Rachael is a mother, regenerative agriculturalist and author who was born in Hobart and educated at Universities in Orange and Bathurst, NSW.  As a young Tasmanian country woman, Rachael saw a profound disconnection emerging between the land and women in the growing culture of modern industrial agriculture. She set her sights on becoming a rural journalist and writing a bestseller that would showcase contemporary rural women, who were comfortable in, and caring of their farming landscape.

Her first novel, ‘Jillaroo’ (2002) has become an iconic contemporary work of fiction, changing the face of Australian publishing and kick-starting a boom of rural women’s fiction.

Ten years ago Rachael managed her family farm, whilst writing novels and nurturing two babies, but divorce and a family decision for her ex-husband to stay on the farm radically changed the course of her life.

The next few years were devoted to understanding, integrating, and deepening an intense inward journey that led her to see that life is fantastic – no matter what! She also saw that if humans are to survive as a species, feminine principles need to be re-introduced into our food systems. Her biography from her experience of seemingly ‘losing everything’, Down the Dirt Roads, was longlisted for the 2017 Tasmanian Premier’s Prize Margaret Scott Award.

Currently, Rachael and her teenage children are enjoying a renaissance in balanced agriculture alongside Rachael’s fiancé, Daniel, as they regenerate and rejuvenate 100 acres of previously brutilised land in Richmond, Tasmania. They have partnered with Aloeburn Poll Merinos to promote the ethical production of wool using the kindest animal husbandry practices and run the smaller breed of Dexter cattle so they are lighter on the land.

Rachael continues to write, and together with her family, move electric fences and water troughs daily to kick start soil and water health on their farm. Their goal is to create a holistically run, inspiring property where they can educate others to take on pure food production using regenerative principles. Watch this space as Ripple Farm Partners evolves to evoke farming that is balanced, boosts the ecology, produces nutrient rich food and is an agricultural business that is centred around love and respect for all living things.