Our Farm
Brookfarm is a working farm of approximately 4500 macadamia trees, the majority of which were planted in 1989. At the very centre of our plantation is a regenerated rainforest, with some old re-growth forest. This area is the original home of the macadamia, a native Australian rainforest tree. The rich red fertile volcanic soils, high rainfall and the warm sub-tropical climate of the Byron hinterland are the ideal conditions for growing macadamias.
Natural Methods of Farming
Over the past 20 years we have planted over 30,000 sub-tropical rainforest & Eucalypt trees. We are passionate about farming in environmentally sustainable ways. Six years ago we used to bait for rats and would regularly lose 7-8% of our macadamia crop to rat damage. We stopped all baiting and have not used any rat baits for the last 6 years, today the figure is less that 0.3% damage. Several breeding pairs of owls have now made a home in our forests, it is estimated that a breeding pair of owls will consume up to 1500 rats and mice a year.
Haven for Wildlife
Brookfarm is today a haven for wildlife including Echidna, Wallaby, Paddy Melons, Koala, Water Dragons, Turtles, Duckbill Platypus, Carpet Pythons, Red Belly Black Snakes, Eastern Brown Snakes, Bandicoots, Goanna's & a rich variety of birdlife including the Yellow Tail Black Cockatoo.In the early morning our rainforest is a virtual symphony of bird -song.
