Peppermint Ridge Farm: Australian native food experiences for all your senses!

Farm side view

Latest News:

We had a great weekend at the 40th Pomonal Native Flower Show. Julie ran two presentations on Growing and Cooking with Native Foods alongside Clarence from Gardening Australia. We took the opportunity to have a good chat about native foods with both Clarence and Milly!

We are thrilled to announce that Julie has been named the Female Agribusiness Leader of the Year  2024 by Food and Fibre Gippsland  - in recognition of outstanding achievement !!

About us:

We (Anthony Hooper and Julie Weatherhead) are passionate primary producers committed to growing quality food sustainably and in harmony with our environment. Set in the rolling hills of Tynong North, Peppermint Ridge Farm has been growing and cultivating a wide range of Australian native bushfood and botanical plants for over twenty five years.

We have been welcoming visitors to the farm since the mid-1990s offering a range of unique foodie and educational experiences that showcase the fantastic flavours and aromas of amazing plants like lemon myrtle, anise myrtle, strawberry gum, finger lime and mountain pepper.  Our established display garden features over thirty edible species of native food plants.

We offer a unique range of native food and botanicals taste, learn, see experiences. The farm also welcomes visitors for tours of our mature native food display garden and specialist nursery. Please call  or email us first to arrange a time to call in. We are a working farm so we want to make sure we don't miss your visit!

FINGER LIME AND SMALL LEAVED TAMARIND FRUIT (FROZEN) NOW AVAILABLE: Click on our shop to purchase.

Australian Native Food Harvest- 2nd edition.

Our newly released edition has been receiving fantastic reviews! The latest edition of Organic Gardener features a great review from the Editor who describes Australian Native Food Harvest as a "classic on native food gardening and harvesting" and a "must have book for those interested in edible natives". Over a dozen independent bookshops are now selling the book which features comprehensive information on over twenty species of native food plants suitable for cooler, temperate and subtropical climates, comprehensive garden design ideas as well as over sixty recipes that show how easy it is to incorporate these great flavours into everyday meals. Australian Native Foods Harvest -  a guide for the passionate cook and gardener. Select Shop & Nursery to order the book.

Tour and Taste Lunches

Enjoy one of our unique and popular Tour and Taste Events, (check the 2024 dates) featuring guided tours of the Living Heritage Centre and our established native bushfood garden, followed by lunch in the Schoolhouse Café. Our tour and taste experiences are a great way to learn more about Australia's unique bushfoods.

We love showcasing the fantastic flavours of native food produce picked fresh from our gardens and plantations. View some of our previous menus to see the types of dishes on offer.

Please note that we provide a set menu and cannot cater for all food preferences and allergies. Please call us on 59428580 to check before making an online booking if you have dietary requirements.

Dates

Saturday 9th November 2024

Saturday 7th December 2024

 Native Pantry Cooking Classes

Native Pantry cooking classes are another regular event on the farm's calendar. The classes introduce you to the wonderful world of cooking with native foods. We also run cooking classes for Food Studies students and Professional Development workshops for teachers of Food Studies. Call Julie to arrange an excursion on 03 5942 8580.

2025 Dates TBA

FAST/EASY/SOURDOUGH BREAD CLASS

Learn the secrets of making fast, easy and delicious sourdough bread as served at the Peppermint Ridge Tour & Taste events. You will never need to buy another loaf of bread !

2025 dates TBA

 

Our Product Range

Peppermint Ridge Native Foods produce organically grown herbs, spices and teas produced  from our  plantations including mountain pepper, lemon myrtle, anise myrtle, native thyme and strawberry gum. Our native spice dukkah is a unique blend of native herbs and spices.

The online shop is open 24/7 for purchases of our book Australian Native Food Harvest, as well as our dried products.

Native Foods Nursery

The native foods nursery is currently  stocked with a large range of over thirty edible and botanical native plants including fresh stocks of strawberry gum, mountain pepper and lemon myrtle. Click on Nursery to see the full range. We do have other rare species available in limited numbers in the nursery that are not listed in our online range.

You can order plants online, by email, info@peppermintridgefarm.com.au,  or you can make a time to visit the food forest and nursery to purchase plants.

We send plants by carrier around Victoria only. Express post to other states. Delivery cost is finalised once an order is placed.

When you visit the nursery see our mature native foods forest to help with your plant selection.

We also sell our inhouse designed native foods interpretive signs for display gardens. See this page for more information.

Presentations of Australian Native Foods

Our presentations to libraries and community groups provide an opportunity to learn more about Australia’s wonderful native food plants:

  • history of native food plants
  • plants that grow best in your garden
  • growing and propagating native food plants
  • culinary uses

We also attend a number of field days, garden expos and festivals across Victoria.

Gift Vouchers

Did you know our vouchers are a great gift idea because they can be used for any of our products and services including the cooking classes and Tour and Taste lunches. You can either specify the purpose of the voucher or leave it open ended for the recipient to choose what they would like to use it for.

We send our vouchers as a pdf and can add a bespoke greeting of your choice. Contact us.

Featured

Education

We have been working with a number of schools and kindergartens to develop native bushfood gardens. We can assist with garden design and supply of bushfood plants suitable for educational settings.

Nursery

The nursery now stocks a wide range of advanced native food plants including sexed mountain peppers, strawberry gum, lemon myrtle, finger lime and anise myrtle!

PLEASE NOTE WE CANNOT SUPPLY PLANTS TO TASMANIA/WESTERN AUSTRALIA/NORTHERN TERRITORY DUE TO BIOSECURITY ISSUES. LEMON MYRTLE/FINGER LIME TO EASTERN STATES ONLY.

Gift Vouchers

Our gift vouchers are a popular choice if you are looking for a different experience for a friend or loved one. The vouchers can be used for our regular tour and taste lunches, Native Pantry cooking classes, to purchase native food plants from the nursery, native food spices and teas or our book, Australian Native Food Harvest.

Contact us to arrange gift vouchers.