On our farm, our focus is on growing and producing as much of our food as we can, in an ethical way that honours our faith. Our animals are treated well, having access to large areas with variation in fodder and scenery, and we try to develop a relationship of trust between us and them. In this way, we can move them to and from different areas on the farm in a way that doesn't cause stress, and is also calm and easy for us as well. We are able to get up close to most of our livestock, which allows us to check that they are fit and healthy, and to administer any care or treatments as needed.
Our garden is full of seasonal fruits and vegetables, as well as a variety of Australian native edibles. We eat from our garden every day and try to preserve when we have an abundance; making sauces, jams, stewing fruit and drying herbs, bone broths
and now dry aging our own beef.
Our kitchen is the heart of our home, there is always some sort of cooking, baking or making going on. Our five children are all at home in the kitchen, having been able to explore their culinary talents from a young age, and learning the art of baking from Doug, who is a qualified baker.
This year, we made the decision to not keep pigs any more; after 10 years of pigs on our farm, it's been a big change.
We enjoy chatting to people about how we farm, so please talk to us if you have any questions.
Our Bottle Babies
2023 was a year of bottle babies!
We have had three orphans from our flock of sheep, as well as taking in four kids from a local goat farm and two lambs from other farms.
It has been a joyful season for us; nurturing young and seeing them thrive. We have learnt a lot along the way.
So much happens on a farm in a year! There's many high points and a few low points; that's farming.
Birth and growth are cause for celebration, while illness and death bring tears and sadness.
We welcomed so much new life this year! Kittens, calves, lambs, kids, chicks, piglets and guinea-piglets.
Maggie and Neo are now sharing a yard; Neo is taking really good care of our old Maggie-May.
Pip has done so well with her herding training this year, thanks to the guys at Diggers Herding and K9 Education.
Sunbury Stockfeeds
turns 10: June 2024!
On June 5th of 2014, Sunbury Stockfeeds started in Shed 2, the old machinery shed.
It all began a few months earlier...
In the Summer of 2013/2014, we were breeding Australorp chickens and decided to buy in a full pallet of Golden Yolk, along with our friends, Aaron and Kylie, who were also breeding chickens.
Soon word got out and people started coming up our drive, wanting to buy chicken pellets. Then we got asked for chick stater, then pullet grower, and it started to snowball.
After family discussion, it was decided that we could convert the machinery shed into a stockfeed, so we did. We concreted the dirt floor and put a front on the open shed, and called it "Sunbury Stockfeeds".
We officially opened our doors to the public on the 5th of June 2014, offering basic chicken feed, horse feed, hay and chaff. We expanded as needed over the first year; adding to our stock, items that were requested. By the end of 2014 we had filled Shed 2 and were busy enough to need a POS system (we had been keeping hand written records up until then).
As more people heard about us, we needed more product, and so, needed more space. We started putting "overflow" stock in aircraft hangars and shipping containers, until finally we needed a more permanent solution, and so we took over Shed 1.
We have raised our kids on the farm, three who are adults and have left home, and the younger two, Steele and Sapphire, whom we have been homeschooling since 2020.
We have a real focus on self sufficiency and organic farming, growing as much food as we can, ourselves. Farm life is hectic at times, but we do love it!
We now have three completely filled sheds and six shipping containers, and we stock more range than any other stockfeed store in our area. We have been incredibly blessed to get to know so many "neighbours" from far and wide, and to share in their ups and downs and great animal stories.
We absolutely love our job and our role in the community; so thank you from all of us!
Capernaum
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Capernaum is our resident Indian Ringneck Parrot.
He will be 2 in October.
Capernaum has gone home for the winter; back to our house, where he is enjoying being able to fly up and down the hallway, from his cage to our bedroom. He will return to the shop in the spring.
He is quite a chatterbox.
Here is a list of the phrases he currently says:
* Hello
* Hello Capernaum
* How're you going?
* What're you up to?
* You look good today
* Come on, come on
* Caperaum's a good boy
* You are very special
* Have a nice day
* Daddy's/Mummy's little bird
* Cap-per-naummmm...
When he is unhappy or overwhelmed he will screech. He is also really good at sounding like a Guinea Pig.
His neck band is just starting to show and will develop into a black ring over the next 6 months or so, if he is, in fact, a boy.
Neo
Neo turned 3 on February 27th!
He is such a good boy with all of our animals, from the biggest down to the smallest babies. He often forgets his own size, and his tail, and will knock things over, by accident.
He takes his role in the family very seriously, as family protector, but he has the most protective drive when it comes to our 11 year old, Sapphire. He follows her everywhere, and if she goes into part of the yard that he is not allowed in, he will sit at the gate and follow with his eyes. He knows that she is the "littlest" and he makes sure she is always safe.
He loves a game; basketball, a new chew toy or a pile of straw. Neo is so creative in hie play and he LOVES his toys.
Neo loves getting treats of goats milk, eggs and the odd roo tail or goat horn; and when the butcher comes, he nearly turns himself inside out over a big marrow bone.
Maggie-May
Our Maggie-May is now 13 years old, and while she is showing her age in many areas, she still loves life on the farm and going for airfield walks with Doug.
Maggie doesn't work with the sheep anymore, as she gets a little funny when they get near the yards. She was a great sheep dog in her early years.
She is great with the chickens, and enjoys being with them; she is a great chicken guard. She always alerts to danger and stands up for the flock.
Maggie loves people and her animal friends.
Clover
Clover is our English Bulldog. She absolutely loves people! She is also fine with other dogs. Unfortunately, she is not great with any other animals, so has to be in a separate yard from everything else.
Clover loves water; the hose, a paddle pool or the beach, she doesn't mind. She also loves to go on walks, especially if there is water involved.
Clover turned 10 on February 14th and is showing her age; she is much slower now.
Clover's favourite treat is moo tubes!
