When Tass Schmidt gave up an international business career two years ago for life on a Jamberoo farm, she swapped Vogue magazines for seed catalogues overnight.
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"I was at a point in my life where I was scratching around thinking about what I was to do next," Tass says.
"I was driving back to Sydney from the country thinking it would be wonderful to stay and grow vegetables, keep animals and live a simpler life."
Friend Peter Barge had owned Jamberoo Valley Farm since 1994.
"He suggested I come and look after the farm and see what I can turn it into, knowing I had a business background," Tass said.
Her first foray into seed catalogues raised eyebrows.
"I basically ordered a whole lot of stuff that looked beautiful and sounded interesting, including many heritage varieties," Tass said.
"When Peter saw my first seed order, he said, 'Are you kidding?'
"I had 130 different plants, including 16 varieties of tomatoes and 15 varieties of lettuce, every sort of brassica, umpteen flowers, and several different types of celery, eggplant, capsicum and beans."
With the farm a stone's throw from the rainforest, the initial plantings proved to be a smorgasbord for the local birdlife. Then there were the insects.
But two years later, lessons have been learned. The farm is full of interesting produce and animals, from white eggplants to miniature pigs.
Tass says she has been given a charter to find out how to make a decent living out of life on the land - and there will probably be a book about the many experiences that come with sustainable farming.
She says she wants to set an example that encourages other farmers and land owners to "think laterally" about their assets.
Part of that is to make sure fertile, food-producing land is secured and urban sprawl is restricted.
The farm generates income through the sale of products at local produce markets, the Green Box co-operative and open days.
Tass also runs workshops in permaculture, sustainable living and cooking, and runs the "Farmer for a Weekend program".
According to a recent positive review in the Sydney Morning Herald it "offers visitors a chance to indulge their McLeod's Daughters fantasies".
"Mucking out a pigsty might not be everyone's idea of a relaxing holiday, but Tass's cookery and entertaining stories are worth the hard graft," the review said.