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TIMOTHY
JONES MR PRICKLES
Tim Jones has always had a love of plants, gardening and growing fresh produce. He then discovered an interest in growing cacti, which turned into a hobby and something he is very passionate about. He now propagates cacti to sell online as well as at a couple of local nurseries, and his hobby is slowly growing into a successful li le business.
H
ey Tim. Tell us how you got into the cactus business? I’ve always been interested in gardening from a very young age. When I was young I would spend the school holidays at my grandparents’ house and my Nan would regularly have my brother and I out in the garden picking herbs and salad greens as well as digging for potatoes. This instilled a love of plants and nature at a very young age and my passion for agriculture and horticulture developed further whilst in high school. Towards the end of high school I started training as a chef. Although I was indoors a
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My Nan
lot more I still had a commonly known as would connection with fresh Peruvian Apple Cactus. regularly have produce which gave On returning home to my brother and I me a deeper respect Woolgoolga my Aunty out in the garden for the plants and the noticed my cactus and picking herbs quest to grow my own saw how much I loved and salad greens vegetables. it so she gave me some as well as digging A few years later succulents and a few for potatoes. whilst travelling around different cacti. I was very picking fruit and excited. working on orchards My collection was with my now wife, Hannah, I received my first rather modest at the time but I had so much cactus from a farm in Mundubbera (Central fun propagating more and more plants and West Qld). was amazed at how well they grew and how I was very fascinated with the cactus and easily you could divide them into more and decided to bring it on the long trip home more plants without too much difficulty. to Coffs Harbour. It was a Cereus repandus Before long my collection had grown