Salt of the Earth Farm Stories

Send us Fan Mail Today, we’re at Chambers Rosewood Vineyards with Stephen Chambers — a sixth-generation family winery woven into the fabric of Victoria’s gold country. These are soils shaped by history: once turned by gold seekers, now nurturing vines, grazing sheep, and generations of stories layered as deep as the roots beneath them. In Part A, Stephen reflects on the gold days, the pressures of...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome back to Gooramadda Olives for Part B with Rob Whyte. It starts at breakfast, with a quiet truth: once you use really good olive oil, the tomato sauce bottle doesn’t stand a chance. We talk about the health benefits of quality olive oil, how the body can respond differently to things like ibuprofen, and why what you choose to cook with actually matters. Rob shares practical...

Send us Fan Mail Today we’re at  Gooramadda Olives  in North East Victoria with  Rob Whyte. Rob grew up on the land near Sydney — until the city grew around him. His career took him from  Burke’s Backyard  to IT roles with Qantas and IBM, far removed from farming. Then he and his wife Melanie found  Rutherglen . A block with a view near the river came up for sale — and it happened to be an olive f...

Send us Fan Mail He’s spent years telling other people’s stories — now it’s his turn. Usually on  Salt of the Earth Farm Stories , Darren Grigg is the one behind the microphone, listening and asking the questions. But for this episode, we’re changing things up. I’m Leona and this time, Darren is on the other side of the interview. It’s not a role he’s naturally comfortable with, but we gently turn...

Send us Fan Mail In Part C, the final chapter of this special series, we reflect on the life and legacy of David Grigg. This episode brings together the threads of a remarkable journey — shaped by work, travel, community, family, and friendships. We slow things down to appreciate the moments that mattered most, the values that guided him, and the changes he witnessed across nearly a century. It’s...

Send us Fan Mail In Part B of this special conversation, we continue the story of Uncle David Grigg — moving from early farm life and community involvement to the changes that reshaped his working world. Uncle David shares stories of his first car, the Hillman Minx, the shift from horsepower to tractors, and the arrival of his first McCormick Deering on steel wheels. We also hear about a difficult...

Send us Fan Mail In this special episode, it’s a true privilege to share the story of my great uncle David — a quiet gentleman whose life spans nearly a century of Australian history. Born in 1926, David grew up on the land during a time of hardship and simplicity: no electricity, one bath a week, horses working the paddocks, cows milked by hand, and seasons shaped by drought, rabbits and resilien...

Send us Fan Mail We're joined by Dr Robin Adair from Australis Biological — one of Australia’s most experienced and passionate experts on invasive weeds. With more than a thousand exotic plant species in Victoria, Robin explains why the battle for biodiversity is more urgent than ever. We dig into the surprising plant still being sold in nurseries that’s quietly choking our habitat, explore w...

Send us Fan Mail In Part B of our journey to Curtin Springs Station, we’re back with the unstoppable Lyndee Severin. This episode dives into the daily dance of running a cattle station while welcoming travellers from all over — and why sometimes, you just have to roll with whatever the outback throws at you. From hilarious tourist moments to thoughtful reflections on how disconnected kids can be f...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we head to Curtin Springs Station — a one-million-acre cattle station in the Northern Territory with a story like no other. Lyndee Severin joins us to share how her family turned a humble 1950s stopover into a thriving outback destination. From welcoming travellers with a simple cuppa to hosting thousands each year, Curtin Springs has become a place where people c...

Send us Fan Mail Episode 80 – Weed Warriors on Four Legs: Dan Humpage from EnviroGraze In today’s episode, we sit down with Dan Humpage from EnviroGraze — home to some of the cleverest weed-eating warriors on the land. These goats aren’t just grazing; they’re actively restoring balance to our native landscapes. Dan’s method is a prescribed remedy for ecological repair — thoughtful, sustainable, an...

Send us Fan Mail We’re back at  Curtin Springs Station  in the Northern Territory for  Part B  of my yarn with  Ash Severin  — and this half of the story cuts deep. Ash takes us through the evolution of mustering, from horses to choppers to trap yards, and what it’s like balancing life alongside dingoes, goannas, and even wild camels — right up until the bull camels start causing chaos. He opens u...

Send us Fan Mail This week we’re out at  Curtin Springs Station  in the heart of the Northern Territory, having a yarn with  Ash Severin  — a tough, no-nonsense outback bloke with a lifetime of stories from one of Australia’s most remote cattle stations. From the early days in the 1950s, when the homestead was little more than a roof and four posts, to the station’s transformation into a bustling...

