From little things purple fields grow: Schoolteacher starts apiary

A Westbrook family have launched a brand new boutique farm on their 23 acre property, producing lavender and honey.

Ever since she was a teenager, exploring the Adelaide Hills on a family vacation, Alicia Vohland has dreamt of one day having her own lavender farm.

Now the mother of two and former Glennie teacher is making her dream a reality alongside her husband Craig on their 23 acre Westbrook property.

From the classroom to planting crops, former schoolteacher, Alicia Vohland and her family have recently launched a new boutique lavender and honey farm just outside Toowoomba. In the freshly hand planted field of 6000 new lavender plants are (from left) Alicia, Noah and Craig Vohland. Picture: Nev Madsen

“When we purchased the land from my parents we knew we wanted to do something with it that could be profitable so after a lot of research into crops like pecans, olives and a range of other options we settled on the idea to have lavender,” Mrs Vohland said.

“Lavender is one of the most profitable crops you can have because there’s so many things you can make with it and the Darling Downs has the right climate for it, plus it’s quite drought hardy.”

The Westbrook born and raised local grew up on her parent’s property next door and said she’s always fostered dreams of having her own little patch of land nearby in the hopes of housing some hives.

“I’ve always wanted bees, and a lavender farm and an apiary just seem to go hand-in-hand,” she said.

Windy Acres Farm is now home to six bee hives, including one sponsored by Toowoomba business, Green Bee Communications (the green hive, of course!) Picture: Nev Madsen

“We have four different varieties of lavender and they’re all great for a number of different products including oil which we will be distilling ourselves as well as fresh produce and because there’s very little wastage when it comes to lavender there so many different opportunities.

“We’re very passionate about selling and supplying as locally as possible and forming great relationships with businesses right here on the Darling Downs.

“Brendan Stewart from Westbrook bakery has already said he wants to start making lavender scones so we’re excited about that.”

Mrs Vohland said when it came to surrounding their property in a field of purple it just seemed like a no brainer.

Craig Vohland at work on Windy Acres Farm at Westbrook getting the field ready for the next 2000 lavender seedlings. Picture: Nev Madsen

“I think there’s just something about a field of lavender that’s so dreamy and magical. We’re hoping once the farm is established we can have wedding photography taken out here as well as pair up with other small producers in the area to host farm open days with food trucks and live entertainment for the whoel family.

“We’re also planing on turning the shipping container at the front of our property into a farm front shop so people can purchase our products directly from us here in Westbrook.”
With the help of both the Vohland’s families, Windy Acres Farm began to officially take shape last weekend when they planted 6000 lavender plants by hand with another 2000 yet to arrive in the next few weeks.

Little Noah Vohland checking out the 6000 lavender seedlings with his very own John Deere tractor. Picture: Nev Madsen

As for the honey part of the farm, Mrs Vohland said two regional Queensland businesses have already sponsored a hive each to support the region’s newest boutique farm.

“We’ve now got six hives in production and I’ll be harvesting from one of the hives this weekend,” she said.

“Bianca Coleborn from Green Bee Communications has sponsored a hive as have Beewell Aromatherapy which is a business in St George so the support so far from other businesses has been wonderful.

“And my my nine-year-old daughter Mia has been doing loads of research and has decided she wants to make non-toxic crayons with the bees wax so it’s something the whole family are deeply passionate about and we’re finding really creative ways to make the business as family orientated as possible.”

With the lavender crop set to be ready for the first lot of harvesting by the time this year’s Carnival of Flowers rolls around in September, the Vohlands definitely have their work cut out for them but the family are confident their dream is going to become an exciting and successful reality over the next several months.
“I think it will be a great addition to the Westbrook community,” Mrs Vohland said.

Alicia and Craig Vohland with their one-year-old son Noah at Windy Acres Farm, a Toowoomba lavender and honey farm in Westbrook. Picture: Nev Madsen

“I loved growing up here and now I’m able to raise my family and pursue my dreams here through Windy Acres Farm so we’re very excited to see what the future holds.”
To find out more about Windy Acres Farm, head to their Facebook and Instagram pages and keep an eye out for their open farm events due to take place later this year.