Propagate

Using regenerative farming methods, Graham Finlayson has been able to help his property survive multiple droughts. Together with his daughter Harriet Finlayson, who runs a chicken enterprise on the farm, they are focused on caring for the land and doing whatever they can to drought proof their business.

In season five of Propagate, we’re talking to young farmers who are throwing out the traditional farming blueprint and embracing new methods to run their businesses. We’re speaking with growers about what resiliency methods they’re using to make sure they’re prepared for whatever the future brings.

Without big capital behind them, Emily and Matt Neilson have had to think outside the box. They’re a bit different to your ‘traditional’ dairy farmers, because they don’t own their land, they lease it.

Courtney Young and Ian Condon started Woodstock Flour at their local farmers market. With community at the heart of everything they do — their flours are milled with Certified Organic grain with love and care.

Lauren and Lachlan Mathers run a free-range regenerative pig farm in southern NSW. They started Bundarra Berkshires because the pair couldn’t source good local pork and wanted a farm full of happy pigs.

Therese and Liam Thomas were city-slickers from Sydney, and now proudly call themselves certified organic garlic farmers. They’ve started small, but just a few years in, they’ve locked in a wholesaler who will take their entire crop.

Bianca Tarrant and Dave McGiveron started Our Cow because they wanted to ensure a stable price for their livestock. Now they employ 40 people and have recently raised $2.4 million to grow their meat subscription empire.

Sarah Sivyer started Just Been Laid Eggs in the Hunter Valley in 2017. With a subscription and a wholesale arm, Sarah’s business is built on the idea that her eggs are the freshest you’re going to get.

In this new season of Propagate, we're speaking to farmers running value-add businesses. We’re spotlighting a generation of growers focused on sustainability, regenerative land management and closing the gap between producers and consumers.

Hayley Pattison and her husband Matt weren’t planning on taking over their families’ farms. They wanted to make it on their own, and build the farm of their dreams under their own steam. What they weren’t expecting was that things would take off so quickly.