Vegetables

Farm Raiser is a not-for-profit urban, organic vegetable farm run by a couple of young farmers (Charlotte and Eve) on land behind Waratah Special Development School in Bellfield. Whilst not certified, they follow organic principles and don’t use any chemicals. Summer 2020/21 was their first season.

They have a farm shop stall every Friday and Saturday, 9am-2pm, opposite 12 Perkins Avenue, Bellfield.

Name:

Gateway Market

Category:

Cafe, Deli, Eatery, Producer – primary, Shop, Vegetables, Vegetables & Fruit

Products:

Vegetables and herbs

Local outlets:

Own shop – open 7 days, 9am-5pm.

Local brands sold:

Australian Harvest / Bio Grape

Kookaberry Strawberry Farm

The Good Brew Company

Unforgettable Products

Yarra Valley Dairy

Yarra Valley Gourmet Foods

Yarra Valley Tea Company

Cunliffe & Waters
Montrose Meats & Smokehouse

Township/suburb:

Coldstream

Municipality:

Yarra Ranges

Notes (in their own words):

Gateway Market grows a wide range of vegetables, herbs, fruit and flowers. These are grown in a temperature-controlled hydroponic greenhouse, which uses much less water than conventional growing methods. Shoppers can pick their produce directly from the plants.

As well as their own produce, Gateway Market sells a range of fruit, vegetables, cheese, pies, chutneys and jams, all grown or made in the Yarra Valley.

They also have a cafe.

Name:

Joe’s Market Garden

Category:

Producer – primary, Vegetables

Products:

A wide range of vegetables

Local outlets:

Farm gate – Saturdays, 9am-1pm

Township/suburb:

Coburg

Municipality:

Merri-Bek

Notes (in their own words):

Joe’s Market Garden is a 2½ acre Certified Organic farm located next to the Merri Creek. They grow mostly leafy greens, herbs and and fruiting vegetables. Their produce can be found in the CERES Fair Food veggie boxes.

It is Melbourne’s last surviving inner city market garden, having been farmed continuously by Chinese and Italian gardeners for over 150 years. CERES began farming here in 2003 under the guidance of Joe Garita.

Irrigation water is taken from the mains supply and a 100,000 litre underground water tank which collects rainwater from neighbouring townhouses.

They sell their produce at their farm gate, every Saturday, 9am-1pm. You can also buy a coffee and some fresh-baked pastries.

Name:

Kinglake Vegetables

Category:

Fruit, Producer – primary, Vegetables

Products:

A wide range of vegetables

Local outlets:

Abbotsford Convent Farmers' Market

Alphington Farmers' Market

Township/suburb:

Kinglake

Municipality:

Nillumbik

Notes (in their own words):

The vegetables grown by Kinglake Vegetables include: beans, beetroot, broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbages (savoy & purple), capsicum, cauliflower, carrots, celery, eggplant, fennel, kale, leeks, swedes, parsnips, potatoes, pumpkin, silverbeet, snow peas, spring onions, tomatoes and zucchini. Their fruit includes: blackberries, blueberries kiwifruit and raspberries.

They grow slowly, traditionally, using their own seeds. It is colder at their farm in Kinglake than some other parts of Victoria so sometimes that means their produce isn’t ready as early as other areas.

Name:

Spurrell Foraging

Category:

Condiments & Makers, Jams & Marmalades, Producer – primary, Producer – secondary, Vegetables

Products:

Preserves and foraged produce

Township/suburb:

Warrandyte South

Municipality:

Manningham

Notes (in their own words):

Spurrell Foraging sell both foraged produce and (sometimes) preserves.

A list of their foraged produce, together with its prices, can also be found on their website and they include a wide range of flowers and leaves. They are mainly sold to bars and restaurants.

When available, a list of their preserves for sale can also be found on their website and they include chutneys, cordials, sauces, jams, marmalades, pastes, pickles, relishes and salts. They use Australian native botanicals and some foraged produce. You can buy these products by email.

In May 2022, Ann Stanley visited Spurrell Foraging. Read her writeup of the visit.

Name:

Sugarloaf Produce

Category:

Eltham Farmers’ Market, Mushrooms, Producer – primary, Vegetables

Products:

A wide range of vegetables. Also, swiss brown mushrooms.

Local outlets:

Carlton Farmers' Market

Eltham Farmers' Market

St Andrews General Store and Post Office

Township/suburb:

Strathewen

Municipality:

Nillumbik

Notes (in their own words):

Sugarloaf Produce is a small organic farm located at the base of Mt. Sugarloaf and the Kinglake Ranges. They are the 5th generation to farm this property. Composted organic matter is the key to growing their produce, and all of their compost is made on site using a mixture of farm green waste, cow, sheep and poultry manure, sawdust from their mill and other organic materials. Other biological techniques used on the farm include crop rotation, mixed cropping and mixed stocking. Beneficial compost teas are sprayed on crops regularly, and plentiful habitat is provided for beneficial insects in their vast bushland areas.

Produce includes: beans, beetroot, broad beans, broccoli, capsicum, carrot, cauliflower, chilli, cucumber, eggplant, garlic, globe artichoke, leeks, lettuce, mushrooms, onions, potatoes, pumpkin, radish, rhubarb, rocket, silverbeet, spinach, tomatoes and zucchini.

Name:

The Veggie Empire

Category:

Producer – primary, Seeds & Seedlings, Vegetables

Products:

Vegetable seedlings and seasonal vegetables

Local outlets:

Online (via Open Food Network)

Alphington Farmers' Market (2nd and 4th Sundays)

Edendale Farm (seedlings only)

Township/suburb:

St Helena

Municipality:

Banyule

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 St Helena 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.

Name:

Weeping Grevillea Nursery

Category:

Fruit, Jams & Marmalades, Producer – primary, Producer – secondary, Vegetables

Products:

Lemons, limes and herbs. Also, seasonally, pumpkins, blood oranges, grapefruit, jams and marmalade.

Local outlets:

Roadside cart

Warrandyte Riverside Market

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.