Business is booming for this accidental flower farmer who raises Australian natives alongside her cattle
Farmers are regularly asked to diversify their activities to protect them from the vagaries of markets and weather conditions.
But few choose to grow flowers next to their livestock.
Paris Bell runs Woodshed Flower Co from its farm in Furner, using land unsuitable for cattle to grow flowers.
The farm floral was not a planned venture, but after buying the farm Mrs. Bell thought she might as well give it a shot.
"We bought the farm in 2017 to raise cattle there for our current operation. The farm wasn't bought for the flowers at all; it was just something that was here," Ms. Bell said.
"It was only after we bought the farm that my father-in-law brought me here. I was amazed at the variety of flowers.
"It just wasn't feasible for me to stop working full time. I didn't know if it was productive enough or if it was worth it."
Originally someone else handled the flowers, Mrs. Bell slowly acquired experience and decided to take over the operation herself last year.
She encourages other farmers to try something new, like planting flowers on land they don't use.
"I would recommend anyone to try and diversify their business, although it always pays to try to do more with what you have now," Ms. Bell said.
"That's why this operation is working so well, it's because we're using unproductive land.
"This strip that has native flowers growing on it is a sandy ridge that doesn't grow grass that we can stock up on.
< p class="_39n3n">" If you can find patches on your farm that aren't productive and do something with them, then yes, great.""Not just your standard flower"Land is mostly used for Banksia plants such as coccinea, baxteri, attenuata and praemorsa, as well as other Australian natives.
"The demand has been really great", Ms Bell says.
"I've never had a situation where flowers are left on the trees because nobody wants them."
Ms Bell said she primarily provides its flowers to local wholesalers, but also arranged arrangements and ran flower arranging workshops.
Farmers are regularly asked to diversify their activities to protect them from the vagaries of markets and weather conditions.
But few choose to grow flowers next to their livestock.
Paris Bell runs Woodshed Flower Co from its farm in Furner, using land unsuitable for cattle to grow flowers.
The farm floral was not a planned venture, but after buying the farm Mrs. Bell thought she might as well give it a shot.
"We bought the farm in 2017 to raise cattle there for our current operation. The farm wasn't bought for the flowers at all; it was just something that was here," Ms. Bell said.
"It was only after we bought the farm that my father-in-law brought me here. I was amazed at the variety of flowers.
"It just wasn't feasible for me to stop working full time. I didn't know if it was productive enough or if it was worth it."
Originally someone else handled the flowers, Mrs. Bell slowly acquired experience and decided to take over the operation herself last year.
She encourages other farmers to try something new, like planting flowers on land they don't use.
"I would recommend anyone to try and diversify their business, although it always pays to try to do more with what you have now," Ms. Bell said.
"That's why this operation is working so well, it's because we're using unproductive land.
"This strip that has native flowers growing on it is a sandy ridge that doesn't grow grass that we can stock up on.
< p class="_39n3n">" If you can find patches on your farm that aren't productive and do something with them, then yes, great.""Not just your standard flower"Land is mostly used for Banksia plants such as coccinea, baxteri, attenuata and praemorsa, as well as other Australian natives.
"The demand has been really great", Ms Bell says.
"I've never had a situation where flowers are left on the trees because nobody wants them."
Ms Bell said she primarily provides its flowers to local wholesalers, but also arranged arrangements and ran flower arranging workshops.
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