My journey began making soap for my son’s troubles with teenage acne that was almost 12 years ago, and we were living in the suburbs of Wheelers Hill in Melbourne. Today, I am living on land that is 30 minutes away from any conveniences in rural Victoria. The one common theme is that I still make soap and instead of living in Wheelers Hill and now I overlook a hill called Wheelers Hill. How freaky is that, or was it an omen?
So why did we move? We always wanted to live in the country, that had been our long-term goal. The need to work, have a family, and travel enabled and distracted us with journeys and experiences from all over the world before we finally were able to realise it.
These years of travel, experiences and journeys cemented our original beliefs and desires to live on the land and to live more sustainably.
Covid became the antagonist that kick-started the process, and it proved to be an interesting time. It forced our busy lives to become simpler, it confined us and slowed us down, encouraged us to walk with nature, reignite and learn new hobbies and skills, eat at the table as a family, and engage in long conversations. It quietened the busyness of our everyday lives. It allowed me to re-focus and re-evaluate.
As a result, we sold up in the city and bought land in regional Victoria. Three years later, we live with 140 cows and each morning, we lead them into grassy paddocks. There’s something undeniably soothing about the rhythm of country life and the gentle presence of animals like cows. Their calm nature can offer a much-needed contrast to the chaos of city life. It’s a reminder of how slowing down and connecting with simpler activities can help us reconnect with what truly matters.
Making soap has continued throughout this time, and we now have a dedicated reclaimed bespoke barn where our soap-making activities continue in our new rural location, allowing us to use natural ingredients, often grown or found nearby.