Java’s Indonesian Meals ready to Heat & Eat now available in our Farm Shop!
Daniar Robinson has recently opened her gorgeous Indonesian Restaurant in town - Java Braidwood.
We absolutely loved our dinner out at Java Braidwood, and Daniar asked if we would like her meals available to sell in our Farm Shop and Cafe!
We now have:
Beef Rendang, Tofu Rendang, Sweet & Sour Pineapple Barramundi, Nasi Goreng and simple Jasmine Rice available here.
If you’re staying at Saddle Camp, live nearby, or you’re looking for a delicious, healthy dinner that can be tucked away in the freezer for a quick meal after horse riding - then this is a great option.
I’ve made links to each of the meals so you can see the ingredients.
Also, I’m really excited at how it fits in with our “Taste of Braidwood” experience. I know it draws a long bow, but it fits in beautifully with the origin story of the indigenous tribes that originally lived here.
I read in Jackie French’s book “Let the Land Speak” that the current theory of the original Australian inhabitants is that about 60,000 years ago there was a lot of volcanic upheaval happening around Indonesia.
Jackie wrote a beautiful story about one of the women in a tribe on the coast in Indonesia gathering her remaining community after a tsunami had washed through their village, and a volcano had erupted inland, and suggesting that they take their boats and row South.
She’d noticed birds travelling in that direction and was convinced there was a safe land mass in that direction.
Just three families were brave enough to trust her instincts, and they rowed through the day, night and another day.
It coincides with the last ice age, so the Indian Ocean wasn’t as wide as it is today.
She wore a necklace of seeds around her neck, bringing the means of producing familiar food with them to get them started in their new home.
About 20,000 years later, their descendants slowly migrated further south, to Braidwood and beyond.
Java Restaurant brings all those famous Indonesian ingredients and flavours together, making these meals healthy, delicious AND an experience of our local History.
PLUS
The beef is holistically raised at Jillamatong Farm (Martin Royds’ farm - famed for his biodynamic, hydrating the landscape, and building soil farming systems). For more of his details - google search Jillamatong Martin Royds. There were too many videos and articles for me to choose from!
AND some of the meals are Gluten Free, Nut Free and Dairy Free.
Easy for Vegans :)
And if you’d like to eat at Java Restaurant - and try all Daniar’s meals served fresh and beautifully presented - see Java Braidwood | Restaurant in Braidwood, lunch and dinner.
Selamat Makan (enjoy the food)!
My Predictions for our Children’s Future Careers
I predict a lot of our children are going to make their careers working in with nature, and with producing our food.
I believe they’ll have easy access to the information and skills necessary to meet the challenges ahead, and that they’ll make a good living doing it. Ie, they’ll be profitable.
And I believe it’s going to be brilliant for their health, well-being and our planet.
But just recently I was talking to a gentleman here whose wife was telling him she’d love if they could buy their own little farm. But he said “It’s just so much work”.
It stopped me in my tracks. And made me want to write this email to you!
This doesn’t feel like work. This feels like living :)
And I’ve noticed most of the children I meet feel the same way.
Making a living on a farm these days, isn’t the same as it has been for the last few generations.
After World War II the priority was “to Feed the World” - which meant “make cheap food”.
But it’s become evident that cheap food isn’t nutritious and is causing problems with our health and the environment.
And here in Braidwood, I feel like I have a front row seat seeing how the farming industry is changing. There are more families moving to the area with the desire to produce food, without having to leave their own careers (and established income streams), thanks to the internet.
And there are many established farmers who are interested in, and have the resources behind them, to try new things. Diversifing.
I’m seeing many people using holistic grazing to manage their pastures - and now virtual fencing is making that easier every day.
I see the government departments supporting farmers, with business coaching, freely given information, and grants for projects that will prepare us for disasters ahead. And they’re working on de-centralising our food system.
And they’re lifting red-tape/passing new legislation to make it easier for the next generations to stay on the family farm.
I also see Robot Harvesters and Robot Weeders being experimented with, and different farming systems that include trees, grazing animals and crops all included together. Polycultures instead of Monocultures
And I’m also seeing how easy it is to sell on-line.
If farming is something you or your children are interested in, and you’d like a little taste of it to find out more, please come and visit :)
Walk the paddocks, meet the farm animals, watch the wild animals, pick some food and snack on it, breathe the fresh air, and ask any questions you can think of.
We’d love to help you enjoy this lifestyle/career too!
We’re here 7 days a week, and our Cafe’s open from 7.30 am to 7 pm.