Send us Fan Mail Breaking Barriers, Building Joy In Part B of our powerful chat with Sam Longmore, we go even deeper—into life, disability, creativity, and shaking up what success really looks like. From launching a mobile bar and a wool business, to starting her own sold-out workshop series (‘Oh Bull Dust’), Sam’s not just surviving—she’s creating a life packed with purpose, laughter, and bold mo...

Send us Fan Mail Bulletproof, Broken, and Unbelievably Brave Sam Longmore was full throttle—working hard, living fast, doing everything… until one early morning changed everything. A life-altering accident left her paralyzed down one side—but it didn’t stop her. In Part A, we dive into Sam’s story of resilience, rebuilding, and raw grit—from the paddock, to launching her own Ag spraying business,...

Send us Fan Mail We’re back at Undoolya Station for Part B of our yarn with the one and only Ben Hayes — and we’re diving straight into the deep end. From desertification to the future of farming in Central Australia, Ben shares his take on land use, food security, and the big question: why do some folks want the desert back? We explore bold ideas around diversification, hemp as a possible future...

Send us Fan Mail Today we’re heading deep into the heart of Australia’s Red Centre — east of Alice Springs — to the legendary Undoolya Station. Established in 1872 and still proudly family-run, this is cattle country with soul, and the stunning MacDonnell Ranges running right through it. At the centre of it all is Ben Hayes — cattleman, tracker, storyteller, and a bloke who’s as real as they come....

Send us Fan Mail We’re back for Part B  of our brilliant chat with Amee Dennis at  Quentin Park Alpacas and Studio Gallery. This episode is classic Amee: full of heart, hilarity, and those unforgettable moments that only happen when you lean into a challenge. We hear about her mission to create meaningful, sensory-rich experiences — especially for people with disabilities — and how her alpacas (an...

Send us Fan Mail We’re off to  Quentin Park Alpacas  in Peterborough, South Australia, to hang out with the one and only  Amee Dennis  — where alpacas roam free, creativity flows, and laughter is practically guaranteed. Aimee invites us into her bustling farm and fibre shop, where every alpaca has a name, a backstory, and in some cases... unresolved drama. (Looking at you,  Benjamin Bo ) But beyon...

Send us Fan Mail Lyndee Severin – Part B: Curtin Springs Station In Part B, Lyndee opens up about the emotional toll of life in remote Australia—fires, droughts, first responder work—and what it takes to keep going. We also talk land management, carbon, and the quiet power of connection, both human and animal. Find out more at www.curtinsprings.com

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we chat with Colin Arnold from  Graze Away , who’s using goats to tackle invasive weeds and bring native ecosystems back to life — all without chemicals. We cover: Why goats love blackberry and ivy The role of allelopathic plants Tips on fencing and choosing the right goats How this approach supports native birds, reptiles, and healthy soil From Melbourne backyard...

Send us Fan Mail Curtin Springs Station, NT. In this episode, we head deep into Central Australia, where Lyndee Severin is on a one-million-acre station across 22 land types. From the unique qualities of the Murray Grey breed to the chaos of scrub bulls and the quiet authority needed in the yards, Lyndee shares what it really takes to raise cattle in some of the country’s toughest terrain. It’s a...

Send us Fan Mail From Kitchen Bench to Flour Mill — Courtney Young of Woodstock Flour Today I’m joined by Courtney Young from Woodstock Flour — a small organic flour mill in North East Victoria with a big focus on soil health, transparency, and local food systems. What started on a kitchen bench with a tiny home mill has grown into a thriving operation. Courtney and her husband Ian are supplying b...

Send us Fan Mail Matt Martin - Old Cobran Poll Marino Stud In this episode, we're in Mullameah, near Holbrook, to chat with Matt Martin — a data-driven, forward-thinking farmer with a lifelong connection to Merino breeding. From phasing out mulesing to using genomics and building smart confinement areas, Matt’s approach proves that innovation, sustainability, and sheep farming can go hand-in-...

Send us Fan Mail Soil to Soul — Courtney Young on Farming, Flour & Finding Purpose Today’s guest is Courtney Young — farmer, flour miller, environmentalist, and all-round powerhouse weaving together the threads of land, food, and wellbeing. From a childhood by the ocean to studying environmental science, Courtney’s journey has taken many turns — including falling in love, becoming a certified...