It was an honour representing the Southern Forests Food Council (SFFC) at the RSM Southern Forests & Valleys Wine Show this week. Interacting with the winemakers was a reminder of just how much craft sits behind every bottle from this region. From vine to glass, our producers are competing with, and beating, the best in … More Southern Forest Wine Show 2026
The new driveway lights are in, and seeing them come alive at dusk feels pretty special. The beautiful song A Whole New World by Peabo Bryson inspired and plays in the background of this video, as in many ways that’s exactly how Melissa and I feel about this place. What started as a vision has … More Lights along the journey
A recent meeting with local Member Bevan Eatts focused on the Southern Forests region’s challenges and opportunities, including health services, infrastructure, and community support. Discussions emphasized the need for improved health infrastructure and water security while recognizing the region’s economic contributions. Continued investment is vital for community prosperity and sustainability. … More Meeting with the Member for Warren Blackwood Bevan Eatts
Monica Rado and I met with Minister Don Punch to discuss the Southern Forests Food Council’s (SFFC) role in supporting the Southern Forest Region. All part of my journey from South East San Diego to advocating for local farmers in Western Australia. … More Walking the Halls of State Parliament
The Pemberton Pool: A still, emerald stretch of water held by a concrete edge, framed by towering karri, with the forest doubled in the reflection. On a quiet morning like this, it looks exactly like what it is: a piece of the past that still belongs to the present. … More The Pemberton Pool — Where the Past and Present Meet
For a few years now, Melissa and I have been quietly collecting. A cactus here. A succulent there. Pots placed on this patch, or that spot, the plants waiting patiently for a home of their own. In Pemberton that home now exists. What you’re looking at is our completed succulent garden, built around the space … More A Succulent Garden for Melissa
Gen Fresh. The name does a lot of work. It speaks to produce that is genuinely, measurably fresh — world-class fruit and vegetables grown in one of Australia’s finest food regions. It speaks to genuine people — farming families whose identity is inseparable from what they grow. It speaks to generational change — inspiring the … More Supporting Made in WA: Championing our Farmers, Communities and the Southern Forests Through Gen Fresh
In the heart of Western Australia’s Southern Forests sits the beautiful town of Pemberton — once known mainly as timber town, it is now one of Australia’s premier food, agriculture, and wine regions. Since moving from the city, Melissa and I have discovered experiences we never imagined. We enjoy drinking wine, but we had never … More From Soil to Glass
Southern Forests Completes Inaugural Carbon Strategy Pilot The Southern Forests Food Council (SFFC) has completed its inaugural Southern Forests Carbon Strategy Pilot, supporting local producers in establishing on-farm carbon baselines and identifying practical strategies to strengthen climate and drought resilience. The pilot engaged 7 farming businesses across the region and provided growers with regionally relevant … More Successful Southern Forests Carbon Pilot Project Leads to Second Round of Funding
The author reflects on moving to Pemberton, Western Australia, highlighting its beauty and the local craftsmanship exemplified by furniture maker Andrew Kristoffersson. They express gratitude for his skill and the meaningful furniture they commissioned, emphasizing the importance of supporting local artisans. … More Settling In: Supporting Local Craftsmanship