There’s no entry fee, and you’re welcome to head out on a self-guided tour and join in our Wildlife Photo Competition (7 photos of wild animals at Saddle Camp for a prize).
Or you might choose to:
Ride a horse - www.saddlecamp.com.au/horse-riding,
Stay for the whole riding/farming experience www.saddlecamp.com.au/overnight-camps;
Stay the night and see the stars - www.braidwoodfarmstay.com.au/stay
Join in the Farm Chores from 7 am to 9 am any day on our Shepherds Breakfast Farm Tour; or
Try some of our plated Fresh Garden Produce in our Cafe. You could even have it packed in a hamper, and you can enjoy it at a secret picnic spot with a hammock to swing in, or take it to the gorgeous Bombay Swimming Holes nearby to cool off.
If you’d like more resources to give you a better picture of what I’m seeing unfolding - try these:
You Can Farm, written by Joel Salatin
Down To Earth, Netflix Series by Zac Effron
Call of the Reed Warbler, written by Charles Massey
Dirt to Soil, One Family’s Journey into Regenerative Agriculture, written by Gabe Brown
RegenNarration - podcast by Anthony James
Biggest Little Farm - a Documentary by John & Molly Chester
Service NSW - Business Support by NSW Government
With Best Wishes for a Bright, Joyful and Fun Future ahead,
Helen xoxox
Braidwood Farm, Stay, Play & Cafe Farmers
Having Fun with our Farm Parties
We’ve been having an absolute blast hosting Farm Parties.
Thank You so much to Christina and Lorba for letting me snap and share some of these gorgeous photos!
We’re loving seeing the children running through the paddocks together to get to the goats.
Climbing over obstacles, up trees and vying for the goats attention with their seaweed snacks. And often eating the seaweed snacks themselves.
And their delight at finding the chicken eggs in the hutch.
It’s so lovely to see their care and attention when handling the baby chicks. And their enthusiasm and camaraderie tasting the bush tucker.
Their shoulders relax and their smiles grow as they get used to the pony’s movement, and as they start riding with “no hands”, playing the Mug Race and going for a trot.
After a few turns they’re asking to ride over the jumps, and to go even faster…
It’s hilarious seeing some of their poses on the Sulky and Pee Wee motorbike, and seeing them swing the lasso and try cracking the whip.
And the games on foot in the arena are SO MUCH FUN! The Boot Throw, Egg & Spoon Race, Sack Race and a huge game of tag are awesome to watch.
And then to see them try to outdo each other on the trampoline is pretty inspiring, sometimes breathtaking :)
We’re getting the hang of the menu, watching what disappears the quickest and making notes of what to serve more of.
I’m just having a little trouble slowing everyone down to pick the veggies from the garden for our salad, as we race back from the goats.
And now we’re working on making it easier for the Party Organiser with pre-written Invitations, a running sheet for the party, and comfortable seating for the parents Everywhere! So they can see as much of the action as possible while catching up on everyone’s news.
We’ve also noticed that the Farm Parties are loved most by boys, from the ages of 3 to 8 years. The girls want more horse riding!
The only thing we haven’t worked out how to include yet is a Birthday Cake and Lolly Bags. They’re the only things not included.
If you’re interested in booking a Farm Party, where the children are out in the fresh air, on a wild farm experience with their friends, then follow this link.
They’re available every day, from 11 am to 1 pm, with a minimum of 6 children @ $30/child. Parents are welcome free of charge, and brothers and sisters of guests can be included too.
Click Here to Book a Farm Party.
Or if you have a friend that might be interested, could you pass this on to them?
Welcome to Our Farm, Billie!
Billie just arrived last week!
He’s from the same farm that bred Mango & Passionfruit’s father. He’s not related though :)
He’s a Saanen x Boer goat so will grow to be a little smaller than Mango & Passionfruit, but still has the dairy lines so we can milk his children (when they become adults).
He’s just 6 months old and is a little timid, as he was in a large herd before and isn’t used to us humans.
But he’s happily taking food from our hands now, and is very sweet and cute!
Fingers crossed he likes Passionfruit and Mango too, and then we’ll be back in action for goat babies!
Looking forward to introducing him to you when you next visit Saddle Camp and Braidwood Farm Stay & Cafe for horse riding, accommodation, a farm tour or for a snack at our Cafe.
Holiday Watching - How to Trim A Horse's Hooves
In my quest to make learning to ride as easy and enjoyable as I can for you, I’ve recently come to realise I can only do it when our horses’ hooves are balanced correctly.
