It’s the stuff dreams are made of – Christmas all year round. For one Queensland family and all who visit their farm, that’s the reality. 20 acres of perfectly formed Christmas trees, the decorations to adorn them – and for those wanting a little more – you can even indulge in one of their famous hot chocolates. If it sounds magical, that’s exactly what the owners had in mind. Let’s meet the family sprinkling that Christmas spirit almost 12 months of the year, Katrina and Brad Fraser of Granite Belt Christmas Farm join me now to discuss:

• Their favourite spot on the property is spending time on the land with the kids.
• Brad has transformed 20 acres of former apple orchards into a real Christmas tree plantation.
• Katrina came up with the idea of growing Christmas trees after becoming a mum, aiming to create a business that supported staying at home.
• The business offers an interactive experience where customers can choose their own tree and enjoy a full day on the farm.
• Growing the perfect Christmas tree involves biology, fertilising, pruning, and carefully shaping each tree.
• Katrina converted an old apple shed into a charming Christmas shop, now part of a growing retail presence that includes cafes and online sales.
• The onsite café has become a highlight of the experience, helping create lasting childhood memories.
• The business stays active year-round with Christmas in July events, a permanent store, and a growing online market.
• They love the rural lifestyle and the connection to their local community.
• A common misconception is that tree farming is simple — but it involves year-round work and planning.
• One of the most unexpected challenges they’ve faced was navigating bushfire season.
• Their ultimate dream for the future.

We hope to see you back on the road soon, to learn more about how Australia grows on the next episode of Australian Farmers with Angie Asimus.

Links:

Angie Asimus

Connect with @angieasimus on Instagram

Partnered with Australian Farmers

Follow @australianfarmers on Instagram

Granite Belt Christmas Farm

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As first-generation farmers, this family says they started small and safe – but there’s nothing small about the big issues they’re addressing. Ethics, sustainability and regeneration underpin everything they do. To achieve that, they have a passion for First Nation’s knowledge combined with giving their animals the most natural life possible on a farm. To learn more about Echo Valley Farm, Randal Breen joins me now to discuss:

• Randal shares his favourite place on the farm.
• As a first-generation farmer, he explains why he chose this life — to care for the land while working it.
• Insight into the complexity of running a mixed farm — multi-species and cropping.
• A deep commitment to ethics, sustainability, and regenerative practices — including eliminating chemicals.
• Guided by the “4 Good Principles”: Good for the animal, Good for the land, Good for the farmer and, Good for you
• Incorporating First Nations knowledge and ancient land management techniques — and the results.
• What Randal loves most about life on the land.
• The value of intergenerational farming knowledge — and common misconceptions.
• Unplanned disruptions — the most unexpected part of the journey.
• Randal’s ultimate dream for the future.

We hope to see you back on the road soon, to learn more about how Australia grows on the next episode of Australian Farmers with Angie Asimus.

Links:

Angie Asimus

Connect with @angieasimus on Instagram

Partnered with Australian Farmers

Follow @australianfarmers on Instagram

Echo Valley Farms

Produced by Pretty Podcasts

Eggs - they’re an easy and usually affordable source of protein and nutrition. But walking through most Australian supermarkets lately, it’s clear cracks have appeared in the industry. So why is there an egg shortage and why when you do happen to find some are they so expensive? Egg farmer and sector advocate, Danyel Cucinotta from LT’s Egg Farm joins me now for the lowdown on avian influenza.

• We catch up with Danyel, who still finds the work on the farm deeply emotional but continues to love both the work and the land.
• As an egg farmer, she has experienced firsthand the significant challenges caused by bird flu.
• She explains how bird flu spreads and why geographical locations like Victoria are more at risk due to their position on a bird migration path.
• Free-range egg farms are more affected because they are exposed to wild bird droppings.
• While direct egg purchases from farmers may seem unaffected, supermarket supply chains are feeling the impact.
• She explains the EADRA Agreement (Emergency Animal Disease Response Agreement) as a cost-sharing arrangement where government and livestock industries, like the egg sector, jointly fund responses to animal disease outbreaks, with industries paying back their share over time. At an industry level, farms are still paying off the cleanup from the 2019 outbreak.
• The situation is more complex than simple supply and demand due to the caged vs. free-range debate and government involvement.
• The root cause stems from the spread of bird flu and environmental exposure in high-risk zones, and she shares that it’s unclear when the situation will improve, as control and recovery take time.
• Danyel remains passionate about advocacy and is proud of her work on a caged egg farm.
• The most unexpected aspect has been that even the most biosecure farms have been affected.
• A common misconception is that it’s unsafe to eat bird products, though the chicken meat industry remains unaffected.
• She offers a parting piece of advice for people to best navigate this issue.

We hope to see you back on the road soon, to learn more about how Australia grows on the next episode of Australian Farmers with Angie Asimus.

Links:

Angie Asimus

Connect with @angieasimus on Instagram

Partnered with Australian Farmers

Follow @australianfarmers on Instagram

LT’s Egg Farm

Produced by Pretty Podcasts