Business Name: Dunkeld Farm
Founder: Alana Reeves
Year Founded: 2017
Location: Small place called Dunkeld, outside of Bathurst, New South Wales, Down Under
Business Description: A small-scale farm, growing and producing wild natural blooms. Working with nature not against it.

I was working in a commercial market garden and had bought land outside of town. While I was on maternity leave with my second child, I decided to plant a small organic vegetable plot. I also grew a few flowers to add to the weekly vegetable boxes.

We had a couple of hot dry summers, and I noticed the flowers handled the conditions a lot better than some of the vegetables. So, I made the switch from vegetables to cut flowers.

This switch really changed everything for me. There weren’t any local flower growers at the time and the Bathurst community really embraced what I had to offer. The whole vibe of flowers was a lot different for me compared to the vegetable world. I often hear farmers talk about how flowers just found them. I totally resonate.

Before Dunkeld Farm, I was working as…
I completed an apprenticeship as a chef after school. After a couple of years, I ended up ‘helping out’ on a commercial sized market garden growing mainly brassicas. We would plant close to 500k seedlings and harvest 20 tons a day with a machete. Once I hit the dirt and fresh air there was no way getting me back into a hot box without any windows. I stayed there for 14 years. Growing and producing food felt much more rewarding for me. I took the odd chef gigs when I wanted extra cash to support my old car restoration habit. It’s good to try keep your skillset up.

What's the story behind the farms name and the inspiration behind your floral aesthetic?
Dunkeld Farm isn’t a fancy name by any means but just an indication of the location really. I chose "Farm" in the title, so I wasn’t limited to just a specific theme. I like to share all aspects of life here, from my Australian cattle dogs to the cows and even my love of old cars. Together, they add to the farm’s aesthetic and tell the fuller story of where the flowers come from.

What flowers do you grow?
I mainly grow annual flowers- those that bloom and die within a single season. Most of these are started each season in my small hothouse. I really enjoy this process. It’s amazing to see something so small grow into something so amazing. Blows my mind every season.

If your farm were a song. What would it be?
Colors by Goldford. Reminds me there really is beauty in everything if you choose to see it. How resilient mother nature is. And then there’s grunge rock meets country playlist that is on repeat here as well. I’m super moody so the songs are varied accordingly.

Define success for you personally and your brand?
Being a part of the flower community and people wanting my advice and opinions on things feels like success to me. Flowers bring such joy to people. I am really starting to see the importance of them and what they bring to the table. They seem to speak to young children right through to the older generation. Watching a father pick a bunch with his little daughter to buy for her mum makes me melt. My flower babies and all my hard work feel appreciated. Floriography, right. The world feels so loud, it’s a nice quiet way to communicate I feel.

What are your hopes for the future of farming and the floral industry?
I’d love for us to ease up a little on imports and start valuing what’s grown here. Buying in season makes sense and it makes for better flowers, too. It’s been nice to see dried flowers quietly returning. For a while they disappeared because we could access everything, all year round, thanks to imports. But there’s something honest and beautiful about working with what’s naturally available. I’d also love to see plastic usage reduced. The flower world can be excessive with it. Flowers already speak their own language — they don’t need balloons, boxes and layers of ribbon to make a statement. All of that can take away from their natural appeal.

What are you most proud of to date regarding Dunkeld Farm?
Creating a nurturing environment for my children. I grew up in various housing commission areas, which was great for character building and increased my empathy for others, but I wanted my kids to be more connected to nature. Seeing my daughter with her favorite calf, and my son learning to walk amongst flowers beds with a pup in tow, are memories that will stay with us forever.

Now we have to ask. Do you have a favorite flower?
It’s hard to name a favorite as I look at them more out of appreciation and admiration. They all seem to bring their own. Cosmos for its airy dancing wildflower vibes. Dahlias for their perfect honeycomb formation. Snapdragons for their pointy shapes. I could go on forever really. I am gaining more appreciation for Zinnias. Such a workhorse, the bees love them and they come in so many colors.

Are there future goals or next steps you want to achieve?
I want to give back more.
Maybe start a farm school—an after-school program for local girls who might not want to be involved in sports but still want to develop skills and be part of a group. I also want to offer more floral couture workshops because I enjoy the creative side of it. I have two more seasons to go, which will mark 10 seasons of growing here. I've been saying that once I reach that milestone, I might do something else. That will be 22 years in the growing industry, so it might be time for a change. However, whenever I think that, the flowers seem to gain more momentum; it feels like all the years are finally coming together into the vision I’ve always had. I am currently studying for a diploma in interior design, so maybe I will expand my business into that area as well. Watch this space.

Thank You Alana