After years of taking it for granted, the last few years have been a bit tricky making that happen…
Thank you, Pip, for telling me about the brilliant Farrier Course you did with David Farmilo a few years ago, and sending me his website - www.horsefarrier.com.au!
It’s been an ABSOLUTE WEALTH of information, and the videos are shot, quick and full of great usable advice.
I couldn’t wait to share it with you!
Hopefully you have some time through the holidays to watch his quick videos on www.horsefarrier.com.au.
And if you’re joining us for a ride or a camp at Saddle Camp, I can’t wait to hear your opinion on our horse’s confirmation and movement!
It’s a great way to develop your eye on how a horse is supposed to move. Really important if you’d like to buy one, and especially if you’d like to compete.
I’ve always heard No Hoof, No Horse, and I really believe it now :)
Have fun watching, and I hope you have an Absolutely, Fantastic Autumn Holiday!
From Helen, Destiny, Axl, Cadie and Champ xoxox
Would you like to Ride a Horse on an Easter Egg Hunt?
Then join in the
Easter Eggcitement at Saddle Camp!
You can ride in a Mini Adventure Ride on Good Friday, Easter Saturday and Easter Sunday, where we stop and hunt for Easter Eggs on the trail.
Stay for a Horsemanship Day (which includes an Easter Egg Hunt Ride) on the Saturday.
Ride in a Picnic Trail Ride, where we stop and hunt for Easter Eggs on the trail, on Easter Sunday.
Ride in our Show Day on Easter Sunday, with Easter Eggs awarded - as well as a trophy or rosette.
Ride in our Gymkhana on Easter Monday, winning Easter Eggs as well as a trophy or rosette.
Or join in an awesome River Ride with an Easter Picnic and an Easter Egg Hunt, on Easter Monday afternoon.
If you have any questions at all, reply to this email or call/text Helen on 0417 456 093.
We hope you have an EGGSTREMELY awesome Easter break :)
From Helen, Rob, Blake, Dexter, Carson, Destiny, Axl, Cadie & Champ xoxox
P.S. Click the links for each of the activities to see all the details and to book your ride, or see www.saddlecamp.com.au.
Ride Horses this Canberra Day Long Weekend!
This weekend coming (9, 10 & 11 March) celebrates the day Canberra was officially named in 1903.
It was originally named Canberry (which means Meeting Place) by a local Ngunnawal clan.
And you can celebrate by meeting your old friends or meeting new friends,
riding horses at Saddle Camp!
There’s just a few places left for our:
Show Day
Gymkhana
River Ride
You could even stay for a Sunday Night Camp that would include our Show Day, Gymkhana and (optionally) our River Ride.
It’s not on the booking system as it’s a little “customisable”, but you can hit reply to this email to ask questions and/or book in.
The Cafe is open for your parents to chill at, or to take a picnic out and relax in a hammock.
Tell your brother to bring his bike or skateboard for the new Skateboard Park in town :)
The swimming holes nearby are divine to cool off, and the weather is perfect for being outdoors.
Check out www.saddlecamp.com.au and www.braidwoodfarmstay.com.au to plan your awesome long weekend!
And call Helen on 0417 456 093 if you have any questions!
Wishing you a Very Happy “Meeting Place” Weekend,
from Helen, Rob, Blake, Dexter & Carson xoxox
Braidwood & Villages Events Calendar Link
From Skateboarding Lessons to the Braidwood Show just this weekend…
Save this link for your parents and brothers - for your next visit for horse riding…
Holy smokes! Apart from Horse Riding at Saddle Camp, I had no idea there was so much fun events happening in the rest of Braidwood!
Our local Chamber of Commerce has put up an online Events Calendar for all of us local businesses to let everyone know what’s going on. So we can join in too :)
I couldn’t believe that this weekend has skateboarding lessons on Sunday AND there’s a Car Show joining in with our Braidwood Show on Saturday.
Save this link for when you’re next visiting for horse riding.
Your parents and brothers will have a brilliant time too, doing something they love.
I’ll save this link on our Braidwood Farm Stay “Play” page too.
Looking forward to seeing you for loads of fun soon!
From Helen, Rob, Blake, Dexter and Carson xoxox
P.S. Just click the tab for “What’s On in Braidwood and Villages” and it will take you straight down the page to it.
When you click on any event you like, it comes up with ALL the details.
Saddle Camp’s Champion’s Challenge is back for 2024!
