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Welcome to "Salt of the Earth - Farm Stories". Host Darren Grigg invites you to step into the world of farmers from diverse backgrounds across Australia. Through intimate interviews, he delves into their farming practices, traditions, and the challenges they face in nurturing the land. From generations-old family farms to innovative sustainable practices, each episode offers a glimpse into the resilience, passion, and dedication of Australian farmers and explores the profound connection between people and the land. Be inspired by the stories of those who sow the seeds of the future.
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Send us Fan Mail In part two of my chat with Andrew Kettlewell, we dig deeper into the people, moments and decisions that helped shape his career in agriculture and business. Andrew reflects on lessons learned along the way — from global companies to grassroots agriculture — and why staying connected to the land and community still matters. It’s a conversation about opportunity, perspective and the long road from Jerilderie to a remarkable career in agriculture.
Send a text Andrew Kettlewell grew up in the Riverina town of Jerilderie, but his story stretches a long way beyond the family farm. In this first episode, Andrew shares the early chapters — growing up in the country, chasing opportunities, and the experiences that shaped his path into farm management. From small-town beginnings to rubbing shoulders with some of the biggest names in the business world, it’s a fascinating look at how curiosity, hard work and a willingness to say yes can take y...
Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I’m on a property just south of Yass in NSW, joining a research project funded by Meat & Livestock Australia and led by Dr Rebecca Haling from CSIRO. We’re taking a closer look at serradella — a self-regenerating legume that’s drought resilient, fixes nitrogen, handles acidic soils, runs on low nutrients, and carries a low bloat risk. It’s already proven in WA and north-west NSW, and now researchers are exploring its fit in the higher rainfall pasture zon...
Send us Fan Mail In Part B, Dom Shanahan gets into the heart of what matters most—people, safety, and smart decisions on and off the road. We talk driver safety, B-triples, leadership, and how Dom’s business evolved, including his move from cattle and sheep, to cattle only and the thinking behind that shift. Dom also shares some memorable stories about the characters in his fleet, including the female drivers who’ve made their mark. It’s a great Aussie yarn about responsibility, growth, and r...
Send us Fan Mail In Part A, I sit down with a mate of mine, Dom Shanahan, to hear the story behind the man and the miles. Dom started with just one truck, and today runs a major livestock transport operation with 35 B-doubles on the road. He takes us through his early days, the risks, the setbacks, and the decisions that shaped his journey from the ground up. It’s a grounded, honest conversation about building a company, earning your stripes, and what it really takes to keep wheels turning in...
Send us Fan Mail In Part B with Sam Davies, we explore the intersection of agriculture, education, and purpose. Sam shares how her work with Petaurus Education Group is connecting students with the environment in meaningful, hands-on ways—taking learning beyond the classroom and into wetlands, waterways, and the landscapes that shape rural Australia. We talk about the power of small moments in education, the resilience of country communities, and what drives Sam to keep giving back to the pla...
Send us Fan Mail In Part A, Sam Davies takes us through the twists and turns of her journey—from growing up on a farm in New South Wales, to teaching in some of Australia’s most remote communities, and eventually landing on a station near Hay. We talk about her early years, what drew her into teaching, and her time with the School of the Air in Katherine—where classrooms look very different and connection means something deeper. Along the way, Sam shares how she fell in love with Andrew, the ...
Send us Fan Mail We head back to Chambers Rosewood Vineyards with Stephen Chambers as harvest comes into sharp focus. Picking season is hectic, fast-paced, and full of decisions — from grape varieties and timing, to the ongoing challenges of smoke taint from bushfires and increasingly unpredictable seasons. Stephen walks us through the shift from hand picking, to mechanical harvesting, and back again, and what those choices mean in the glass. We also talk fortified wines — world-famous, and s...
Send us Fan Mail Today, we’re at Chambers Rosewood Vineyards with Stephen Chambers — a sixth-generation family winery woven into the fabric of Victoria’s gold country. These are soils shaped by history: once turned by gold seekers, now nurturing vines, grazing sheep, and generations of stories layered as deep as the roots beneath them. In Part A, Stephen reflects on the gold days, the pressures of farming through changing seasons, the mishaps that inevitably come with life on the land, and th...
