Meet Gracemere Gang
The gang @ Gracemere Farmstead (Stephen, Melanie, Bethany, Chloe and Tahlia) raise pasture-raised chicken, eggs, pork, beef and more on their family farm at Yorklea.
Originally city slickers, we moved onto our property in early 2016. Since then we have been been busy building our house and establishing our farm.
After moving into our house on Christmas Eve we turned our focus onto the set-up of our farm.
Our first venture was 4 little piglets and 50 meat chickens, which has now turned into 200 meat chickens every month, 200 layers, 4 geese, 5 donkeys, 3 horses, quite a few cows and numerous pigs.
Introducing Stephen
Stephen has been a school teacher for 30+ years; he has taken on the farm from a far different background. It has been challenging to say the least. As he says, he does the jobs no-one else wants to do. Rising early to “do the meat chickens” + milk the cows, he can be found marvelling at the sunrise and educating himself by listening to an audible book as he works around the farm.
He is responsible for all things ‘edutainment’ and the most likely person you will speak to if you ring. He loves a chat!
Meet Melanie
Melanie is the organiser and planner of the farm. She is always thinking of different processes and things we can do on the farm to keep moving forward in our “grand plan” and ensuring that everything runs smoothly.
She helps keep everyone on track with many spreadsheets and lists and is always there to provide advice, problem-solve or just offer encouragement when something is wrong.
Meet Bethany
Bethany is our go-to, all-rounder, moving cows daily, fencing (a constant job) and all things technological (including this newsletter- Hi- I’m amazing by the way!!)…. Website, spreadsheets, social media – the list goes on.
Bethany has a Cert IV in Permaculture and a Cert IV in Small Business and is currently studying a Cert IV in Accounting and Bookkeeping.
In her spare time she can be found working at McDonalds (a contrast of values, I know) and at a local service station. She LOVES to read as well.
Meet Chloe
Chloe, 16, aka the chicken whisperer and all-round animal lover has two chicken caravans full of laying chickens. She is responsible for all things “eggs”.
Actually Chloe is hard-working, eager to please and loves to tackle the many practical challenges of everyday farm life.
Rounding up the cows on her trusty Jess (a thoroughbred horse), she can be seen often on horseback all around the 100 acres. She has quite the way with Kuji (Tahlia’s horse), who can get quite naughty and who often needs Chloe to get him back in line before Tahlia rides again.
Chloe loves to cook and is responsible for most of the culinary delights prepared at Gracemere. Chloe doesn’t believe her bio is complete without introducing her pets, Smokey and Molly, her cats, and Banjo, her dog. Animal lover indeed!
Meet Tahlia
Tahlia, 14, the baby and arguably the most dramatic member. She is adept at keeping the most difficult and recalcitrant person or animal at bay, ensuring they are in the right place even when they have other ideas.
Extremely creative, her latest project is building a treehouse complete with windows, a lockable door, a flying fox and a trapdoor.
Tahlia loves all animals, including her “son” Cocoa the calf, now 1 year old, but still wanting daily scratches and hugs. She is also very defensive about her favourites (animals), disliking when other family members call her favourite goat Flopsy stinky (a common characteristic of adult male goats to attract the ladies).
Tahlia is the chief brooder operator and takes great care in ensuring the meat chicks have a warm safe space for their first 3 weeks of life.
