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By Phil Burkitt
For many years, Aaron Brocken has been quietly leading the way in organic vegetable production in the Bilpin district. His farm, Harvest Farms, has become a local landmark of organic vegetable production, where innovation and hard work go hand in hand.
Aaron’s operation stretches across several plots in Bilpin, producing a remarkably wide range of vegetables. The list of crops is too long to name and ever changing as he constantly trials new species and varieties in pursuit of better flavour, yield, and resilience. What remains constant is his commitment to chemical free, organic farming.
“I’m always looking for ways to make production more efficient and environmentally sound,” Aaron says. “Every season brings a chance to learn and improve.”
Having visited the farm regularly over the past six years, I’ve witnessed firsthand the energy that fuels this place. The property is a hive of activity, with workers tending different production areas, family members pitching in, and helpers harvesting several times each week to meet demand from both local and distant markets.
Inside the packing shed, workers bustle around bagging and preparing produce for delivery. Outside, equipment stands ready for the next task whether it’s tilling, planting, mulching, or improving the soil.
As a production horticulturalist with more than 30 years’ experience, I can say with confidence that Aaron is putting innovative organic ideas into action, methods that are not only impressive but demonstrably effective. His ability to adapt, refine, and experiment keeps his farm among the best examples of sustainable horticulture in the Hawkesbury.
Bilpin’s Harvest Farms stands as a local reminder that farming can be both productive and regenerative and an integral part of a community, a model for the region’s Horticultural future.
Aaron Brocken and his father Eric Brocken currently run workshops in Sustainable Agriculture and Good Land Stewardship, these events, and worker opportunities can be booked through the Harvest Farms Website. https://harvestfarms.com.au/
