Rob and his son Anthony are the driving force behind Bauer’s Organic Farm, situated at Mt. Sylvia, Qld which is in the heart of the Lockyer Valley, approximately 100 miles west of Brisbane. This area is deemed one of the ‘Top Ten’ most fertile farming areas in the world….the farm draws it’s water from a crystal clear underground supply fed by Blackfellow Creek. The Bauer family has farmed their property since settlement in 1885 (Rob’s great-grandparents).
Rob decided in the early 1980’s that he would farm organically, considering at the time many Farmers were falling ill because of the chemical sprays used in conventional farming. He thought long and hard about how things were working in nature, the general state of the world and how to end up with a healthier workplace, environment and lifestyle for everyone. The farm itself has been Certified Organic since 1993.
Today, Rob Bauer, his sons Anthony Bauer and wife Karen (and daughter Abbey) as well as Phil Bauer and his wife Rebecca (and son Cooper) all live and work the legendary Bauer Organic Farm. Rob’s mother, Eileen (who is 80 something…wink wink) also still lives on the property. The young ones on the farm are actually 6th generation Bauer’s on the property….it’s no wonder….farming must be in the genes as the name Bauer in German actually means ‘Farmer’. Anthony looks after the crops, produce sales and employees, while Phil is the farms qualified mechanic. Another local Russell Sippel is Anthony’s long term right hand man.
The family grow vegetables for 12 months of the year and supply us with their fantastic carrots from July to early December, potatoes from June until January, corn from January until March, zucchini from mid November until April, cauliflower from May until October, broccoli from mid April until October and beans from November until January. As you can imagine, the Bauer family as well as their 12 or so fulltime staff members are very busy all year supplying us, as well as many other organic retailers with their quality veges.
The farm produces over 2000 tonnes of vegetables each year and the workforce increases to over 50 at harvest and weeding times. The family is also busy conducting Farm Tours, managed by Trudy Townson, a local that has been associated with Bauer’s Organic Farm for over 20 years. Trude works with Rob on a daily basis as the Farms Publicity/Tour Co-ordinator. Please have a look at their website if you would like to know more about the tours www.bauersorganicfarm.com.au.
Recently the Bauer family purchased a new property almost next door to their home farm, they are looking ahead to be able to keep supplying their existing customers as well as the growing organic market. The new property will take at least 3 years before it can be Certified A grade organic. This brings their total area of Farm to 806 acres (326 ha), with approximately 325 acres (132 ha) under cultivation. The remainder being certified organic cattle country and vegetation areas.
Growing Organically means that the family needs extra land compared with chemical farmers who sometimes grow three crops per year in the one paddock. Good organic practices require the Bauer’s to grow one mulch crop for 6 months and then a vegie crop for 6 months. This enables the farm to remain sustainable, avoiding depleting the soil of nutrients and minerals required to grow quality crops.
When we asked Anthony about his greatest challenge on the Farm he told us that growing the right amount of each crop is by far the hardest part of the whole process….not to mention the hand weeding of the crops of course.
We would like to thank the Bauer family for their commitment to quality and allowing us to offer their fantastic vegetables to you all year round.
