Neil and Norma were both born in Innisfail, married on 8 January 1983 and for the next six years they worked their 45 foot prawn trawler "Beachcomber" from Thursday Island to Cardwell.
On deciding it was time to start a family they sold the boat and bought a 100 acre farm near Mareeba and started growing vegetables and mangoes. After two seasons of convention farming, Neil decided to change over to organic methods. For the next few years the road was bumpy and challenging until they joined the bio-dyanmic association called Demeter and became certified bio-dynamic farmers within two years.
After having a stall at Rusty's market in Cairns and stalls on the Atherton Tablelands market circuit for eight years they took the plunge in 2002 opened a shop across the road from Rusty's and built up the range of stock until the shop became too small. In 2006 they moved the shop to its current location which larger and with free parking. This has allowed the business to continue to grow and meet the increasing demand for certified organic and bio-dynamic products.
In 2004 Neil and Norma found the demands from both the shop and farm was too much, sold the farm so they could concentrate on the shop and 2006 moved to live in Cairns.
In this time Neil and Norma have had the pleasure of having and raising two children Kirsty and Paul who both live and in Cairns.
Neil and Norma have enjoyed being part of the organic and bio-dynamic movement in Cairns and are always looking for ways to improve Neil's Organics.
Neil and Norma would love you to come in and have a look at our store and a have chat. The current location of Neil's Organics is in a larger building catering for the needs of customers seeking natural healthcare. There is a hairdresser using natural products, two kinesiologists, a cranio-sacral practitioner, a naturopath, and psychic healers.
The Team At Neil's Organics
We have a new team member here at Neil's. Ulrika has gone back to her homeland for a while, so Melissa has joined us in April. Melissa has qualifications in the areas on naturopathy, nutritional medicine, massage, and western herbal medicine. Melissa is from the Brisbane area, having worked previously at Wray Organics and the Fundamental Organic Food Store, so is a valuable addition to our team. If you are needing information in any of these areas please call in and meet Mel, and perhaps she can help you!
Warrigal Farm
Warrigal Farm is a 100 acre farm 7km east of Mareeba. It has one boundary on Emerald Creek which runs naturally for 4 to 5 months a year and is then supplemented by the Tinaroo Dam Irrigation System. It was purchased by Neil and Norma in 1988. It has an orchard of 600 mango trees. We learnt how to grow vegetables in the conventional farming way for two seasons and were seeing the same challenges each year and the thought of spraying poisons every week made Neil find out about organics and bio-dynamics.
Within a few years, Neil and Norma were growing a wide variety of vegetables from autumn into early summer - carrots, potatoes, onions, tomatoes, beetroot, eschalots, sprouted sunflower and buckwheat, cucumbers, silverbeet, zucchini, sweet potatoes, pumpkins and watermelons. When cropping was finished, cover crops were planted, as these grew cattle were carefully managed to graze, build and protect the soil in the harsh summer conditions. Then in the mango season the farm became a hive of activity with extra workers employed to pick the crop.
Orchard activity was increased to include lychees, bananas, citrus, avocadoes, and a range of tropical fruits.
A commercial kitchen was also built - Excess fruit was dehydrated without sulphur or any sweetener to make the most delicious dried mango and dried banana. The enriched soil through bio-dynamic methods helped us create the most flavoursome sweet and best tasting dried fruits. Also jams and chutneys were made from excess fruit and vegetables.
Vision
Our vision is to provide a healthy alternative for health-conscious people in a friendly, caring and supportive environment. To support bio-dynamic and organic farmers who grow the best and freshest produce.
Purpose
To help others become more healthy in mind, body and spirit. To create a greater awareness within our community and make the world a safer environment to leave to our children.
Mission
By providing the best and widest range of bio-dynamic and organic food available. By educating people about health and environmental issues through newsletters, information evenings, seminars and workshop. By continuing to operate by high ethical standards so as to enable long term grown in all areas of bio-dynamics and organics.
The Future
The organic industry continues to grow and as more awareness and demand increases the aim is to have a number of stores in the region.
After having a stall at Rusty's market in Cairns and stalls on the Atherton Tablelands market circuit for eight years they took the plunge in 2002 opened a shop across the road from Rusty's and built up the range of stock until the shop became too small. In 2006 they moved the shop to its current location which larger and with free parking. This has allowed the business to continue to grow and meet the increasing demand for certified organic and bio-dynamic products.