Jodie Parker is growing biodiversity at her 5 Acre Farm at Taradale

Jodie Parker is driving to build the biodiversity at her property at Taradale, while also sharing the ins and outs of managing her farm as a solo woman.

Jodie knows patience is key for the development of her 5 Acre Farm business.

Sharing her story as a single woman managing land while building diversity on her farm is what drives Jodie Parker.

In 2018, after taking some inspiration from shows such as River Cottage Australia, Jodie moved out to Taradale, looking to build a sustainable life on the land.

But managing working full time in Melbourne while building that life proved a challenge, prompting her to leave her corporate city job of more than a decade, and set about chasing her dream.

“I’d lived in the country before, my parents both grew up in the country, and living a bit more of a conscious sort of sustainable life really appealed to me,” she said.

Jodie on her farm with her sheep.

Proudly farming on two hectares of Djaara country, Jodie established her 5 Acre Farm business 18 months ago, growing a variety of fruit, vegetables and flowers.

From plums and peaches, to kale and capsicum, and even dahlias and chrysanthemums, Jodie’s ultimate objective is to supply her local community while also growing the biodiversity of the property.

“My plan going forwards, once I’m at the position that I’ve got the volume and consistency of produce, is to start a vegie box delivery program,” she said.

“That’s for local residents, but also to work with local restaurants to supply them with produce so that they have a well-rounded local menu.”

Jodie knows patience is key to building the capacity of the farm, with her focus this winter on expanding growing areas, while also selling jams, syrups and other things made with her produce.

Jodie sells jams and syrups with her produce.

“Having a huge variety of different plants and creating a really friendly environment is probably going to take me a little bit longer than what I imagined. That’s the challenge with being a solo gardener,” she said.

She is documenting and sharing that journey with her community, having not come across many single women in similar positions.

“There’s lots of stories of families and couples, but not too many single women. By no means is five acres huge, but it’s enough for one person to try and manage by themselves,” she said.

“It’s by no means easy work, it’s not comfortable, but I’d rather do that over any other sort of office-bound desk job.”