THE second annual Eden Farm Sunflower Festival was a huge success, with close to 1,000 attendees coming from as far as Melbourne to snap a photo in the golden sunflower fields in Numurkah.
Following the festival, held the last weekend of January, the weather took a turn for the worse and a potential tornado approached the farm.
Co-owner Gary Baker said the storm became intense around 5pm, hours after visitors had gone home, and the surge of weather lasted around 15 minutes.
“I’ve never seen anything like this out here before,” he said. “It wasn’t much at first. I heard thunder and went outside to pack things out of the rain. When the wind picked up, it was total white out and you couldn’t see outside at all.”
Co-owner Katherina Baker says the aftermath looks like a giant has ripped trees from the ground, snapped and then thrown them across the property. While no people were hurt, a two-year-old cow was killed by a falling tree and the damage to the property is a job for another day.
“We are so blessed that no one got hurt. If the tornado had gone through only two hours earlier, anything could have happened. It was spectacular,” she said.
Eden Farm is a working farm with a big impact, offering engagement opportunities and events to support marginalised groups. Much of the clean up there will be tackled by Gary, Katherina and their family and friends. Donate to support their work at their website: www.edenfarmwellness.com.au; or if you would like to help at a working bee, contact Katherina on 0433 155 554 or Gary on 0428 579 083 to register your interest.
