MEET THE PRODUCERS

Oliver Shorthouse and Lisa Davis, Ramarro Farm, The Patch, Victoria

A career in hospitality, as general manager of Andrew Mcconnell’s group of restaurants in Melbourne, led Oliver Shorthouse to begin a market garden. In 2013, Oliver moved to a four-hectare bush block in the Dandenong Ranges with his partner Lisa Davis, a writer, and planted tomatoes. The reception, says Oliver, was unbelievable. “I showed them to some restaurant chefs and discovered they were desperate for fresh, interesting ingredients. The idea to grow more food and farm full-time grew from there,” he says. Oliver continued working in the city while he and Lisa learned the necessary skills and bought tools to take the market garden business full-time, which they did in January 2019. Oliver’s experience of living and working on organic farms in Italy influenced the planting. “All 12 of the tomato varieties we grow are Italian, plus we love chicory and agretti, a succulent,” he says. “We also grow potatoes, alpine strawberries, redcurrants, broad beans, salad burnet, lovage and bronze fennel. We’re fortunate. We have rich top soil and plenty of water.” Opening a farm-gate shop has bought the joy of connecting with the community. “One of the reasons we came here was to have a better work life balance,” says Oliver. “It hasn’t been easy but the rewards have been wonderful.” Saturday 8am–1pm, 67 Priors Road, The Patch, Victoria, ramarrofarm.com.au