Our Story

100% Tasmanian owned and operated

It all starts with a need to produce clean and healthy food that is produced in accordance with the preferences of nature. If the environment is happy and healthy, the crop is happy and healthy and so those eating the crop are happy and healthy – a simple win win situation.

Here is how we achieve this.

Properly Organic chemical free produce

Food is created to be consumed, it must be clean and healthful.

To this end, we do not use any substance in our production systems that does not promote health for the crop at each level, and so for the consumer.

Respect for the land

Happy is an important part of healthy. We respect all components of our land.

You have heard of the food chain. Nature is a cooperative system from bottom to top. The micro-organisms of the soil are the beginning. They prepare and distribute the nutrition for the plants. It is a veritable underground economy.

We use no-till systems to maintain the soil environment. Ploughing destroys fungal filaments and worm tunnels which distribute water, air and minerals. Preservation leads to optimum conditions for growth.

This leads to increased health and vitality in the plants which we eat.

2019

January 1

A plan is hatched

We started planning at the beginning of 2019 to determine where and how we would achieve our goal of producing top quality nutrient dense food.

Then we started looking for a suitable property. This involved much travel and many nights sleeping in the car to view as many candidate properties as possible.

28 October

The Company is registered

It all starts with a company.

October 16

Bought the Property

We came across Lambert’s Road at the end of September and pounced.

This property was well watered with good soil on the river flats. It was smaller than we were looking for but would be a great place to prove our systems.

December 17

Refurbished the shed

The property has a small house and a nearby concrete shed. The shed needed a bit of civilising if we are to produce quality food.

Cleaned up, lined, insulated and painted.

2020

April 12

Covid Lockdown Started

Covid struck and shut down most food outlets – this slowed the growth of our business down. The expectation was that this would not last for long so we continued.

May 2020

Commenced Microgreen production

We grow microgreens on a coir base in 20/10 flats. Crops take 10 to 14 days between sewing and harvesting.

A new business will take around 12-24 months to hit its stride and become reliably profitable.

June 12

First Sale

Here we turned from being an expensive hobby to a fledgling business.

We commenced production and immediately noticed that our high quality was attractive to the food community.

The business grew rapidly to about 60 customers who seemed keen to increase the appeal of their product.

All of this during a strict COVID lockdown with a reduced number of food outlets open.

November 6

Shut Down

It was a major blow and an incredible draw on limited finances. I kept the business running to support the existing team until lockdown had finished. By this time, we were unable to sensibly continue. The business was no longer sustainable with the seriously reduced market.

Sh*t happens, so we wait for the market to return. Black swan events are not that common – surely.

2021

Recuperating

We need a breathing space to put some working funds back into the bank account.

2022

October 21

The flood strikes

There are times when I feel that I have insulted the gods. Another black swan event!

Just about to get things rolling again and along comes the flood. This one was slightly higher than the 2016 flood level.

4 km of stock fencing, the water distribution, the electric fences just gone, a large erosion blowout and many large logs deposited on the flat.

At least we did not have a crop in the ground and I now have some firewood.

2023

Soon

The Restart

Now is the time to start over. Back to the drawing board!

I understand much more than I did when we first commenced. Experience must be used as a learning tool.

One of the key takeaways is the difference between sales and marketing and the importance of doing both.

Our Story

Properly Organic chemical free produce

Respect for the land

© 2023 Properly Organic PL

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