About Riverdale Farm
The home of Helen and Jim Leighton, and so much more
Located on the Kalgan River near Albany in Western Australia, Riverdale Farm is a tranquil, one-of-a-kind place that welcomes those who seek restful solitude, time to reflect, or just a little dose of nature.
Over the past 18 years, Helen and Jim have carefully tended the land here to create one of the south coast’s most beautiful flower farms. It truly is a sight to behold. All year round, the garden beds are abuzz with bees flitting from flower to flower – be they the cottage garden flowers that thrive over summertime, or the rich array of wildflowers that bloom over winter.
Fresh cuttings of the locally grown flowers and foliage are taken straight from the garden beds into the floral design studio, where they are transformed into stunning arrangements that balance the chosen blooms.
While Riverdale Farm’s raison d’etre is flowers, you can also stay at the farm in the meticulously restored cottage (complete with all the creature comforts you’ll need for a relaxing stay); and you can sample its handcrafted pinot noir by ordering online.
Our commitment to sustainability
Riverdale Farm grows local, seasonal blooms from a sustainably managed, eco-friendly garden. Our farm is water self-sufficient, has a low carbon footprint, and uses organic fertilisers.
In our floral arrangements, we use locally grown and sourced flowers and foliage, and we only use sustainable materials to wrap and tie our arrangements (no floral foam in sight). We reuse, recycle and repurpose materials wherever possible.
About Helen
Helen works with locally grown flowers, and she is regularly called upon by couples to create their wedding bouquets and floral arrangements.
An experienced garden and floral designer, Helen is renowned for her garden-gathered style and sustainable philosophy to growing and designing flowers.
In 2014, Helen fulfilled a lifelong dream to complete a Floral Design Course at the Zita Elze Design Academy in Kew, London. This followed on from a 2004 garden design course at Inchbald School of Design in London. Every year, she builds upon her skills by attending internationally recognised workshops around the world, where she works alongside others who share her passion for working with locally grown flowers.
She loves nothing more than bringing the skills and ideas she learns overseas back to Riverdale Farm, and creating beautiful bouquets for local weddings and events.
When not tending to her large country garden, micro flower farm and floral design business, she works alongside husband Jim in their pinot vineyard, bee hives, vegetable garden and orchard. Or perhaps you’ll find her doing a spot of baking, sewing or hosting family and friends at the farm.
About Jim
Jim is also an avid gardener, who loves nothing more than a hard day’s work in the garden or out in the vineyard.
Whereas Helen could spend all day amongst her flowering plants, Jim enjoys working with productive plants. Riverdale Farm boasts a generous kitchen garden for vegetables and herbs, and an orchard full of stone fruit and pears, which they enjoy fresh and preserved.
Jim is also an avid apiarist. The bees at Riverdale Farm are spoilt for choice when it comes to pollen and nectar, with plenty to choose from in our native gardens.
In the vineyard, Jim loves rising to the challenges of the seasons, carefully tending the vines to weather nature’s storms. Then there’s the magic of winemaking – Jim works alongside our winemaker, Brenden Smith, to create small batches of our pinot noir.
To learn more about Riverdale Farm, please get in touch.
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