Ainslie, Canberra

Ainslie Urban Farm is a 1/4 acre property developed using Permaculture principles. When we moved here in 2008 there were only 2 trees on the block – a cherry plum and sour cherry tree in the back corner. We have planted over 50 fruit trees, made vegie beds and made a home here for our 10 chickens and 2 beehives. Working mini-lop rabbits help prepare and fertilise our vegetable beds in a customised rabbit tractor. Over time our children started calling it “The Farm” which has now become Ainslie Urban Farm. The 1938 double brick house house was renovated and extended to become an eco and energy efficient 100m2 home.
I started growing microgreens in 2013 for the restaurant at Merici College where I taught sustainability and ran the Kitchen Garden. Microgreen production expanded so in 2016 I moved the business to the greenhouse built by my husband, Michael Wilson, and I at our home in Ainslie. I currently supply 30 local restaurants with soil grown microgreens in trays made out of recycled plastic that are collected, washed and re used.