We absolutely loved interviewing Madeline on her incredible grounds, The Pecan Lady @pecanlady

This awesome couple have a passion for what they do ~ running their pecan orchard and their music school @stratford_music

What is ever so superb is they bring both worlds together ~ incorporating music events amongst the pecan trees the land truly is exquisite. Also, when you visit @pecanlady ~ you’ll be sure to receive a warm welcome from the beautiful Kai, their gorgeous cattle dog.

Visit their page www.pecanlady.com.au

Full interview: https://vimeo.com/430582630

Photography

Syl Marie Photography

www.sylmariephotography.com

Music @mahniandcole

A three-time Australian boxing champion, Oceania champion, kickboxing champion recently turned professional boxer.  Bianca Bam Bam Elmir has won numerous belts and titles over the years and plans to be the next super bantam weight world boxing champion.

Outside of the ring, Bianca works as an advisor for a politician in Canberra and has also worked in the youth sector for many years. She is passionate about supporting disadvantaged people,  involved in Aboriginal reconciliation and supported Australia foreign prisoners abroad get access to legal advice. Bianca spent a year working as a volunteer in ​South Africa raising awareness about HIV/AIDS and sexual health education.

Now work on the Central Coast - Bianca works as a facilitator for a peer and mentoring program called Top Blokes (http://www.topblokes.org.au/). Mentoring young boys across eight schools teaching them about the risks of alcohol and drugs and building their emotional and social resilience.

'It is very important to me that I use my exposure as a fighting champion to role model positive change; I’ve been doing this by presenting as a motivational speaker at high schools and organisations around Australia. I have also written a curriculum for a project combining boxing and dream building that I facilitated with Anglicare and the PCYC in NSW for at risk young people.' A

We had the awesome opportunity to sit down with Hannah and Tim of The Food Farm @thefoodfarmau Hannah and Tim are incredibly open and encourage visitors to truly see where their food comes from! They believe in leaving the land healthier than when they began working on it ~ and are never owners, rather custodians of a space ‘nurturing ethical food that honours the animal, the environment, the soil, and you.’ Support local and connect to your local farmers! Visit Hannah & Tim at www.thefoodfarm.com.au

For our full interview visit: https://vimeo.com/429881937

Photography & filming @sylmariephotography

Music @mahniandcole

It was so awesome to interview Eden @fanelliorganics A passionate Coastie who grew up on the farm, worked in Sydney in the health industry and returned to the farm, starting his own family - and completely embracing Organics. Fanelli Organics is supplying to restaurants, cafes, farmers markets and of course, the Central Coast community! Such a joyous interview - get ready for some laughter! 

Fanelli Organics is a certified organic farm set on 45 acres of regenerated farmland within the NSW Central Coast Hinterland. The farm is owned and managed by Eden Fanelli and his partner, Louise.

visit www.fanelliorganics.com.au

Photography

Syl Marie Photography

Music @mahniandcole

We loved meeting Lorraine of Wyuna Farms Kulnura. Her experience of farming in the Central Coast is incredible. A second generation farmer here on the Coast, Lorraine believes wholeheartedly in encouraging people to visit their local farms ~ especially for youth to see where their food comes from. For more info on The Harvest Trail & Wyuna Farms, visit www.harvesttrailsandmarkets.com.au

full interview at: https://vimeo.com/430313903

Photography

Syl Marie Photography

www.sylmariephotography.com

Music @mahniandcole

We were thrilled to interview Tassin @walkaboutpark

Such an incredible sanctuary for animals ~ encouraging community to come visit, immerse themselves in nature and see incredible wildlife at ease in their 80 acre space.

Tassin has moved from corporate to running this Sanctuary with her husband. And we are absolutely inspired by her tenacity, passion, optimism & connection and love for the community here on the Coast.

