Spring Bay Mill at Triabunna is selling its garden produce to the people

Spring Bay Mill is sharing produce with the people through home garden starter kits.

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LEAFY greens from the impressive gardens of Spring Bay Mill are making their way to Tasmanian homes, in a new enterprise that’s blossomed amid coronavirus restrictions.

The events and wedding destination at Triabunna was just beginning to take off before being forced into dormancy by coronavirus.

Spring Bay Mill general manager Robert Williams said the shutdown had created a surplus of produce from the site’s organic kitchen garden.

Head horticulturist at the Spring Bay Mill in Triabunna, Marcus Raglus at their market garden where they produce vegetables that are sold at the Farmgate market. Picture: Zak simmonds

“All of a sudden we had a lot of produce that we couldn’t use, and it seemed wasteful feeding it to the worms,” Mr Williams said.

Produce is now being snapped up every second weekend at the Hobart Farm Gate Market.

Spring Bay Mill have also designed instant home gardens in a bag, which are being sold via the website for pick-up or delivery.

Each bag contains five seasonal vegetable garden plants and is designed to suit growing in small spaces.

“It’s all the things you need to establish a vegetable garden at your own home,” Mr Williams said.

The garden curated by master horticulturist Marcus Ragus is drawing in the community, with access provided to the local school and Tafe students to have access from next year.

Accommodation at the site is normally restricted to guests at private events, however Spring Bay Mill’s eco-shacks can currently be booked for weekend getaways.

The site’s glamping tents will soon be opened to public bookings.

Head horticulturist at the Spring Bay Mill in Triabunna, Marcus Raglus at their market garden where they produce vegetables that are sold at the Farmgate market. Picture: Zak simmonds

Mr Williams said followng a string of cancelled functions in 2020, the site was hoping to throw open its doors for a busy calendar of events in 2021.

“We’ve got lots of interest for next year,” he said.

The former site of the Triabunna woodchip mill is owned by environmentalist and entrepreneur Graeme Wood.