Every year from 2007 to 2018, we’d invite our Trophy Winners from that year’s Riding Camps to come back to compete in a Riding Challenge for:
HUGE trophies (up to 3rd place),
a Saddle Camp Champion Rider shirt,
and an awesome weekend of Sleeping under the Stars
at our Saddle Camp Sleep Out.
In 2019, the drought brought our Tradition to a screeching halt.
But we’re FINALLY ready to celebrate again!
If you win a trophy at Saddle Camp this year, you’ll be invited to compete in our Champions Challenge on Saturday 21 December.
It’s a timed Obstacle Course bending through poles, moving Santa’s Sack, riding a Keyhole and jumping a Spread.
There’ll be HUGE Trophies awarded up to 3rd place, and the Winner will be gifted a Saddle Camp Champion Rider ‘24 polo shirt.
And EVERYONE will have the opportunity to book in for our Saddle Camp Sleep Out that night, with loads of action on the Saturday and Sunday - 21 & 22 December.
Our 2024 goal is to have a roof over the arena ready for our Sleep Out.
And over the weekend of 21 & 22 December, we’ll have many other riding and non-riding challenges, games and excitement.
Wishing you an ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC year ahead, and we really can’t wait to see you at the 2024 Champion’s Challenge!
From Helen, Rob, Blake, Dexter, Carson and all our Team xoxox
For the Parents - Gin Making School in Braidwood!
While the children are Riding Horses,
you can go on your own Spirited Adventure!
At the Braidwood Gin School, you’ll:
Learn about the World of Gin;
Taste Gins in a curated Gin Tasting Session;
Craft your own Gin Masterpiece with a Symphony of Botanicals;
Do the Distillation Dance - weighing, selecting and adding their chosen botanicals;
Perfect your Proof;
Label and Cherish your creation.
Click here for all the details!
The Braidwood Gin School is brought to you by Holdfast Distillery and is located at the Braidwood Hotel in town.
10 minutes away from Braidwood Farm Stay :)
See www.holdfastdistillery.com.au for more details.
The Spa has Arrived!
We’ve set it up under the verandah of the Clubhouse, next to the arena, with a pool safety fence around it.
You’re going to love it on those hot days!
When you get too hot riding in the arena, you’ll be able to quickly jump in the spa to cool down.
Then at the end of our big day of riding, we’ll put the bubbles, lights and music on to relax those muscles - and have fun!
If you ride your bike or horse out for a treat at the cafe, you can cool off quickly in the spa.
And if you’re staying overnight in a Tiny House or our Clubhouse, you’ll be able to relax in the warm bubbles and enjoy watching the stars and the visiting possums.
But Saddle Camp Riders get first priority!
Farm Fresh Eggs for sale at our Farm Shop
This is our favourite recipe to cook with our chicken’s eggs.
Join our Exciting Weekend in Braidwood! 4 - 5 November
Explore the Open Gardens around Braidwood, and meet Jackie French at Mona Farm.
Watch the Mounted Games “Friendly Match” at the Showgrounds.
And pop into Saddle Camp for a ride, and to try some Lavender Shortbread.
We’ll have samples of Lavender Shortbread (made with lavender picked from our garden, with bees gently removed), and Wattle Seed Shortbread for you to try.
We’d LOVE to hear which is your favourite! Then we’ll add it to our Menu.
Looking forward to a magical weekend, and hope to see you then,
from Helen
P.S. We’ll be open Saturday & Sunday, from 9 am to 7 pm.
But book ahead for horse riding.
And if you have any questions, call Helen on 0417 456 093.
Would you like to be a “Mystery Shopper” for Tiny Away?
I just received this letter from Tiny Away, and thought you might be interested…
Tiny Away is looking for a Brand Ambassador, where you'll play a pivotal role in promoting our extraordinary tiny homes, nurturing meaningful connections with our customers, and sharing the joy of minimalist living.
Our Brand Ambassador must:
* Enjoy traveling
* Like a short getaway
* Have a great memory to recall the details of your stay
* Be no stranger to feedback forms and reviews.
Prepare for an unforgettable one night stay at one of our charming Tiny Houses in the state that interests you.
You might even be among the FIRST to experience a Soon-to-Launch tiny house.
You can bring along a plus one to share in the joy. Good things are even better when enjoyed together!
Click here to Apply - Become a Tiny Away Brand Ambassador in Australia & New Zealand (google.com)
Hopefully they choose you, and you choose to stay at Braidwood Farm Stay!
Go Medieval at the Queanbeyan Medieval Fair 23-24 September
This sounds so exciting. ESPECIALLY when I heard my awesome neighbour, Shell Ridley, was invited to ride her Clydesdale in the Horseback Archery demonstration!