Visit http://www.walkaboutpark.com.au

Full interview https://vimeo.com/430341024

Photography

Syl Marie Photography

Music @mahniandcole

Was so lovely to meet Rebecca Hopper and Julianne Allcorn of Artists in the Garden at Mangrove Mountain. Incorporating their love and knowledge of artistic expression in the grounds @artistsinthegardengrove

Their aim is to facilitate creativity amidst the inspiration of nature’s beauty. They are holding workshops and creative events. Visit

https://www.facebook.com/Artists-in-the-Garden-101242894964191/ https://juliallcorn.wixsite.com/juliannerossallcorn/julianne-ross-allcorn

Our full interview: https://vimeo.com/430559787

Photography

Syl Marie Photography

www.sylmariephotography.com

Music @mahniandcole

https://www.shinecentralcoast.com.au/

Such a joy to chat with Samuel Lentini of @eastcoast_beverages

EastCoast is very much a family business here on the Central Coast ~ supporting and growing locally, while also gaining a major national presence in their incredible juices & natural spring water *and a sparkling variety cheekily named after Samuel’s grandfather who preferred grape juice over any other beverage;) Our interview was truly so full of laughter and so incredible to hear how EastCoast has grown to who it is today. www.eastcoastbeverages.com.au

Full interview: https://vimeo.com/430893181

Music @mahniandcole

Photography @sylmariephotography

Daniel Widdowson is an actor, director, writer and artistic director of the brilliant Salt House Creative based here on the Central Coast. Daniel is in the midst of receiving international success with his feature film Equivocal Redemption, soon to premiere at Moscow Film Festival, September 19. Pre-covid, Salt House Creative toured William Shakespeare’s King Henry the V, and Daniel is now working on extending his rave reviewed and controversial play, Worm Farming. An advocate of community, and a  ‘people first/health first’ principle, Daniel is aware of the necessity of being conscientious of those in his productions, also as a life value. An awesome dad, husband and a Central Coast local for up to 15 years, Daniel is loving seeing the arts thrive and develop. As are we, and so excited to see what Daniel and Salt House Creative are going to create next.

For our full interview visit:

https://vimeo.com/453199806

And for more about current and upcoming productions with Salt House, visit

www.salthousetheatrecompany.com

Photo cred

Syl Marie Photography

For more incredible interviews of our local heroes visit www.shinecentralcoast.com.au

REKO is derived from “Rejäl Konsumtion” which translates to 'Fair Consumption' and is a fair trade model that originated in Finland but quickly exploded across Scandinavia and is now spreading around the globe. In short, it is a Facebook-based pre-ordering system for local products with a “pop up” farmers market..

who took this idea and made it happen together with other local farmers involved. This is the second Reko Ring in Australia - where our local small scale farmers are connecting and collaborating together through this organic system. The Reko Ring provides fresh nutritious food grown with integrity with our local soils, animals and environment.We now have our very own Reko Ring here on the Central Coast! Thanks to Matt Allen of

Join the Reko Ring Facebook group

https://www.facebook.com/groups/182563089752052/

and place your orders direct with your farmer/s and collect each Thursday afternoon and at the same time you get to meet and share stories with your farmer who grows the food that you eat. We cannot think of any better way other, than to grow your own food, to bring into your life such health, connection and joy to your life and those we encounter through this journey!

This is a space where you can get to know your farmers on a first name basis, know where your food comes from, know how it is grown and support a local fair trade economy, reducing waste, carbon footprint and no middle man, you are only buying direct from the farmer.

For our recent interview with Matt, visit: https://vimeo.com/443522456

By supporting our local small regenerative farmers we are voting for better health, a clean and healthy environment, food security, supporting a thriving community and supporting our farmers so they can keep growing abundant and diverse foods to feed us and allow them to sustain a livelihood that they love so dearly for the pure heart they have for the land and for our health. To be recognised that this is one heck of a darn hard livelihood but truly worth the ups, downs and rewards of connecting us all back into nature and the rhythms of life and we are one with nature.

Thanks again Matt for having us on your farm! We love what you do!