Courtyard Kyneton is suitably named. Situated just off Piper Street, Kyneton’s thrumming hospitality business epicentre, it’s an idyllic, silver birch-shaded outdoor space with two rustic corrugated iron sheds. 

As the tenth anniversary of Mitch Duncan and Steven Chau becoming custodians of Daylesford’s Farmers Arms Hotel approaches, it’s a good time to take stock of changes to the town’s oldest pub.

 “I’m a glutton for making good food simple.” Everything at the shops is made in-house, from the fudge and fruit compotes flavouring the ice-cream to the cookie crumbs folded into the cookies and cream version along with a pinch of salt to make it zing.

We only prune at times when the water is lower in the vine, which makes it stronger and means deeper roots, less spraying and the wine more fully expressing the flavours and characteristics of the terroir. 

The idea for Little Hampton Spring Water was born after the three families which make up the business’s second generation purchased a spring on pristine farmland in the tiny town of Little Hampton, near Trentham.

Gindu is short for Gin Down Under and the idea behind the brand was to create a range of gins, all using native botanicals from across Australia, that represent a sense of place. 

For Nicole, baking is about connection. "Food brings people together. It’s a shared story, a memory. There can be tears when you eat something your Nan used to make and realise how much you miss her." 

Long Paddock Cheese boasts an eclectic selection of eight cheeses, each with the richness of Australian terroir. "We've got eight cheeses at Long Paddock Cheese. Seven of them have strong French sort of accents or twists I would say and one of them has an English identity and that one is called the Granite,"

Clair's story is more than a narrative of gardening; it's a testament to the transformative power of horticulture. From a child marvelling at a neighbour’s pumpkin to a visionary reshaping perceptions of garden design, her journey illustrates the limitless potential from learning to grow. 

“My style has become a lot more eclectic and layered throughout the years and with a change in location,” she explains. “I have also become braver with my choices, especially with colour. 

In a world where design can sometimes feel like a fleeting trend, Jenden’s work is a celebration of timeless beauty. He’s not just designing for the present; he’s designing for the future, creating spaces that will continue to tell their stories for generations to come. 

“Every time I move between Ireland and Australia,” Farmer reflects, “the birds are the first to tell me where I am.” It is this migratory rhythm, a personal symphony of feathers and songs, that pulses through her art.

With cooler air, vibrant leaves, and a sense of transition, Autumn is the perfect backdrop for the stories we've gathered this issue. Colourful characters and celebrations fill our community and we delight in chatting to some fascinating people, whose passions and pursuits add their own special hue to the mix. 

There’s something about summer that stirs up memories of childhood holidays - those long, sun-drenched days when the world seemed full of endless possibility. 

'There really are so many reasons to get out of the house and get LOST in nature this Spring. We hope the stories in this edition lead you to your next great discovery.'