• Apulia Grove invites you to experience the fun of soap making by creating your own vegan castille soap.

    If you have always wanted to try soap making, but were intimidated by the chemistry of the process, then this is definitely the workshop for you. Suitable for participants aged 12+ (adult supervision required for U/18s), this workshop covers:
    • how to create your own soap recipe,
    • different oils and saponification agents and how they affect the soap making process,
    • the difference between hot process and cold process soap making,
    • tools and equipment for making soap, including WHS considerations, and
    • where to source high quality essential oils for scented soaps.
    We'll get the soap making underway in the morning before having a chat about some of the theory topics and then breaking for an early lunch. The practical demonstration and hands on learning will continue in the afternoon. Participants will be making both bar and liquid soap, using hot and cold soap making processes, however due to the need to cure the bar soap, you won't be taking home the soap you've made, we'll get that back to you at a future date. Instead, participants will get to take home 12 bars of cured soap that's ready to use. You will also get to take home a 500mL container of liquid castille soap. Please note: While the castille soap from the workshop can be used immediately, if you make soap at home after completing the workshop, you will need to allow the soap to cure before use. It takes anywhere from 1-3 months to correctly cure castille soap. This time frame depends on the environmental conditions and available air flow. Maximum learner engagement is maintained by keeping the total class size small, so make sure you book early! Please ensure you wear closed-toe shoes, long sleeved tops and long pants; but gloves, eye protection and tools will be supplied. If you have safety glasses and/or a lab coat with which you would like to become better acquainted, feel free to bring them along. Please BYO lunch and mugs/water bottle.   * A 10% enrolment discount is available to holders of a Government-issued concession card. Please contact us to enquire about concession enrolments before booking online.

    Terms and conditions for ticket sales:

    • Ticket holders will be invited to select a workshop date based upon their availability to attend. All workshops will run from 10am - 3pm.
    • Ticket price is for admission of one workshop participant.
    • Participants must be aged 12+
    • All participants under 18 MUST be accompanied by a ticket holding adult due to Workplace Health and Safety reasons.
    • Due to Workplace Health and Safety reasons, all participants must wear long sleeved tops, long pants and closed toe shoes to participate in the workshop. Safety glasses and gloves will be provided. Failure to wear appropriate clothing will mean ticket holder cannot participate in the workshop, only observe the proceedings.
    • Ticket holders must arrive at their selected time for orientation. Due to Workplace Health and Safety reasons, if you miss orientation, you will not be permitted to participate in the soap making workshop. However, you will be able to observe the process.
    • Refunds are not available for those who miss orientation or aren't wearing appropriate clothing when they arrive.
    • Refunds must be requested in writing. Full refunds will be available up to 7 days before the selected soap making workshop begins. Requests made 2-6 days before the selected workshop begins will have 50% of the ticket price refunded. No refunds will be considered less than 48 hours before the selected workshop begins.
    • You won't take home the soap you make on the day because it needs to cure, but you will leave the workshop with 12 bars of unscented castille soap and a 500mL container of liquid soap.
  • Apulia Grove invites you to experience the fun of making your own oil or pickled olives without the frustrations of full time farming.

    Our adopt an olive tree program allows you to learn how olives are grown and processed from tree to table, in the company of friends, old and new. You can choose to adopt either oil trees or table fruit trees, depending on your preference. You get to be as involved as you like during the growing season, before getting hands on with the harvest and processing of the olives. Our grove is located in the heart of the Heathcote Wine Region, well known for the many wineries producing fabulous flavours from different grape varieties. But did you know that everything you can do with the variety, terroir and blending of grapes during wine making, you can do to with olives to influence the flavour of olive oil you're making too?

    Option 1: Making olive oil (Select your preferred Oil Variety below, choose "NONE" for the Table Variety option)

    We have a minimum batch size of 50kg of fruit in order for our processing machine to run efficiently, so the fruit from your tree may be combined with what's picked from other trees of the same variety on the same day, and you can share the oil produced. The oil making events, known as "Harvest Home" will run on selected weekends between April and June each year. The ticket includes: admission for two adults (kids free) to your choice of date for the Harvest Home for one harvest season, and 2L of oil at bottling day in late September.

    Option 2: Making preserved olives (Select your preferred Table Variety below, choose "NONE" for the Oil Variety option)

    All olive processing dates will be in held conjunction with the oil making dates between April and June each year. Each ticket purchase includes: admission for two adults (kids free) to your choice of date for the Harvest Home for one harvest season, and 4x500g jars of fermented or dried olives at bottling day in late September. A mixed combination of 2x 500g jars of each type of preserved olives can be arranged. Please note: It takes anywhere from 3-12 months to correctly pickle olives. This time frame depends on the ripeness of the fruit, and your individual preference for flavour.

