by Cameron Outridge

Brothers Riley and Lachlan Hughes Honeyeater Farm in Woombye represents a return to their family’s 1950s farming roots.

The brothers are following in the footsteps of their grandfather Jim, a Moreton Central Sugar Mill worker and pineapple farmer.

Riley left behind a career in electrical engineering and embraced full-time market gardening in 2021, alongside his brother Lachlan, who has a background in horticulture. 

“We focus on providing quality, fresh produce to our local community,” said Riley. “We grow all our produce using organic farming practices. We grow a variety of fruit and vegetables that follow the seasons. The aim is to promote soil health and restore the natural ecosystems on the farm.”

The brothers farm at a “human scale”—primarily using handtools to sow, transplant, weed and harvest their crops—with an area of only 2000m² (half an acre) under cultivation. The farm is small but has to be productive. 

And the intensive farming method has yielded great results, with the brothers harvesting and selling more than a thousand bunches each of radish, coriander, carrots, baby broccoli, bok choy and lettuce across their nine month growing season.

“We manage soil fertility through the use of organic fertilisers. We also conduct an annual soil test and apply minerals and other micronutrients to correct soil pH and soil deficiencies,” Lachlan said. 

In addition to fertilisers, the brothers build soil fertility by applying composted cow manure and growing mixed-species cover crops during their off-season over summer. “We promote soil health through crop-rotation, low-till cultivation and the use of beneficial microbial inputs (fungi/bacteria),” said Riley.

Honeyeater Farm’s chemical-free, seasonal produce is sold directly at country markets and online. The Hughes are also working towards certifying the farm as organic. Their produce includes a range of vegetables and fruits, reflecting diversity and natural growth cycles.

By combining traditional farming values with modern organic practices, the Hughes hope to honour their family legacy while forging a sustainable future for local agriculture.