By Kate Foreman
It’s a labour of love for the Goode family doing everything from production, to grading, to packaging and even marketing.
It’s all about creating a family business – a sustainable business which allows them to be working from home, off the land, ethically and being able to involve their children.
Matthew and Emma Goode started out as Penola sheep and cattle farmers.
“We had been in business here for about five years, and in that time we had only had one normal Spring really, so I thought we needed to look at other less traditional farming ideas,” says Matthew.
“We were relying on massive Spring growth, so I looked at different sustainable farming enterprises.”
Realising the potential of pastured free-range eggs became another way to generate more income to grow their farm.
Emma and Matthew Goode with just a few of their free range chooks at Goode Paddock
Both Matt and Emma could see there was a demand for ethical eggs, and while searching on YouTube came across chook caravans.
“People want to know that the chickens live ethically,” says Emma.
“We thought it would be a great way to also stack enterprises and make use of our land, without buying more land,” Matt adds.
The couple bought their first caravan last August, and as soon as they were up and running with egg production, they took them to the Mount Gambier markets.
From there they knew they had a premium product and approached other businesses to use their eggs.
Goode Paddock eggs are now on the menu at various eateries in the region including the Metro Bakery and Cafe in Mount Gambier, Gather Food and Wine in Robe and Robe’s Adventurous Spoon Cafe.
“It’s wonderful to have our eggs used in these places, and the Metro has even devoted a square to us on their menu,” says Emma.
Goode Paddock is now home to two caravans, with close to 450 chickens in each.
For the chooks it’s a wonderful lifestyle, with shelter, plenty of room to roam and a great diet of GMO and soy free pellets, grass and bugs.
The caravans are moved every few days allowing the chooks to fertilise the paddock.
The Goode Paddock has plans to further grow, with even the possibility of a tourism spin – watch this space.
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