And another friend, Darryl Bossley, will be riding his Friesian in the Jousting bouts!!!
You’ve probably already met Zoe, Shell’s daughter, working here, and this is Shell and Stoic pictured here, in training :)
This is the lowdown:
Welcome to the Queanbeyan Medieval Fair! This new, fun and family-friendly fair is coming to Queanbeyan Showground, beckoning patrons from the ACT, NSW and all around. Grab your tickets for an action-packed weekend of medieval combat, merchants, crafts, re-enactors and a whole lot more.
This year’s event will also feature a great range of foodies with something for everyone along with their Medieval Tavern serving up ales and beverages fit for a king or queen.
Overlook all the action from the 200+ seat grandstand and cheer on your favourite knight as they show off in jousting & horseback skill-at-arms.
HAZZAH!
And when you’ve had enough cheering on other people riding gorgeous horses, come out to Saddle Camp/Braidwood Farm Stay & Cafe and try it yourself!
We’re busy getting our swords, bows and arrows together for some awesome photo opportunities for you that weekend.
To book your ride, see www.saddlecamp.com.au, call Helen on 0417 456 093 or email thesaddlecamp@gmail.com
The Perfect Addition to a Mum & Daughter Weekend Away.
I was blown away last week when Corinne Lawson, from Skin & Sage Creative gave me her Treatments List for Facials and Massages she can provide to our guests staying in our Tiny Homes!
If you’re looking for a super relaxing weekend, where your daughter (or son!) can spend all their time riding with us, and you can:
Have your meals served to you;
Swing in a hammock for hours; AND
Have a Hydrating & Soothing Facial, or a Body Polish and Massage;
Then choose your dates and we can make it happen!
All the details are on www.braidwoodfarmstay.com.au/play, or
call Helen on 0417 456 093.
You’ve got to be Kidding!
Baby Goats to Cuddle?
Our little babies are due in the first week of January…
If you’d like to cuddle the babies too, book your Riding Camp, Tiny House Farm Stay Adventure or Shepherds Breakfast Working Farm Tour from 9 January onwards!
You can see the Wedding Video here - Aslean the Mini Angora buck meeting Passionfruit and Mango, our beautiful Saanen does.
And this is the happy family today…
I didn’t want the Winter Holidays to end…
See a collage of our Magnificent Winter Riders here.
Savour Ciders at Braidwood Farm Stay Cafe
Savour Ciders at Braidwood Farm Stay Cafe.
The amazing Sully family has kindly let me pair their vibrant ciders with our Ploughmans Lunches for our guests here at Braidwood Farm Stay & Cafe/Saddle Camp. You don’t need to pair it to enjoy it though!
I can’t think of a better way to spend a sunny afternoon than swinging in a hammock, snacking on cheeses and sipping cider!
The ciders are made at the Old Cheese Factory in Reidsdale with apples collected from local farms.
In the 1800's Reidsdale was known as Irish Corner. Many Irish immigrants settled here after having success on the goldfields. It has rich alluvial soil, moistened daily by the Monga Mist that moves in each afternoon, making it an ideal place for cottage farms. These farms fed the 30,000 gold fossickers who moved through the area in the 20 year gold rush.
It was also beautiful land for dairying, and the local rural co-op built a state of the art cheese making facility in 1912. But after World War II the cheap fuel prices made it easier for cheaper/inferior quality cheese to flood the market, and the Cheese Factory closed in 1957.
Nearly 50 years later, the Sully Family immigrated from Wales to ACT to work on the New Parliament House. They fell in love with the Braidwood District and opened the Deli in town. Then they received a Grant from the National Trust to restore the Old Cheese Factory. It’s now used again as a community commercial kitchen, where local growers bring their produce for bottling, pickling, baking, etc.
Gary Sully was blown away by the wide variety of heritage apples coming in through the doors from the old local orchards. Gary says “Cider making lore says to make a good cider, put a rainbow in your barrel. Red uns, green uns and yellow uns.” In his Sparkling Cider - the Perky Pecker - there are 8 different types of apples.
We have his Mad Hare Still Cider, Frisky Fox Still Cider, Perky Pecker Sparkling Cider and non-alcoholic Rhubarb & Ginger Beer available for sale in our Farm Shop.
Chilled and ready to drink :)
You can visit us all all weekend - from 9.30 am to 7 pm!
This is Dexter sampling the gorgeous Rhubarb & Ginger Beer https://youtube.com/shorts/wfJvAFSWMAk?feature=share.