    Terms and conditions for ticket sales:

    • Ticket holders will be invited to select a picking time and date for the upcoming Harvest Home based upon their preference for the ripeness of the fruit and availability to attend the farm.
    • These times and dates will be communicated to ticket holders via email by the March long weekend.
    • Ticket holders must arrive at their selected picking time for orientation. Due to Workplace Health and Safety reasons, if you miss orientation, you will not be permitted to pick.
    • This event will go ahead, rain, hail or shine. Welcome to agriculture, folks!
    • Refunds are not available for those who miss orientation.
    • Refunds must be requested in writing. Full refunds will be available up to 7 days before the selected Harvest Home event begins. Requests made 2-6 days before the selected Harvest Home event begins will have 50% of the ticket price refunded. No refunds will be considered less than 48 hours before the selected Home Harvest event begins.
    • Any olives or oil not collected on bottling day in late September are forfeit to Apulia Grove Olives for sale under our own label.
    • In the event that Apulia Grove Olives needs to cancel the Harvest Home in any given year, ticket holders will be offered a full refund or the option to keep their tree adopted for the following harvest season.
    Please don't hesitate to contact us if you have any additional questions.
  • Laid by the "Happy Hundred Pasture Pest Patrol" squad, these eggs are free ranged on organically managed pasture and individually inspected for quality. Please note:
    1. The price listed is for an individual egg. Please make sure you update the number required for your order in multiples of six, 12 or 30 before you add them to the cart.
    2. Every carton will contain at least 750-800 g by weight.
    3. Due to being fresh produce, eggs are only available for collection from our farm, or for door-to-door delivery within 50km of the farm gate (see map image). Hub distribution spots are being arranged in locations within the 50-150km radius of the farm, please get in touch if you would like to become a distribution point for your local community.
  • Join Ceilidh Meo, Soil Steward and Grove Manager at Apulia Grove Olives, to learn about olive tree growth and modern pruning techniques.

    If you are a new to olive tree pruning, then this is definitely the workshop for you. Olive trees respond differently to every other type of fruit tree you might have pruned in the past. Come along to learn specific tips and techniques for pruning olives for maximum productivity of your grove. Suitable for small scale growers aged 12+ (adult supervision required for U/18s), this workshop covers:
    • anatomy and growth habits of olives,
    • why and when to prune,
    • tools and equipment for pruning, including WHS considerations,
    • hand pruning styles and which to select for your grove,
    • olive tree pruning techniques to maximise production, and
    • how to recognise problems, pests and diseases of olive growth and manage them using pruning techniques.
    We'll cover the theory of pruning in the morning before breaking for an early lunch. The practical demonstration and hands on learning will occur in the afternoon. Maximum learner engagement is maintained by keeping the total class size small, so make sure you book early! Please ensure you wear closed-toe shoes (steel caps preferred); but work gloves, eye/head/hearing protection and tools will be supplied. If you have gloves and secateurs with which you would like to become better acquainted, feel free to bring them along. Please BYO lunch and mugs/water bottle.   * A 10% enrolment discount is available to holders of a Government-issued concession card. Please contact us to enquire about concession enrolments before booking online.
  • Our extra virgin olive oil soap is a classic gentle and nourishing cleanser, leaving your skin feeling silky and smooth, without stripping essential moisture or damaging its natural defensive layer.

    Made using 100% natural ingredients and fragrance-free, our soap is perfect for delicate skin and those with chemical sensitivities. People have used olive oil soap for shiny hair and soft skin since ancient times. Why not update your own personal care routine with this simple, natural, classic cleanser today?

    Why Use Natural Soap?

    Pure olive oil soap is one of the best cleansers for dry skin. It feels buttery and smooth, and helps your skin retain moisture for longer while providing a gentle and thorough cleansing. People with eczema and psoriasis often use olive oil soap to ease itching and combat dryness. Our recipe is created with additional oil to sooth, smooth and moisturise even the most delicate skin. Olive oil is also rich in antioxidants and has anti-inflammatory properties. We use cold-pressed olive oil for our soap bars to retain the nourishing nutrients in the oil. The result is a mild and soothing soap that slowly repairs the skin. It’s suitable for damaged or sunburned skin, and safe for children and babies. We make two types of natural olive oil soap. What's the difference, you ask? Our best-selling variety includes olive leaf extract to enhance the antibacterial properties of our recipe, which makes it a great option for acne-prone skin. Unlike many anti-acne products, our soap won't dry out your skin which can lead to acne problems increasing over time. You can read more about the properties of olive leaf extract here.

    Try It for Yourself

    All our hand-crafted natural soap is made in Australia, and we deliver nationwide. Order a soap bar online to experience its gentle formulation for yourself and your family.
  • Tasty and Conveniently Sized Extra Virgin Cold Pressed Australian-Made Olive Oil

    Our premium olive oil compares favourably with the exacting standards of high quality foreign oils so you can savour the taste of terroir while appreciating its local origins and low food miles. Like premium wines, extra virgin cold pressed olive oil made from different olive varieties will taste different, and the same varieties grown in different locations will also taste different! Our every day olive oil is a mix of Corregiola and Frantoio varieties. However, unlike wine, extra virgin cold pressed olive oil should not be stored for long periods of time because the quality and health benefits will deteriorate. Look for a harvest date in the same year as you are making your purchase, or a best before date of no more than two years in the future. You can enjoy our flavourful, healthy oil by drizzling it over a meal or use it to sauté and fry foods. Fresh olive oil is one of the most stable oils for cooking because of the high smoke point. It's suitable for baking savoury or sweet dishes. Our favourite is to drizzle it over steamed vegetables before sprinkling them with some dried Italian herbs like oregano or basil for extra flavour. Simple and delicious! If you'd like more olive oil recipes, you can join our mailing list here.

    Eco-Friendly Australian Extra Virgin Olive Oil

    Besides offering locally made extra virgin quality olive oil, we pride ourselves on using sustainable farming practices. Part of our farm philosophy is to reduce food miles as much as possible. You can pre-order our oil, soap, eggs and other produce for local pick up at the Bendigo Community Farmers' Market each week on Thursdays from 1-4pm at the Good Loaf Sourdough Bakery.

Title

Go to Top