Today, we’re going straight to the source of Hillside Food Forest. In this episode, host Tawnya Bahr is joined by Sam Rayment and Liz Ferrone, the duo who swapped engineering and dietetics for life as regenerative farmers in Putty, New South Wales.

From their first backyard aquaponics system in Redfern to raising pigs, cattle, and pasture-raised chickens on their farm, Sam and Liz share the steep learning curve, triumphs, and wild stories that come with building a business from the soil up.

This isn’t just a conversation about farming—it’s about setting out to change the future of food.

Episode Highlights
How an engineer and a dietitian became regenerative farmers with no prior farming background
The leap from Sydney city life to establishing Hillside Food Forest in Putty, NSW
Why pigs, cattle, and pasture-raised chickens became the heart of their farming system
The wild challenges of farm life: escaping pigs, chicken chaos, and floods
Building confidence and quality through feedback from chefs at Carriageworks Farmers Market
Scaling from small batches to supplying restaurants and wholesale with consistent, premium produce
The role of freezing in ensuring quality, consistency, and nationwide distribution
Collaborating with LP’s Quality Meats to create a smallgoods range
Turning pork fat into value-added products: lard-based moisturisers and pet treats
Why regenerative farming means transforming waste into resources

Follow Hillside Food Forest:
Instagram: @hillsidefoodforest

Follow Straight To The Source Food Podcast:
Instagram: @stts_podcast

Follow Straight To The Source:
Instagram: @straight_to_the_source

Connect with your hosts:
Tawnya Bahr
Lucy Allon

Today, we&rsquo;re going straight to the source of Hillside Food Forest. In this episode, host Tawnya Bahr is joined by Sam Rayment and Liz Ferrone, the duo who swapped engineering and dietetics for life as regenerative farmers in Putty, New South Wales.
From their first backyard aquaponics system in Redfern to raising pigs, cattle, and pasture-raised chickens on their farm, Sam and Liz share the steep learning curve, triumphs, and wild stories that come with building a business from the soil up.
This isn&rsquo;t just a conversation about farming&mdash;it&rsquo;s about setting out to change the future of food.
Episode Highlights
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">How an engineer and a dietitian became regenerative farmers with no prior farming background</li>
<li aria-level="1">The leap from Sydney city life to establishing Hillside Food Forest in Putty, NSW</li>
<li aria-level="1">Why pigs, cattle, and pasture-raised chickens became the heart of their farming system</li>
<li aria-level="1">The wild challenges of farm life: escaping pigs, chicken chaos, and floods</li>
<li aria-level="1">Building confidence and quality through feedback from chefs at Carriageworks Farmers Market</li>
<li aria-level="1">Scaling from small batches to supplying restaurants and wholesale with consistent, premium produce</li>
<li aria-level="1">The role of freezing in ensuring quality, consistency, and nationwide distribution</li>
<li aria-level="1">Collaborating with LP&rsquo;s Quality Meats to create a smallgoods range</li>
<li aria-level="1">Turning pork fat into value-added products: lard-based moisturisers and pet treats</li>
<li aria-level="1">Why regenerative farming means transforming waste into resources</li>
</ul>
Follow Hillside Food Forest: Instagram:<a href="https://www.instagram.com/hillsidefoodforest/"> @hillsidefoodforest</a>
Follow Straight To The Source Food Podcast: Instagram:<a href="https://www.instagram.com/stts_podcast"> @stts_podcast</a>
Follow Straight To The Source: Instagram:<a href="https://www.instagram.com/straight_to_the_source/"> @straight_to_the_source</a>
Connect with your hosts:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/tawnyabahr/">Tawnya Bahr</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucyallon/">Lucy Allon</a></li>
</ul>

Welcome to Food, Views and Big Ideas where food and hospitality experts Tawnya Bahr and Lucy Allon go behind-the-scenes to have candid conversations with Australia’s most dynamic food, hospitality and agribusiness leaders, entrepreneurs and innovators. 

Follow, comment, and hit that bell for more episodes of Straight To The Source on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or YouTube.

To stay up to date follow Straight to the Source on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

Welcome to Food, Views and Big Ideas where food and hospitality experts Tawnya Bahr and Lucy Allon go behind-the-scenes to have candid conversations with Australia’s most dynamic food, hospitality and agribusiness leaders, entrepreneurs and innovators. 
Follow, comment, and hit that bell for more episodes of Straight To The Source on <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/straight-to-the-source/id1610058270">Apple Podcasts</a>, <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/1FwFeGJI0wp15O9KiDn28c?si=20a9b788479446c7">Spotify</a> or <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@straighttothesource7730">YouTube</a>.
To stay up to date follow Straight to the Source on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/straight.to.the.source/?hl=en">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/straighttothesourcefoodtours">Facebook</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/to_the_source">Twitter</a> and <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/straight-to-the-source/">LinkedIn</a>.

Straight To The Source

Welcome to the Straight To The Source podcast, where leadership meets the future of food.

Hosted by two of Australia’s most respected food industry voices, Tawnya Bahr and Lucy Allon, the Straight To The Source podcast connects you directly with the changemakers shaping how we grow, source, and experience food.

With decades of experience spanning the kitchen, dining room, and boardroom, as chef, restaurateur, consultants, and educators, Tawnya and Lucy bring an insider’s lens to the challenges and innovations driving the industry forward.

From producers pioneering regenerative practices to hospitality leaders reimagining what sustainability means on the plate, each episode explores the strategies, stories, and leadership mindsets transforming the global food landscape and ensuring a thriving, sustainable food future for generations to come.

Get ready for bold ideas, honest conversations, and the kind of insights that move industries forward.

Follow, comment, and hit that bell for more Straight To The Source episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or YouTube.

To stay up to date, follow Straight to the Source on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn.

Welcome to the Straight To The Source podcast, where leadership meets the future of food.
Hosted by two of Australia&rsquo;s most respected food industry voices, Tawnya Bahr and Lucy Allon, the Straight To The Source podcast connects you directly with the changemakers shaping how we grow, source, and experience food.
With decades of experience spanning the kitchen, dining room, and boardroom, as chef, restaurateur, consultants, and educators, Tawnya and Lucy bring an insider&rsquo;s lens to the challenges and innovations driving the industry forward.
From producers pioneering regenerative practices to hospitality leaders reimagining what sustainability means on the plate, each episode explores the strategies, stories, and leadership mindsets transforming the global food landscape and ensuring a thriving, sustainable food future for generations to come.
Get ready for bold ideas, honest conversations, and the kind of insights that move industries forward.
Follow, comment, and hit that bell for more Straight To The Source episodes on <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/straight-to-the-source/id1610058270">Apple Podcasts</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/1FwFeGJI0wp15O9KiDn28c?si=20a9b788479446c7">Spotify</a> or <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@straighttothesource7730">YouTube</a>.
To stay up to date, follow Straight to the Source on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/straight.to.the.source/?hl=en">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/straighttothesourcefoodtours">Facebook </a>and <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/straight-to-the-source/">LinkedIn</a>.