In 1972 when Lyle Williams and his family first moved to the farm on Monbulk-Emerald Rd., it was full of weeds and blackberries. It was a big change going from a small suburban block surrounded by houses, traffic, noise and pollution to a large property with lots of space.  The whole family got involved in clearing the land and a home was built. Back in the 1970's most people grew their crops with chemicals and they used lots of chemical sprays and insecticides.

The Chamomile Farm sign.	The family home.

Mr. Williams grew herbs, vegetables, fruit, flowers and trees using only organic soils and compost. Some of the local neighbours thought he was silly not using Superphosphate. The compost that Mr. Williams made was so good that he sold it. Chamomile farm became very well known and heaps of people came to the farm to look at the way Mr. W. grew his plants and to buy herbs and flowers. By 1984 10,000 visitors came to the farm per year.

The family has planted trees that won't burn in a bushfire but that will steam instead. Today, nearly 30 years  later, the farm is still very busy. Mr. Williams sells edible herbs and flowers to gourmet restaurants in the city as well as to  Hong Kong and New Zealand.  At the moment Mr. W. is very busy working on the latest project which is making an organic fertiliser using worm castings. Many people come to seminars run from the farm and to enjoy the walks in the property. Chamomile Farm has been a tourist attraction in Emerald for over twenty years. There was over 400 plant, herbs and trees.

A quiet place in the yard.	A lovely place in the garden.