BAUER’S ORGANIC FARM Considered one of the pioneers of the organic industry in Australia, Rob Bauer is a fourth-generation farmer who began growing organically in the Lockyer Valley over 35 years ago. The Bauer family has farmed the land for over 130 years, and Rob made the decision to revert back to the traditional, chemical-free way of farming to promote a longer, healthier life for himself and his family. The result? Fertile, rich soil that converts to nutritious food. “If you think about it, the organic journey started with the early pioneers, because there weren’t any real chemicals back then. That’s what I reverted back to thinking about when a lot of people around the area started dying in their early 50s. I say to people that see me as a pioneer, I’m not a pioneer, it was long before me; it’s just the old way of doing it.” First settling in 1885, Rob Bauer’s great grandparents, Karl and Maria Bauer, were some of the first European farmers in the Mount Sylvia area. The Lockyer Valley region in South East Queensland provided ideal growing conditions for fruits and vegetables, with nutrient-rich soils and an abundance of wildlife.
Bauer’s Organic Farm is located in the Lockyer Valley in South East Queen
“We were pretty lucky that my German and Irish ancestors picked out a good bit of dirt, a really good bit of dirt. In fact, it turns out to be the best dirt in the world and we’re still here.” Rob Bauer, alongside his son Phil and fellow farmer Trudy Townson, continue the family tradition by growing delicious, certified organic fresh produce the way their ancestors did many years ago, including their award-winning Dutch Cream and Nicola potatoes. “I farmed chemically for probably 20 years of my life. I was always helping out on the farm as a kid. Then I realised I wanted to live longer than my dad, who died at 53, so I thought I better try and get a bit longer out of life than that. That’s when I changed, and I am really happy I did change.”
Fourth generation farmer, Rob Bauer, farms in nutrient rich soils.
Lablab is a nitrog crop between pla
Bauer’s Organic Farm has been registered as a ‘Land for Wildlife’ property for many years.
The farm incorpo techniques along
The Bauer’s farm is spread across several properties in the Lockyer Valley, enabling them to grow a variety of produce. Covering around 340 acres, the farm dedicates around 150 acres to cropping while the remainder is left to wildlife. Bauer’s Organic Farm is registered with Landcare Australia and as a Land for Wildlife Property – a voluntary program that encourages landholders such as farmers to manage and protect wildlife on their property. There are now around 7,000 Land for Wildlife members in South East Queensland. During non-cropping periods, the farm uses cover crops such as Dolichos Lablab to protect the soil between plantings. The Lablab (a nitrogen-fixing legume) is harvested and used for organic mulch when planting is ready to commence. Cover crops help to protect the soil from erosion and sun damage and keep the soil nutrient-rich to assist with water retention. Once the cover crops have been removed, the crops can be planted straight into the soil without the need for fertiliser.
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COMMUNITY AUSTRALIAN ORGANIC CONNECT
