WHO WE ARE
A new Australian, family owned micro-business
Bowerbird Naturals with Australian Bush Foods is a new, Australian, family owned micro-business, it is located on 5 acres of fertile land in Hamel which is part of the Harvey Agricultural Area in W.A.
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Why the name? Bowerbirds are native to Australia and are renowned for their ability to create unique, imaginative and enticing nests, and are an amazing creature which we feel reflects our own personalities and way of life.
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Bowerbird Naturals is operated by a wife & husband team (Rob & Petrina), both horticulturalists, who cultivate a diverse range of Australian Bush foods, alongside traditional orchard fruits, botanicals, vegetables, herbs and spices – creating 100% natural products with intense natural flavours.
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We had a desire to cultivate fresh, local Australian produce. Knowing what was put into and onto the produce was important to us and the only way we could guarantee the quality was to grow our own and share it with other like minded people
All Bowerbird Naturals ingredients used in the range are handpicked, air / sun dried, dehydrated & hand blended & packed on site in small batches for quality assurance, with no pesticides or insecticides.
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Other ingredients we source are 100% Australian owned & grown and are premium produce. We support Australian farmers, which in turn, assures quality & freshness to compliment Bowerbird Naturals own product range.
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Getting back to basics & feeling grounded with a connection to the land is important to our Bowerbird family.
 Live in each season as it passes;
breathe the air, drink the drink,
taste the fruit, and resign yourself
to the influence of the earth
— Henry David Thoreau.
SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS
At Bowerbird Naturals, we believe in sustainable business practices. This starts with the decision to use 100% Australian grown ingredients to handcraft all of our products.
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Why would we look to source internationally when some of the best and oldest flavours on earth grow right here, in this beautiful vast country.
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By proudly sourcing and growing 100% of our fresh & dry ingredients in Australia, we stay authentic, keeping true to our brand values.
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We also lower our carbon footprint and help maintain and create jobs here in Australia, supporting Aussie Farmers.
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All leftovers from the preparation of our products go to the chooks, sheep or compost bins at the Nest.
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The packaging we use is biodegradable, paper bags with kraft stickers, reusable / recyclable glass jars, bamboo lids and / or tin lids and cardboard boxes.
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OUR STORY
Bowerbird Naturals,
A Dream Many Years In The Making
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Petrina is known as a natural Bowerbird by family and friends as she displays many traits of the bowerbird through her passion for growing & producing many food crops, replicating nature in art and her vast collection of glass & shiny objects - all which she has taken back to 'the nest'.
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Petrina’s connection to the land is strong and developed from growing up on a farm in the beautiful wildflower country of Mid-West Western Australia. Her childhood was humble, natural & raw.
It was full of collecting tadpoles, playing in the creek, climbing trees, camping, freedom, laughter & adventure. Who could ask for more?
Petrina’s maternal Grandparents resided nearby on the coast at Horrocks Beach – her Grandparents lived off the ocean only taking what they could consume & creating incredible vegetable gardens based on seaweed as a natural fertiliser.
Petrina’s Grandmother introduced Petrina to Natural Therapy remedies made from her own plants, “I still remember my Grandmother, fondly called “Gummy” (yes she had teeth!) rubbing Calendular ointment into my hands”, the smell was beautiful and Calendulas continue to remind Petrina of her today.
Her paternal Grandparents lived off the land on the family farm, beautiful memories were made of picking wildflowers, gathering wild mushrooms, making lemon butter, craft days & volunteering at the local Agriculture Show.
Petrina’s father 'Cliffy', was a farmer & market gardener and continues to be an avid gardener, growing beautiful
flowers and brightening up spaces. He is always ready to give advice and believes that all Petrina's knowledge about gardening is due to him.
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Petrina’s mother is a wealth of knowledge, exceptional at growing vegetables, orchard fruits & preserving crops, she is also additionally talented with craft skills beyond measure, her favourite medium being natural fibres.
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Petrina was drawn to natural therapies & growing fruit & vegetables as a teen and went on to study many related short courses.
Petrina then additionally studied Veterinary Nursing, Homeopathy, Mind Body Medicine – Australian Flower Essences, becoming a practitioner in Bach Flower Remedies in Oxfordshire, UK, a Horticulturist and an assistant Farm Manager for the past 18 years before putting 100% of her faith into Bowerbird Naturals.
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Rob has been the Farm Manager of Private Lifestyle properties for some 30 years, as well as a qualified horticulturist. Rob has interests in soil health, plant health, fertilising, irrigation, landscaping & is a jack of all trades & the Mr Fix it on the property.
Bowerbird Naturals range of plants have been selected, planted, tended, grown & expanded over the past 14 years that Rob & Petrina have owned the property.
HISTORY OF HAMEL
Where we grow our food is so Special!
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The 5 acres in Hamel where we grow our native bush foods was chosen due to the land being, well, simply exceptional!
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The Hamel Nursery was the first permanent state nursery established in Western Australia in 1897.
The Hamel Nursery is Living History of over 100 years!
Between 1925 to 1957 a total of 4.5 million trees of different varieties were produced at Hamel Nursery.
Flowers from the Hamel Nursery were sent to Perth for the Flowers Show and to decorate the Premier’s Office, the trees were sent all over the State.
The Nursery also propagated plants for Kings Park, Perth Zoo, Rottnest, Perth Zoological Gardens, Hyde Park, Harold Boas Gardens & many more parks have plants which originally came from the Hamel Nursery.
The Hamel Nursery has been renamed
the Hamel Eco Park – Living History.
The large nursery is located on an irrigation channel,
it contains numerous mature species of trees as well as unique varieties to the state.
Hamel is located on the Foothills Route along the South West Highway, within the Harvey Agriculture Area, home
to Harvey Fresh, Harvey Beef, Harvey Cheese, the Fresh Produce & Fruitico Group - just to name a few!
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" We chose the 5 acre property in Hamel to grow our Native Bush Foods because Hamel is a magical area which is rich in fertile soil and a
mineral filled natural irrigation channel. "
OUR VISION
We want to create a natural fusion of all of the established garden beds at Bowerbird Naturals, incorporating native, western & eastern together in companion planting,
with a focus on Australian Bush Foods naturally adapted to our climate & soil.
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The more our wonderful Australian native, indigenous bush foods (that have been available for 1000's of years),
are grown & promoted to the Australian community,
the more Australians will try the unique tastes of our native bush foods.
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Our hope is Australians will enjoy them so immensely they will incorporate them into their daily diet.
As the new & established plants continue to grow, so will the range of products made available.
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The first launch of our small business is an introductory range of infusion tisane teas - all of which include Native Australian Bush Foods – giving the teas a distinct, authentically Australian taste.
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Our teas have no preservatives, colourings, flavourings or sweeteners and are all completely natural.
Our teas are available in loose leaf as this form of tea ensures the highest potency of flavours, maximum body and therapeutic benefits.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Bowerbird Naturals have been blessed with the support of Petrina’s parents who were caretakers of the property for a number of years whilst the family worked remotely.
Deep gratitude and thanks to our son, family, friends, and the local creative communities for their encouragement and belief in Bowerbird Naturals, inspiring us to take the leap of faith to making a dream a reality.
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Bowerbird Naturals Acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia
& recognises the continuing connection of lands, waters & communities.
We pay our respect to Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islanders cultures and to Elders past, present & emerging.
