In 2002 Bruce and Susan joined WWOOF Australia after a discussion with their neighbours. Their Certified Organic Fruit and Vegetable property is located on the banks of the mighty Murray near Waikerie South Australia, 180 kms or about 2 hours from Adelaide.
The soil at Lone Pine farm is typically sandy river lands soil that requires a lot of chicken manure and compost to feed and nourish it. Bruce rotates his crops and it is evident year by year as to where the previous applications of the chicken manure compost have been. The grasses and clover are a darker green, replenished and the soil is full of life.
Bruce and Susan have borne witness to the many changes and seasons of WWOOF Australia. Remembering the printed membership book WWOOFers travelled with and held on to as proof of Membership with listings full of property descriptions and Host details by postcode and State. Now the current online membership portal full of photos, detailed descriptions, reviews and showcasing individual personalities. Bruce and Susan keep up with their many past WWOOFers through social media enabling their previous guests to follow updates and current conditions on the property.
The last few years have shown a decline in WWOOFers for Bruce and Susan (post Covid) but now that the warmer Spring weather is on the horizon numbers are picking up to pre 2020 numbers. Winter has found current WWOOFer Charlotte pruning the fruit trees and re-doing the dripper lines in the vegetable beds and also some slashing. It won’t be long before it is time to plant, weed and pick the fresh vegetables and fruit. Bruce concentrates on growing Japanese, Kent and Butternut Pumpkins, Zucchini, Squash and Watermelon, Honeydew and rockmelon.
Bruce and Susan’s property is home to a 1 ½ acre commercial orchard growing a wide range of Organic Citrus, Peacherines, Nectarines, Apricots, Peaches, Apples and a huge Feijoa that produced over $1,600.00 of Feijoas to the wholesale market. There are also non-certified Boer goats grown and sold for meat. All ‘seconds’ of the fruit and vegetables are fed on to the Boer goats. Bruce is insistent on cleaning up all fallen and unwanted fruit and vegetables. Studies have shown that the main fruit fly problem is generated from backyard orchards where fallen and rotten fruit is left on the ground which fosters fruit fly.
While currently in the Yellow Fruit Fly Zone all produce is being shipped to the Melbourne markets with the exception of the grey and butternut pumpkins that are supplied directly to specialty produce stores in Adelaide, if not needed to fill up a pallet that is. Though there are early indications that this zoning may be lifted soon so that the produce can again travel the shorter distance to Adelaide.
Farming is not Bruce’s only passion, Bruce has a passion for fixing up damaged cars, replacing damaged panels and restoring items for sale, as well as restoring an old grey Massey Ferguson tractor, a David Brown Cropmaster and David Brown Tractor. His love of engines has rescued a few WWOOFers with van trouble, teaching them how to maintain and fix any problems that are common in the backpacker van trade. So WWOOFers can also get to learn how to safely use farm machinery during their stay providing them with skills that can carry them on to paid work on farms.
Many WWOOFers have had lasting memories from their stay with Bruce and Susan, with WWOOFers creating blogs and a YouTube video about their stay with them. Bruce enjoys spending time with his WWOOFers, he is known to take them out spotting scorpion’s, kangaroos, rabbits and the night sky. WWOOFers can also enjoy canoeing on the Murray River and there is plenty of time to talk and share culture and knowledge, Bruce loves a good long chat.
If you would like to read the blog by Leny Gourven or watch Shay and Deans YouTube video, visit Bruce and Susan’s profile page: Lone Pine Farm
Reviews
Marjorie, 31.07.2024
Bruce & Susan are very hospitable & wonderful hosts. Bruce is good at explaining things &, when dropping off pumpkins for the goats, is a wild driver! He’s also a great cook – the biscuit barrels are never empty. When I was there it was choc chip cookies and Anzacs. and pumpkin soup of course, plenty of vegies with the meals. I enjoyed picking up pumpkins and enjoyed being with Susan & Bruce. Thankyou both for my stay & for my takeaway pumpkin, oranges & biscuits! I am in Leigh Creek now, going to Arkaroola tomorrow.
Ca Dat, 13.12.2023
Stayed here for a week. Thanks Bruce & Susan for being my first ever host. The work was comfortable, and the rabbit hunts & night safari were a blast. Too bad the weather was a bit rough so we couldn’t see the night sky. Probably ate more cookies than I should 🙂
Mayuri, 04.01.2021
Bruce and Susan are a nice couple. They welcomed me like a family. Bruce shows wwoofers aussie wild animals that I’ve never done before. it was a unique and so excited moment for me. I could spend pretty relaxed time there. If you’d like to have fun experience in wwoofing, don’t miss the Waikerie. You’re gonna love it! 2020.12 Mayuri
Syota, 25.11.2019
Sorry for the late reply Bruce. I got great experience in your farm and you showed me wild life in Australia .I enjoyed night safari and canoeing. It was fantastic and really valuable for me. Bruce is good story teller and friendly. He answered my questions even though my english is poor. So I highly recommend all wwoofer to visit his farm If you want to learn aussie agriculture and creature. Thanks! Bruce and Suzan👍
Maxime, 23.04.2018
Bruce and Susan are friendly and have a lot of experience with wwoofing. Most of the work is picking zucchini and squash, Delivery in Adelaide Tuesday, a little bit of weeding and car repairing. I spent most of the time with Bruce, he has a lot of experience in different kind of farming (vegetables, fruits trees, wines, cattle) and mechanics. He likes to share his knowledge and he takes time to answer questions, give advices. If you want to learn farming it should be the right place. I enjoyed the night 2 safaris, Bruce birthday at his family place, the good meals and cookies :). The only negative point is that Waikerie is quite a remote place and after work there are not a lot of things to do…
Anne, 30.03.2018
I stayed 1 week with Bruce and Susan. They are really nice host. Morning: picking zucchini and squash. Then depend jobs need to be done: planting, tractor, weeding,… Bruce is an encyclopedy and like to talk. It was really interesting. I did a lovely walk 1 evening with Susan, and 2 night safari with Bruce (scorpions, kangaroo, birds). I can only recommend this place for a wwoofing
Photos Supplied by Lone Pine Farm
Based off an article written by the WWOOF Office for Grass Roots Magazine #285 Oct/Nov 2024
