Alex Chiswell - Borrowed Ground Farm

Hey, I’m Alex. 30. Farm manager and soil enthusiast at Borrowed Ground.
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I grew up surfing on the Central Coast of New South Wales so living by the ocean is pretty much a prerequisite of mine. After moving to Sydney after school and working in hospitality/ dropping out of uni simultaneously, I found I would continuously feel unfulfilled. I knew I wanted to work outside and get my hands dirty, so I started an Apprenticeship in Horticulture.
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After starting at a landscaping company, I quickly realised that I was more interested in producing food over maintaining ornamental gardens. I then moved on to finish my apprenticeship at @glenmorehouse where Mickey’s kitchen garden sparked something within me and I started to grow my own herbs and veg at home. I then managed to convince Eliza Cannon to embark on an internship at Old Mill Road and we both fell in love with the work and the lifestyle. I’ve slept better ever since.
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After that summer at Old Mill, we approached Andrew and Freda at Eugalo Farm to ask if they would be interested in us building a vegetable enterprise on their property and they supported us wholeheartedly. Eliza and I managed that market garden for two years together, supplying veg for The Boat House Group in Sydney. It was after these two years that we decided to combine travel and work and head around the world to learn off others in different climates and contexts.
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Now, we find ourselves having performed a full circle, returning to Moruya where our landlords are Fraser and Kirsti from Old Mill Road. We are pinching ourselves.
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My hopes for Borrowed Ground is that I am able to hone my skills as a market gardener whilst employing regenerative practices, so that we can leave the patch better than we found it. I also hope to build a successful and viable business whilst hopefully maintaining a balanced lifestyle full of friends and surfing.
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I am a baked goods fiend. I suck at counting bunches of vegetables and I’m shocking at reversing trailers. I’ve also been known to perform sneaky fly kicks and interpretive dance at parties and hardcore gigs. My spirit vegetable is garlic.
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Cheers, Al.

Instagram : @borrowed.ground.farm