THE new edition of Enterprise not only boasts a brand new look, it also celebrates women doing great things in small business. Our cover profile tells the story of Natasha Morgan, who runs her eponomous business from her property in Spargo Creek. Read the article here.
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AS far as offices go, Natasha Morgans is tough to beat. Devoid of dated partitions, stationery cupboards and water cooler gossip, the former landscape architect operates her eponymous business out of several picturesque spaces.
Spread out across the five acre property Oak and Monkey Puzzle (named after the commanding trees that stand there), theres a collection of oversized garden beds where Natasha grows seasonal produce, a converted shipping container where she runs her popular workshops on everything from floristry to cheesemaking, and the back of her home, the former Spargo Creek Post Offi ce (circa 1860), where she makes preserves and cordials.
Ive been completely overwhelmed by how at home I feel here, Natasha says. I thought that I might be isolated and the main places I would meet people would be the school and kinder (she has a four-year-old son and six-year-old daughter), but Ive probably met more people in the last two-and-a-half years than I had in the last 10 through work.
Nestled in the tiny township thats sandwiched between Daylesford and Ballan, Natasha discovered the property when she and her young family were looking for a weekender - somewhere within an hour and a half of Melbourne, with high rainfall, good soil and an appreciation for art and culture. One day a real estate alert popped up for this place and it wasnt really the weekender proposition, but I decided to come have a look as Im really interested in buildings that have some architectural merit, says Natasha, adding that for me, scary projects are exciting projects.
She recalls standing under the magical old trees and realising it all made sense. Trading under the name Natasha Morgan because the only thread that pulled it all together was me and the things I love doing, she says the biggest reward the business has afforded her so far is the creative cultivation and collaboration with artisans and craftspeople shes met in the community, humble and talented souls who are passionate and prepared to share their knowledge.
From an Instagram comment to stonemason Joshua Bowes eventuating in him running drystone wall workshops, to making cordials and then discovering Daylesford restaurant Belvedere Social wanted to use them in their cocktails, Natasha has made a wealth of contacts since moving to Spargo Creek.
That wasnt my ambition but its certainly where I fi nd the most joy, she says. Theyre projects that evolve and then begin to promote the whole region, which is whats really lovely. Theres a real sense of community and thats an amazing thing to tap into as a businessperson.
Natasha says the biggest challenge is managing all the elements of a business that is so multifaceted. I didnt think the seasons would dictate things as much as they do, she reflects. Workshops are predisposed to warmer months, as people are more keen to participate then. People tend to withdraw as its cold and wet, so I really try and use that time to be strategic and work on my website. It is about finding the balance about what I work on seasonally, as well as daily. For me, its been the most rewarding thing Ive ever done.
Click here to read all the stories in the new Enterprise magazine.