Amidst the sprawling grain fields in northern New South Wales, an unexpected burst of color is emerging, as farming mothers in the Tamworth region are turning to flower cultivation as a source of income that allows them to care for their infants.
For Shona Robilliard, her journey into the world of cut flowers began three years ago when she abandoned her vegetable patch in favor of the stunning blooms she cultivates today. What started as an experiment to attract bees and pollinators by intermixing flower seeds among her vegetables soon became a full-fledged floral business, “King George Farm.” She realized that she couldn’t wait for her veggies to reach maturity before planting more flowers, leading her to make the decision to focus solely on blossoms.
This transition was marked by the arrival of her first child, and now, with a four-month-old baby named Poppy in tow, Shona tends to her flower patch. For her, the switch to flower farming was not just about the love of gardening; it was a means of generating extra income while being able to stay home and nurture her children.
She is not alone in her endeavor, as there has been a recent surge of farming mothers embracing flower-cutting businesses in the region over the past 18 months. Gardening is a natural extension of life on the land, and many are turning this shared passion into small enterprises, allowing them to balance work and family life.
Sara Wheaton, a close friend of Shona and a fellow farmer from Narrabri, embarked on her flower farming journey with a unique origin story. She needed flowers for her wedding bouquet and decided to grow her own. When her garden produced an abundance of blooms, she offered a bucket to a local florist, with an open invitation to accept more if they proved favorable. Two years later, Sara’s business, “Stoney Creek Co,” supplies local florists with her homegrown flowers. Much like Shona, flower farming has provided her with more time to spend with her son, as she can take him out in a pram while she tends to the blossoms.
For Barry Philp, a peony flower grower with over two decades of experience on the Northern Tablelands, the influx of flower farms is a noticeable trend. While livestock and crops traditionally dominate the landscape, the growing demand for locally-sourced flowers is giving rise to a thriving local industry. Florists are increasingly seeking out homegrown blooms, which has driven the growth of these small flower farms.
The future looks bright for the flower industry in the New England-North West region, with new flower farms cropping up in unexpected places. This burgeoning sector not only adds a touch of color to the region but also offers farming mothers the opportunity to cultivate their passion while nurturing their growing families.
