TARRINGTON may be renowned for its hay bale art, but right in the centre of town is a somewhat hidden gem, where sustainable farming practices and a love for the creative are creating a new reputation for the region.

Lisa Addinsall wears many hats - mother, grandmother, artist, teacher, entrepreneur and life-long gardener – and had tried her hand at selling flowers out the front of her previous property.

When she made the move to her 2.5-acre lot in Tarrington, her initial idea went ‘big’ and Willow Violet and Flora Flower Farm was born.

From the flower field and with her energetic blue whippet, Jess by her side, Lisa has grown not only a business, but a community and memories that she and her family will hold onto forever.

Whole-family adventure

BEYOND her full-time gig as a flower farmer, Lisa teaches art one day a week at a local high school, teaches art classes from her home studio three nights a week and hosts weekend workshops making dried floral wreaths.

With seven grandchildren, aged seven and under, she was keen to make time to help out her family and see her grandchildren grow up.

With her portfolio of activities and work from home set up, she's able to look after her grandchildren a couple of days a week and loves to involve them in her work on the farm.

"They'll jump on the back of the trailer with the hay bales on it and we'll go and feed the horse or put straw out," she said.

"They pick berries and feed the chooks – they're beautiful children and just love being involved."

Lisa said she was grateful for the support of her family, especially her mum and dad, three children and their partners.

Grateful for community

SELLING flowers from her 'little flower shop' on the main street of Tarrington, Lisa uses an honesty box for payments and said while the setup had been a success, the nature of the roadside stall had meant she often missed seeing her customers who drove by.

"The hardest thing about having the shop out there and having an honesty box is that you don't know half your customers," she said.

"That's a frustrating thing for me, but with the special orders and people who contact me all the time, then I get to know people, but I'd say the majority of customers are locals.

"I'm so grateful for the support from the community – it's been incredible.

 "If I'm out in the farm working, I'll go over to the farm shop and say hello because I really love saying ‘thank you for stopping’."

Lisa said it was these conversations, had over the front fence, that often led to customers offering to drop off straw, manure and spare jars they had laying around the house.

"I never expect anything, but sometimes I'll be in the garden thinking ‘I must get some horse manure’ and then someone will come to the farm gate and mention they have a heap – it's funny how that happens," she said.

Willow Violet and Flora has also amassed a loyal following of flower lovers on social media.

Lisa has successfully used both Facebook and Instagram to grow awareness and support for the farm – reaching customers from near and far-flung places – and she said the online community of micro flower farmers and florists was uniquely supportive.

"I have a lot of regulars and they're always taking pictures of what they buy and putting them in their (Instagram) stories and they're so generous in what they share," she said.

Still lots to learn

MOVING through the flower field and garden beds, you're surrounded by brightly coloured cosmos, lilies, sweet peas, chrysanthemums, Queens Anne's Lace and around three to four hundred rose bushes that sway in the wind, but below the surface lies a hive of activity.

Dahlia bulbs planted in November hide under the dirt waiting to bloom in February, seeds shielded by canvas tepees begin to sprout under the shade, protected from the harsh summer sun when it occasionally appears. 

Lisa said the recent humid then dry hot weather had wrought havoc with some of her beds - burning leaves and destroying some flowers.

Flower farming has been an exercise of patience and a lot of trial and error; having read plenty of books and watched many YouTube videos on the subject, Lisa said she still made mistakes.

And while she's an experienced gardener, Willow Violet and Flora has been a constant learning curve.

"When I pick, I dry a lot of the flowers out of the garden as well," she said.

"Some flowers you do (hang up and dry), other flowers you have to let sit in water for a while, most flowers you can dry, but it's all experimental.

 "I've dried a lot of flowers that have just been no good and they just fall and the next year, I'll pick it earlier or at a different stage – and sometimes they won't hold and other times they will.

"I love learning – I think it's so important; I've got a brain that goes 100 miles-an-hour and have to be doing something that's challenging and interesting."

From dawn to dusk, there's always something to be done on the farm.

“I fall into bed and fall straight to sleep, but that's a really good thing.”

Working with mother nature

LISA’S ambition to reduce her impact on the environment is obvious in both her business and home life.

She makes her own sourdough, kombucha and pickles and preserves produce from her garden, and has been working her way through a house renovation, most of which she's done herself, with the help of local tradespeople, including a recent kitchen renovation using only recycled and upcycled materials, found everywhere from Facebook Marketplace to op shops and antique stores.

Sustainability has always been an integral part of Willow Violet and Flora, with sustainable practices ingrained in every step from seed to harvest and beyond.

Willow Violet and Flora use regenerative farming practices, including no-till flower farming, dried seeds from previous crops and rainwater in conjunction with town water to irrigate the flower beds.

Using recycled and upcycled materials and sundries, often donated by neighbours and customers, cuts down on wastage and reduces the farm's footprint.

 "I have people come to the front and drop off jam jars, egg cartons, ribbons and seedling trays for me to reuse," Lisa said.

“There’s one lady who goes around to op shops and pick up second-hand ribbons for me – it’s so generous and special each time I use the ribbons.”

She receives many special orders for milestone occasions and to keep with her sustainable practices and add a truly unique touch, she prefers to use her collection of vintage vases - an ever-growing assortment of unique vessels - to make the day extra-special.

Lisa hopes Willow Violet and Flora will eventually become an organic flower farm and has recently taken steps toward organic status.

Still growing

WITH no sign of business slowing down, Lisa recently split her shed in two – one side has been transformed into a cool room to help keep her blooms fresh for longer, while the other side continues to operate as her studio space where she arranges her flowers with care.

After only two years, Lisa has successfully established the Willow Violet and Flora flower farm as part of the creative community of Tarrington and she’s only just getting started.