our farm
The team at Watervale Hotel are passionate about fresh local food and Clare Valley produce.
penobscot farm - naturally Regenerative
Organic
Organic farming is a choice to rely on the natural system, using no chemical pesticides, herbicides, fungicides or fertilizers. Bio-diversity is the key to managing the environment, Plants receive their nutrition from the Earth.
Eating organic is a lifestyle choice – to eat in a manner healthy to you and the environment. Organic learning is to develop knowledge naturally, through curiosity, experimentation, and learning from experience. This is how our Farm Chef’s interact with the Farm. An organic relationship is simple, natural and healthy. This principle is followed through into our menu.
Bio-dynamic
A word derived from two Greek words for ‘life’ and ‘energy’. Bio-dynamics implies ecological, social and economic solutions that harness natural energies and resources of the universe. Biodynamic philosophy is based on the notion that everything is interconnected in the natural environment. Agricultural practices are aligned to the cycles of nature – diurnal, seasonal and lunar. The focus is on growing life in the soil – fungus and bacteria that delivers nutrition to plants – and aligning our practices to the cycles of nature.
It is a holistic foundation for progress in all aspects of life connected to nutrition and health. Not surprisingly, positive energy tastes better!
Permaculture
Everything you do must be good for the planet, healthy for humans, and lead to an equitable distribution of wealth and well-being.
Permaculture design is a sustainable, self-sufficient eco-system – economic and ecological.
Key principles include leveraging diversity, utilizing abundant energy and resource, and limiting waste. Permaculture principles dictate everything we do at the Watervale Hotel.
Penobscot Farm is a developed bio-dynamic, organic farm, growing a wide range of seasonal fruits, nuts, leaves, berries and vegetables.
Our farm is a vertically integrated supplier to the Watervale Hotel, and its produce is intrinsically linked to Penobscot Restaurant where guests enjoy a degustation dining experience at the Chefs Table within the kitchen of the Watervale Hotel.
We love that it has become home to an ever-increasing number of different birds, insects and wildlife.
Permaculture expert Jared Murray is leading our team that share our passion for organic food and sustainable living. This team includes Farm Chefs learning about how to prepare produce for the plate.
Farm Tours are offered in conjunction with Degustation dining at Penobscot Farm, at 4pm daily after lunch or prior to dinner bookings.
The Penobscot Shearing Shed can be booked as a catering venue for weddings, special events.
Penobscot Cottage is a one bedroom cottage on the farm offered as B’n’B accommodation.
Accommodation, dining and experience packages can also be booked.
