The unassuming micro flower farm destined for MIFGS

It’s an unassuming entrance into Alison Healey’s cottage garden turned micro farm in Mount Evelyn. From the front, you wouldn’t know a perfectly quaint but largely productive flower garden is nestled behind the house.

The meandering path that leads from the front yard and past the kitchen garden, opens into a green space fitted with a cubbyhouse, soon-to-be chicken coop, and dozens of fruit trees that blend into the space seamlessly. To Alison, who first studied permaculture, stepping into the planted flower patch, organised in rows, is a way to remove herself from the chaos of the garden and enjoy the creativity of working with flowers.

Taking the leap into permaculture four years ago, Alison studied under Pete the Permie, who pointed out her creative flair and artistic way of design. It was that that led Alison to study floristry and launch Healey and Heath.

“I was already growing lots of our own food at home so it wasn’t a big adjustment to my garden or my life to dive into flowers,” she said.