A mud brick B & B, a tree farm & a hardworking pair of teachers!

Fifteen years ago, Blerick Mudbrick Cottages and Tree Farm, in Gippsland Victoria, was just a bare paddock, part of an old dairy farm. Back then, teachers Michelle and Ron Geritz began work building a mudbrick cottage and lived in ‘the shell’ for three years. They were both collectors and haunted demolition yards and auctions, never travelling anywhere without a trailer.

Some of their discoveries included:
1)the bluestone steps from the Bendigo Theatre – used as window ledges;
2)oregon beams from the old Carlton & United Brewery;
3)150 year old Canadian logs – brought to Australia floating beside a ship;
4)roofing iron from the Ballarat Town Hall;
5)red gum parquetry floor from the Brunswick Knitting Mill.

After they decided to turn the mudbrick cottage into a Bed & Breakfast, Ron and Michelle put all their free time for three years into building a house for themselves. Then, their accountant advised doing something with their five acres, so they planted 20 birch tree seedlings nine years ago.

They now grow 10,000 trees a year. At first, all trees were bare-rooted, but now with a demand for instant gardens, Ron has a huge range of over 5000 advanced trees and grafts 3000 trees a year.

Ron now concentrates on his garden design business. Via the website, www.dialatree.com.au, you can place an order for quality trees and plants direct from the grower, have them delivered and even planted!

Ron also designs and builds Victorian style gates using traditional methods and using a computer aided drawing program (CAD), he can help clients visualise and plan how their landscaping can tie in with their home.

Currently this hardworking pair is re-developing the nursery site, with the goal of making their farm a destination in itself!

FOR MORE INFO CONTACT:

Blerick Tree Farm, 55 Mc Dougal Rd, Neerim South VIC 3831
Ph: 56281507/ 0417535917
Fax:56281498
E-mail:blerick@sympac.com.au