Send us Fan Mail Welcome back to Gooramadda Olives for Part B with Rob Whyte. It starts at breakfast, with a quiet truth: once you use really good olive oil, the tomato sauce bottle doesn’t stand a chance. We talk about the health benefits of quality olive oil, how the body can respond differently to things like ibuprofen, and why what you choose to cook with actually matters. Rob shares practical tips for using olive oil every day, pairing olives with wine, and describing flavour without the...
Send us Fan Mail He’s spent years telling other people’s stories — now it’s his turn. Usually on Salt of the Earth Farm Stories, Darren Grigg is the one behind the microphone, listening and asking the questions. But for this episode, we’re changing things up. I’m Leona and this time, Darren is on the other side of the interview. It’s not a role he’s naturally comfortable with, but we gently turn the microphone around and explore the story behind the storyteller. We talk about his earlies...
Send us Fan Mail In Part C, the final chapter of this special series, we reflect on the life and legacy of David Grigg. This episode brings together the threads of a remarkable journey — shaped by work, travel, community, family, and friendships. We slow things down to appreciate the moments that mattered most, the values that guided him, and the changes he witnessed across nearly a century. It’s been a privilege to share Uncle David’s story, and to celebrate a man who is still going strong, ...
Send us Fan Mail In Part B of this special conversation, we continue the story of Uncle David Grigg — moving from early farm life and community involvement to the changes that reshaped his working world. Uncle David shares stories of his first car, the Hillman Minx, the shift from horsepower to tractors, and the arrival of his first McCormick Deering on steel wheels. We also hear about a difficult turning point — having to leave the farm — and how that led him into town, into new work, and in...
Send us Fan Mail In this special episode, it’s a true privilege to share the story of my great uncle David — a quiet gentleman whose life spans nearly a century of Australian history. Born in 1926, David grew up on the land during a time of hardship and simplicity: no electricity, one bath a week, horses working the paddocks, cows milked by hand, and seasons shaped by drought, rabbits and resilience. At just 14, he left school to work the farm, and during wartime, while others went to battle,...
Send us Fan Mail We're joined by Dr Robin Adair from Australis Biological — one of Australia’s most experienced and passionate experts on invasive weeds. With more than a thousand exotic plant species in Victoria, Robin explains why the battle for biodiversity is more urgent than ever. We dig into the surprising plant still being sold in nurseries that’s quietly choking our habitat, explore why blackberry is such a resilient opponent, and unpack the smart use of tools like biocontrol, herbici...
Send us Fan Mail In Part B of our journey to Curtin Springs Station, we’re back with the unstoppable Lyndee Severin. This episode dives into the daily dance of running a cattle station while welcoming travellers from all over — and why sometimes, you just have to roll with whatever the outback throws at you. From hilarious tourist moments to thoughtful reflections on how disconnected kids can be from where their food comes from, this conversation is equal parts warm, funny, and eye-opening. W...
Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we head to Curtin Springs Station — a one-million-acre cattle station in the Northern Territory with a story like no other. Lyndee Severin joins us to share how her family turned a humble 1950s stopover into a thriving outback destination. From welcoming travellers with a simple cuppa to hosting thousands each year, Curtin Springs has become a place where people connect deeply with the landscape. One of the most unexpected experiences? Making beautiful, handc...
Send us Fan Mail Episode 80 – Weed Warriors on Four Legs: Dan Humpage from EnviroGraze In today’s episode, we sit down with Dan Humpage from EnviroGraze — home to some of the cleverest weed-eating warriors on the land. These goats aren’t just grazing; they’re actively restoring balance to our native landscapes. Dan’s method is a prescribed remedy for ecological repair — thoughtful, sustainable, and surprisingly scientific. We unpack how these remarkable animals help suppress weeds, add nitrog...
Send us Fan Mail We’re back at Curtin Springs Station in the Northern Territory for Part B of my yarn with Ash Severin — and this half of the story cuts deep. Ash takes us through the evolution of mustering, from horses to choppers to trap yards, and what it’s like balancing life alongside dingoes, goannas, and even wild camels — right up until the bull camels start causing chaos. He opens up about a fire that burned for seven months, moments of tragedy and resi...
Send us Fan Mail This week we’re out at Curtin Springs Station in the heart of the Northern Territory, having a yarn with Ash Severin — a tough, no-nonsense outback bloke with a lifetime of stories from one of Australia’s most remote cattle stations. From the early days in the 1950s, when the homestead was little more than a roof and four posts, to the station’s transformation into a bustling stopover for travellers near Uluru — Ash has seen it all. He shares cracking yarn...
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