Jacki Hinchey
Owner, Blue Dog Farm
I grew up on a sheep and cattle property in South Western Queensland. After first finding a career and life away from the farm, my strong connection to the land drew my husband and I to the Mary Valley. Later, we moved to Ocean View.
It was at Ocean View that I started growing an exciting variety of seasonal salad leaves. I brought them together in different combinations to create a salad mix for my family.
My interest in growing the leaves wasn’t only about growing something nutritionally delicious. As the current custodian of the land, I wanted to care for it now and create something even better for its future.
With more salad leaves than my family could eat, I started to share my salad mix with local families. I also established a farm gate stall. People came and bought the leaves. They told their friends and they came too.
Tammy, our friendly Blue Cattle Dog who likes to be part of every conversation, would greet every visitor to the farm gate stall. That’s how Blue Dog Farm got its name. My salad mix, with its variety, colour, and nutritional diversity was renamed by local families as Really Fancy Salad.
Today, Really Fancy Salad is a weekly staple on plates in homes and restaurants all over Moreton Bay and Brisbane. I also farm Really Good Beef for those same plates too.