Wheat, Barley, Sheep… and Lettuce – Balaklava ticks the boxes for All Seasons Hydro
Who says farming in Balaklava is all broadacre cropping and livestock? Tucked away in one of the Adelaide Plains town’s quiet streets, Jamie and Tony from All Seasons Hydro are flipping the script on country life — growing lush Asian greens like bok choy, chou sum, and a rainbow of leafy lettuces, all using hydroponics.
The couple made the move from Adelaide’s northern suburbs two years ago, in search of a country community where life felt a little slower and the backyard was big enough to chase their dreams. Balaklava ticked every box — it offered them an affordable home, a safe place to raise their family, and the chance to set up their own small farm right in the middle of town.
Tony still commutes to the city for his second job, working in maintenance at high-end hotels like the Pullman, while Jamie tends to the impressive veggie patch and has recently thrown herself right into the local community, with a second job at the Terminus Hotel. Together, they grow and sell around 400 boxes of produce each week, supplying Foodland supermarkets across South Australia.
But it’s not just Mum and Dad who are getting in on the action. Their four-year-old daughter recently set up her own roadside stall, selling lettuces for a gold coin to raise money for a Mother’s Day gift. And the young entrepreneur will be supporting another local business with her earnings – she’s hoping to buy her Mum something special at the town’s “hippy shop”.
All Season’s Hydro is a great example that event in a traditional farming town, new ideas can thrive and grow.
