In today’s episode I’m sharing with you my chat with the wonderful Sam Hickling who is the owner and facilitator at Acacia Play, a nature and permaculture based play group.

We covered so many topics in this interview including Sam’s journey from a more standard early childcare career to connecting with nature while travelling to supporting a chiropractor and studying nutrition to becoming a mum and then incorporating all of this experience together when she landed at Acacia Play when founder, Sarah, decided to step away from the business.

We also spoke about how their play groups have been sparking curiosity and change within the whole family not just the children attending, how her own children have been a source of nature connection for her husband, how nature play can help set expectations for what is normal when it comes to imperfect produce and how growing gardens wherever she can has formed unexpected bonds with others.

Acacia Play currently has two lovely locations. One at The Purple Pear Farm in the Hunter Valley and another called The Paddock which is in Belmont on the southern end of Newcastle. If you are interested in participating in any of the wonderful initiatives Sam mentioned today head over to their website to get involved or their social media for ideas to try yourself at home.

Sam and I could have (and we actually did offline) speak for hours. I really hope you enjoy listening to this conversation as much as I enjoyed recording it.

LINKS:

* Acacia Play website: https://www.acaciaplay.com.au/

* Acacia Play instagram: https://www.instagram.com/acacia.play/

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