Lenswood Farm
This is Peta’s happy place — a small plot of land perched on a steep hill, nestled among the rolling landscapes of Lenswood. Here, she lovingly cultivates dahlias, crafting them into stunning wedding bouquets and selling any surplus stems to little flower shops.
I met Peta on a surprisingly hot autumn day — 28 degrees! She greeted me with the biggest smile and such genuine warmth, dressed in denim cut-off shorts, a striped T-shirt, and her trusty Merry People gumboots. I couldn’t help but think how perfectly fitting that was — have you ever met an unhappy person wearing the Merry People brand of gumboots? They're a common sight in the Adelaide Hills, and I’m yet to encounter a grumpy soul in them. I have a theory about that... more on it later.
Peta gave me a tour of her garden, effortlessly recalling the names of each dahlia — some of which are quite scientific and impressively long.
As I snapped a few photos, she shared her plans for the plot: better pathways, more of this variety, less of that. She explained how, each autumn, she digs up every single tuber, divides them, labels them, and stores them carefully over winter before replanting them in the spring. It’s a painstakingly time-consuming task that, with a plot of her size, could take weeks — even months — to complete.
All the while, Peta is also a practising lawyer, a celebrant, and mum to a busy toddler. So why does she carve out precious hours from her already full schedule to dig in the dirt?
As we wandered through the garden, Peta shared more about her life, and I began to see that this side project — once just a hobby — breathes life into her as much as she breathes life into it. It’s her escape from the city and apartment living, a place where her daughter can run free, get muddy, and explore.
Gardening — and perhaps more importantly, the act of getting dirty and breathing in nature — is widely linked with improved health & mental well-being. Maybe the folks at Merry People Gumboots knew that all along.
Follow Lenswood Farm here: https://www.instagram.com/lenswoodfarm/
Need a celebrant? Check out Peta’s website here: https://www.ceremonieswithpeta.com/
Read more about the dirt theory here:
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/17/well/live/dirt-health-benefits.html
