Kieran Fiatarone: alumni profile

You graduated seven years ago, what have you been up to in this time? 

During school I learnt guitar with Paul Latham, an excellent mentor and teacher. With his help I earned a scholarship to study a Bachelor of Music at the University of Newcastle. The following three years I finished this degree with the ambition to become a music teacher like my mum (CCGS music tutor, Liz Fiatarone). However, a short stint at an after-hours music school sorted that out pretty quickly, and my idealistic views were brought back to earth!

Towards the end of my music degree I inherited a second-hand fish tank from a friend. This became the basis for my interest in science and I went on to study a Bachelor of Environmental Science and Management degree. At around the same time, a friend of mine was boasting about a fruit-picking job he was starting in a couple of weeks. This sounded like fun, so I joined him to become a picker at a fruit orchard that specialised in stone fruit, tomatoes and citrus. In the final years of my science degree I began to work more often at the farm and really enjoyed my time there. 

After finishing I travelled to Italy and worked on a farm ten minutes from a town in the south called Potenza. I organised this through the Workaway program and spent most of my time herding goats (and some unruly dogs) in the hills. The farmer, Beppe, was self-sufficient, farming bees, sheep, goats, ducks, chickens, fruit trees and vegetables. It is an extreme way to live however it gave me perspective and the desire to start my own (toned-down) version.

You’ve recently established Fiatarone Farms at Central Mangrove. Where did your passion for farming come from?

Simply, I love good food and nature. The current system of agriculture needs to change for both to be possible. 

An opportunity arose to lease land on the fruit orchard where I had been fruit picking and grow vegetables – it was an opportunity just too exciting to walk away from. The property owners, the Comensolis, are an exceptionally nice family with three generations of farming knowledge.

What’s involved in running your own farm?

My Environmental Science degree gave me an understanding of soil function and ecosystems, which is critical in running a farm organically. 

The main job for running a spray-free farm is weeding, particularly grasses. They don't take days off and have adapted a resilience to attacks over the past billion years. 

The nature of my operation is one of independence - I have total control and total responsibility. That makes me the accountant, marketing consultant, sales rep, communications officer, researcher and, occasionally, the farmer!

Where can we eat your produce?

On Monday afternoons I sell a seasonal vegetable box for pick up in North Avoca (check out our Facebook or Instagram for details).

My produce is also used in local cafes such as Like Minds (Avoca) and the Bamboo Buddha (Holgate) and is stocked through Nurtured Earth Organics.  

Did you have a favourite CCGS teacher?

I had some great teachers, but Fiona Grant was probably my favourite. She taught me in Year 6 and I remember her being a passionate environmentalist. We did some awesome things like planning and planting a native garden and spray painting the storm water drains at the top car park. I also recall listening to the Antarctica Suite by Nigel Westlake in her class.  

What are your dreams for ‘Fiatarone Farms’?

I'd like to own and live on a farm - vineyard down the side, chickens on the run, duck in the hot-pot, bees stinging my enemies... the usual things. Quite seriously, all being well I'll start trialing a small vineyard in October. It will be a three year project to understand the viability, pending the success or failure will influence my next moves. But, for now, I'll be picking zucchini.