David Gower Freeman
A Family Farm since 1915, Arthur Freeman is regarded as the pioneer of the banana industry in Australia and he began growing bananas in the Currumbin Valley, after leaving his banana plantations in Fiji. The farm was established in 1915, and in the 1920’s became the largest commercial banana farm in Australia, with over 100 acres of bananas (100,000 banana trees) and 40 full-time employees. This same family farm from 1915 is now the only continuous commercial fruit and vegetable farm in Currumbin Valley that remains today.
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In honour of Arthur Freeman, the Albert Shire Council and Gold Coast City Council erected the ‘Arthur Freeman Lookout’.
Freeman’s Organic Farm has been run by four generations of Freeman’s. Today Bill Freeman, in partnership with his wife. Lesley, and their son and SoilCare member, David Gower Freeman, run the farm. Traditionally Freeman’s Organic Farm grew high quality tropical fruits such as avocados, custard apples, mangoes, paw paws, and of course award winning bananas. Today, Freeman’s Organic Farm grows a large range of organic fruits, vegetable and herbs. , and Freeman’s bananas have taken out first prize at the RNA Show. |
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The 40 year old avocado orchard has been regenerated through precise soil mineralisation, organic mulch (sugar cane and Lucerne) organic used hessian coffee bags, and their own 18 month their organic woodchip compost 12” deep under each tree with remarkable results where dead trees have come back into vigorous growth and set 200 fruit within 2 years.
Thanks to the fertile volcanic basalt soils and the warm north-easterly aspect of the property, the quality, flavour, texture and nutrient density of the fruit grown here is second to none |
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The old tennis court garden.
Through disciplined and scientific organic and biological farming principles (learnt through TAFE and Soilcare mentors: David Forrest, Michael Hogan, Mark Goltz etc) David has taken an old compacted grass tennis court and completely changed the structure and nutrition of the soil within 3 years, from a reddish compacted soil with a pH of 5.4, 4% organic matter, penetrometer depth of 15cms to a chocolate loamy soil with a pH 0f 7.0, approximately 10% organic matter, and a penetrometer depth of 75 cms (18”), 100 earth worms per square meter, veggies with a Brix (Nutrient density) of between 10 and 20 versus 1.5 for supermarket hydroponic lettuce and Brix of approximately 4 to 6 for conventionally grown vegetables.
Freeman's Organic Farm offers a 'Farm Stall', Farm Cafe and a selection of events and workshops, including organic farming workshops, throughout the year.
Freeman's Organic Farm offers a 'Farm Stall', Farm Cafe and a selection of events and workshops, including organic farming workshops, throughout the year.
