin also plans to visit other multi-business farms to extend her knowledge in running something new on the farm, such as an event centre.
"The goal in the next five years is to open an event centre on-property in a location where patrons will be able to see the Franklin Harbour, Cowell, and on a clear day you can see right across to the Yorke Peninsula too," she said.
She envisages the centre being used for special events such as meetings, weddings, do-it-yourself classes for children or other classes, like building bouquets, and to "highlight what the region has to offer".
"Our plan is to eventually have open days so people can walk though the flower fields and get themselves fresh flowers," she said.
The natives Jasmin and a team of friends and family planted during last June long weekend - with plans to add to it year-on-year - include Eucalyptus, Banksias, Proteas, Leucadendrons, Geraldton Wax, Tea Tree and a wattle.
"They will all be used for cut flowers and foliage used in bunches for local shops and - once we have enough produce - hopefully into the wholesale market in three to five years," she said.
Jasmin plans to get one flower bud off most plants in the next 12 months, with hopes another five flowers will be able to stem and flower in that spot.
"It is a timely process to grow enough produce but that is why it will take between three to five years because it gets bigger and bigger," she said.
"I have done the spring/summer garden in the meantime so I can start making some bunches now."
She has planned her different garden varieties to provide flowers nearly year-round.
Jasmin Piggott, Cowell, along with her daughter Bella Piggott, 8, have created a closed loop ecosystem for their native flower farm.
"Bella has made worm farms to use the worm juice," Jasmin said.
"The juice gets diluted down 1 litre to 9L of water and then it gets fed to the cut flower garden and the worm secretions, we collect to use in the garden as fertiliser.
"We are creating a closed loop circle with Blooming Brew in Cowell - a coffee and indoor plant shop.
"The product of the juice they make is the pulp that I feed the worms, the worm juice feeds the flowers, then I cut them and sell them in her shop."
Jasmin said there was a lot of interest for consumers in knowing they have contributed to a sustainable cycle.
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Kiara Stacey
Journalist for Stock Journal. Kiara was in classified sales at Stock Journal before joining the editorial team in 2021. Kiara completed a Bachelor of Communication (journalism) at Deakin University the year prior.
Journalist for Stock Journal. Kiara was in classified sales at Stock Journal before joining the editorial team in 2021. Kiara completed a Bachelor of Communication (journalism) at Deakin University the year prior.
