Avalon Nursery has opened its new In the Sticks cafe as a community hub for Haddon

This year they have worked hard to make that dream a reality with a massive building project transforming the front of the nursery - and two weeks ago their In the Sticks cafe and shop threw open its doors.

With no other cafes in Haddon, In the Sticks has become an instant hit for locals and visitors who travel to the nursery 10km west of Ballarat.

But for the couple it's much more than a cafe - it's a hub for the community, a venue for outings and a way to support other local businesses, producers and farmers.

"It was always our passion to do this when we bought the nursery ... and we have had support from the community to create this opportunity," Mr Winters said.

"We want to do it for the community of Haddon - we have the perfect place ... along the rail trail so we have already had a lot of people come in."

Since they took over the nursery in 2017 the couple have hosted many events for charity, particularly the local CFA, encouraged their whole staff to shave their heads as a fundraiser for breast cancer after an employee was diagnosed with the disease, and supported locals affected by the 2019 Bunkers Hill bushfire.

The lush gardens surrounding their nursery have also been home to community events including Christmas barbecues, Easter egg hunts and other events.

They hope the cafe will, in time, also host venues for the local community and beyond.

The cafe also carries the nursery's community ethos, with a focus on local produce and suppliers for the treats and meals on the menu.

Milk comes from Dunnstown's Inglenook Dairy, The Preserver's Pot in Smythesdale supplies jams, pickles and other preserves, and a local small business bakes their cakes and slices.

Cafe manager Alissa Cooke decided to make a tree change back to Ballarat to take up the job, after living in Melbourne for six years.

"I've come from a retail management background but nothing in cafes," Ms Cooke said. "David (Winters) is the kind of person who likes to throw you in the deep end and help you swim. I've been living in Melbourne six years and was ready to live more between trees than buildings - I just got to the point where I want a little more of a relaxed atmosphere and this opportunity came up in the perfect place to give me a challenge."

Along with Ms Cooke, the cafe has four other employees, and the employs 15 workers from a variety of backgrounds.

All are from the local area, continuing their business plan of being as local as possible and becoming an integral part of the community.

The couple bought the nursery as a change of life and pace after Mr Winters became ill.

"It's all about living a good quality of life because you never know when your time is going to be up," Mr Winters said.

"My health can go downhill quickly so I'm trying to slow down and be here more."

Mr Winters said many people found walking around the nursery and sitting down to coffee in the bush setting calming and settling.

"People can come and walk around, sit on the deck - we don't expect everyone to buy stuff we want to create more of a community environment," he said.

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Several nursing homes also visit, and with a barbecue shelter built and landscaping almost completed around it he envisages groups bringing their lunch to the gardens and nursery for a walk and relax.

"We want to become a community hub - people don't have to come here and buy."

Avalon Nursery will host Nathan 'Whippy' Griggs for a free pass-the-hat whip cracking show on Sunday January 5 from 6.30pm.

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