The venue is a revamped helicopter hangar - which we felt offered the perfect raw architecture we were looking to enhance. Giving it an off beat rustic, yet modern finish. It also has the basic layout and feel that offers itself to almost anyone's taste - leaving it quite bare enables our clients to put their signature style into the space!
When we finished building the living area part of the hangar, we got busy in the gardens.
Slowly we started landscaping the farm - a project that has kept us busy for a good part of 3 years and most probably will forever! Having grown up on a small holding in The Crags with a horticulturist father, I have always wanted to do something similar with my own space.
With a vision of being self sustained and self reliant we started off with planting a vegetable garden and slowly started to mark out and plant our new orchards. We have 3 orchards currently, one of which is a labarynth (or one day will be - when its finally fully established) with rosemary and lavender bushes marking the pathway through the fruit trees. Here we have our spring and summer trees mostly - so lots of peaches, nectarines, plums, blueberries, pomegranates, apricots and the likes. This orchard leads into a nut and avo orchard which will only start bearing in about 3 to 4 years time (this is a patient game).
In our front yard we have tried to have a little of everything ranging from grapes, to grinadillas, to a variety of summer berries and of course winter fruit like guavas, citrus and louquarts. Our goal is to one day be able to pick a fruit or two at any point throughout the year.
With the pesticides and GM fruit and vegetable being grown, we would really like to know what we are putting into our bodies. I believe food is essential to both physical and mental well being and the fresher, more organic and seasonal we eat - the higher our energy levels and often this alone is enough to fuel good endorphins because our bodies are processing & digesting optimally - and often eating consciously brings about a different level of awareness in ones spiritual and personal capacity too. What is better than planting your own food - nurturing and watching it grow, being close to nature on this level - and then reaping the rewards when the plant blesses you with absolute deliciousness! Its a healing process to be able to be part of something that gives back to the earth and its people, rather than constantly depleting.
This is also why we have started to rehabilitate the indigenous forest on the land and we are on a mission to clear away the invasive trees ( we use alot of wattles for borders and fencing, bluegum for building). I have also started a small nursery where we grow trees, succulents, shrubs, flowers and seedlings for the farm and they will later be available for retail.
Neil is also a creative soul who makes the most stunning pieces of furniture and decor. In and around the venue and house - there are many pieces that he has created and built (besides the venue which he built himself too), using materials like driftwood & glass, or reclaimed wood to make rustic tables or shelving. He also loves playing with concrete and stone. I would say his work has a modern and innovative edge. We love that everything is authentic and as close to nature as possible, while still being solid in its structure.
When we are not hosting events or weddings you are likely to find us covered in earth, barefoot and planting or creating something new . This is our happy place.