Producer – primary



The Veggie Empire
Products:
Vegetable seedlings and seasonal vegetables
Edendale Farm (seedlings only)
Township/suburb:
Greensborough
Municipality:
Banyule, Nillumbik
Notes (in their own words):

The Veggie Empire grow fruit, vegetables and herbs at Beales Road Farm. They sell both seedlings and vegetables to the public. They also provide vegetables and herbs to the food relief program at Greenhills Neighbourhood House in Greensborough.

Beales Road Farm is a small regenerative urban farm in suburban Greensborough that operates under a landshare arrangement with local man Hayden Mclean, who generously shares his land with the team. The farm is closed to the public but keep an eye on social media for special events and offers.

The farm team comprises NDIS-funded team members Josh and Scott, plus supporting horticulturalists and other volunteers.

The farm includes a small propagation nursery where the team grow seedlings for planting out on the farm and for sale. This includes a shaded hard stand work area and a poly tunnel. The Veggie Empire would like to thank Local Food Connect, Nelson Alexander Real Estate, Somerset Organics and Yarra Valley Water, all of whom provided support for this development.

In 2021, Ann Stanley visited The Veggie Empire. Read her writeup of the visit.

Top Hundred Acres
Products:
Eggs (certified Free Range by FRFA).
Local outlets:
Farm gate – Friday & Saturday, 9am-5pm.
Health Bar Melbourne, Research
Township/suburb:
Yan Yean
Municipality:
Whittlesea
Notes (in their own words):

Top Hundred Acres’ produce is nurtured from the ground up using sustainable, chemically-free farming practices. They supply pastured eggs and garlic fresh from their farm to local stores, cafes, restaurants, caterers and direct to you.

Their hens (around 1,000 in number) are not de-beaked or wing clipped; their stocking density is less than 700 birds per hectare; they are fed natural grains (no yolk dye or meat meal); and they are rotated to fresh pasture (using portable sheds and fencing).

Situated in the heart of the Plenty Valley, Top Hundred Acres’ farm has been in the family for three generations and counting.

Urban Farming Collective
Products:
Mushrooms
Local outlets:
Vegan Market of Melbourne
Township/suburb:
Heidelberg West
Municipality:
Banyule
Notes (in their own words):

The Urban Farming Collective sell mushrooms that they grow in their backyard in their urban farm. The species include Swiss brown, white button and oyster mushrooms. They also sell mushroom kits. They also go foraging for highly prized wild mushrooms like pines and morels.

They happily show people around their urban farm.

Warrandyte Local Honey
Products:
Amber honey
River View Deli Cafe, Warrandyte
Warrandyte Butcher
Township/suburb:
Warrandyte
Municipality:
Manningham
Notes (in their own words):

You can meet Barry at the local Warrandyte market every month.

Watson’s Creek Wines
Products:
Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Merlot
Local outlets:
For sale by appointment – cellar door as part of Open Cellars of Nillumbik
Township/suburb:
Kangaroo Ground
Municipality:
Nillumbik
Notes (in their own words):

Watson’s Creek Wines is a family-owned vineyard and winery in Kangaroo Ground, producing red wines from low-yielding, non-irrigated vines. The Cabernet Sauvignon and the Bordeaux blend (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Malbec) are classic examples of the region’s fruit-driven, oak-balanced fine red wines. This small winery in a bush setting is open by appointment, and annually in October at Open Cellars of Nillumbik.

Wedgetail Estate
Products:
Cabernet, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Shiraz
Local outlets:
Cellar door – 1st Sunday of every month, 9am-5pm, or by arrangement.
Dan Murphy’s
Township/suburb:
Cottles Bridge
Municipality:
Nillumbik
Notes (in their own words):

Established since 1994, and specialising in supplying restaurants nationally and internationally from Singapore to London, Wedgetail wines have develop a niche in the craft wine category, where quality is imperative. The amphitheatre-shaped vineyard in Cottles Bridge produces grapes of exceptional flavours. Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are what their reputation lies on. Small quantities of Shiraz and Cabernet blend are also available. The winery offers spectacular views of the dramatic landscape of Nullumbik outer frontier. On the first weekend of every month the cellar door is open for tasting and food platers are on offer. Unlike most corporate wineries, the wine maker will talk you through the various wines that are open for tasting.

Weeping Grevillea Nursery
Products:
Lemons, limes and herbs. Also, seasonally, pumpkins, blood oranges, grapefruit, jams and marmalade.
Local outlets:
Roadside cart
Township/suburb:
Kangaroo Ground
Municipality:
Nillumbik
Notes (in their own words):

Many day trippers take great delight in discovering the fresh produce and plants on offer in this nursery’s roadside cart. Lemons, limes and herbs are available all year round. Seasonal produce includes pumpkins, blood oranges and grapefruit, as well as jams, fruit jellies and marmalade made from fruit from the property.

Yarrambat Estate Vineyard
Products:
Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay
Local outlets:
Hurstbridge Liquor
For sale by appointment
Township/suburb:
Yarrambat
Municipality:
Nillumbik
Notes (in their own words):

Within 24 hours of picking, their grapes are crushed at Hanging Rock Winery and made into wine. 12 months after picking, their white wines are released to the market and 18 months after picking the reds are ready for release. Every second year they produce a Pinot Noir/Chardonnay sparkling wine and they usually blend their Cab Sav and Merlot to make a Cabernet Merlot.

Yummy Gardens
Products:
A range of both cross bred and pure bred chickens
Local outlets:
Farm gate (by appointment)
Township/suburb:
St Andrews
Municipality:
Nillumbik
Notes (in their own words):

A range of both cross bred and pure bred chooks are available for sale from point of lay. Availability will vary depending on the time of year. The cross breeds include Australorp x New Hampshire, Australorp x Leghorn, New Hampshire x White Leghorn and New Hampshire x Rhode Island Red. The pure breeds include Australorp Utilities, Silky Bantams, Buff Cochins, Crested Cream Legbars and French Wheaten Marans.

Yummy Gardens also design and build chook houses to suit your requirements. And they can supply other accessories as well as free advice.