The rolling green hills of the Cobargo district are home to many farms which grow a cornucopia of fresh, local produce. One of these is Goat Hill – a boutique hazelnut and lamb farm with a look to keeping small-scale, emphasising quality and distributing locally. Farmer Russell Pulford produces his lamb as naturally as possible, with constant attention to flavour and quality.
“Black Faced Dorpers are a great lamb for the table. We don’t drench the animals we sell for meat – they’re as natural as can be. I farm a small, manageable flock so I can maintain the quality of the meat as much as possible,” he says. Goat Hill’s hazelnuts are grown as much for their flavour as they are for their contribution to the environment, and both these products are distributed solely through small businesses in Cobargo. These businesses provide a foundation for a healthy local food culture – something Russell finds so important.
“We sell our products through local businesses like Benny’s Butchery and Sweet Home Cobargo. They are vital to the community – they bring people together. Small-scale organic farming and selling locally is the future; people want to know where their food comes from and how it is produced.”