Food for Thought

Ruth Penhall operates Mt Ophir Historic Estate, a farm and guest house in Rutherglen. Situated in the heart of Victoria’s north eastern wine growing region, the site has strong links with its heritage building, built 1891-1903, and historic land-use practices. Although Mt Ophir has not operated as a winery since the 1950’s, Ruth hopes to redevelop a small vineyard for wine grape production.

Ruth aims to revitalise the land and develop a self-sufficient property. A landscape architect has helped her to design her vision for the future. She plans to develop permaculture zones built around the historic buildings, and to include a residential area, a gallery, a honeymoon suite, and a chapel. She is also keen to develop an educational campsite so children can learn about the benefits of caring for animals and the environment and develop a co-operative attitude towards life.

Since buying the farm in 1988, she has almost removed the Patterson’s curse- an invasive weed species- which afflicted it. She is also renovating the buildings. Emus are an integral part of the farm and are being raised for meat and for their oil. They are reared in the old winery buildings and are in pens around the property. Ruth believes emus are gentle on the land and a good future industry, and intends to use emu manure as fertiliser, once the Patterson’s curse has been removed. She also grows wheat, barley and tritacale (a grain), and hopes these crops will eventually be organic. Other farming activities include: elk, cows, chickens, geese, a small fruit and nut orchard, bottled fruits and pickles (sold on the property), water pumping from the old gold mine on the site and a three hundred plant rose garden with garlic and leeks.

Cooking for guests forms a major part of Ruth’s daily routine. This limits the amount of time she can spend on the farm. WWOOFS (willing workers on organic farms) is a national and international volunteer organisation that coordinates labour on farms in return for food and board. WWOOFS have been a salvation for Ruth, and their work on the farm ranges from feeding farm animals, gardening and water pumping to cooking and cleaning.

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Kathleen works at Mount Ophir as a "WWOOFER", a willing worker on organic farms

Ruth Penhall making rose petal jam

Elk at Mount Ophir Historic Estate

Emus at Mount Ophir Historic Estate

Ruth Penthall runs a guest house at Mount Ophir Historic Estate in Rutherglen