What's it all about?

Linda and John welcome you to Chestnut Brae, a 28 Hectare commercial sweet chestnut farm. We have 1200 sweet chestnut trees on the farm on around 10 hectares. We are the largest producers of this fruit in West Australia and offer the fruit in various forms, from the nut to soap and puree
We purchased the farm in late 2013 when it was in need of some love and care
Over the last few years we have developed the farm into what you see today.
A farm was started here around 100 years ago when the early settlers were given a cow and some land in the bush and sent out to farm. The early days were tough and many farms failed. The old Homestead on the farm a was a dairy unit and still contains the milk storage room. When we arrived the foundations to the original house were still visible in the bottom of the valley
The farm was converted into a sheep farm and various owners over the years have grazed sheep on the property.
Castania sativa, the European Sweet chestnuts are originally from southern part of Europe and the first planting of them in Australia was around Bendigo in Victoria in 1860. Our plantation started 30 years ago and the youngest trees, at the bottom of the plantation are around 15 years old. Harvesting of the fruit is between April and June and we harvest around 9 tonne a year.
Our farm practice is to grow the plants using organic methods and we are aiming at being a certified organic farm in the next few years
The gardens that you see today were established around ten years ago as a heritage rose garden and many of the roses are David Austin varieties. When we arrived the garden was over grown and we have slowly restore the garden to its former glory.
Our aim is to create a French “Monet” Theme to the property, hence the improvements have been around the French garden style with mixed border plantings. The gardens look at their best in September and October each year when the borders are in full colour.
We hope you enjoy the garden, you may be met by Caesar, a Maremma Italian sheep dog. He loves people and being the s centre of attention.

Related Keywords: sweet chestnuts chestnut fed pigs

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• biodynamic grower
• farmgate sales
• organic retailer
• pick your own

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