Annie Smithers
Cook. Farmer. Writer.
du Fermier
Annie creates a seasonal menu each weekend. Sometimes, the dishes are plated, sometimes shared, and always, they revolve around what is being harvested from the garden or taken from the store cupboard. The food is based on classic French farmhouse dishes that are to be enjoyed with friends and family.
Babbington Park
Annie and Susan work with a small team to create a beautiful, productive environment at Babbington Park. A large vegetable patch, productive fruit garden and leafy orchard have been established and are kept holistically. The farm is also home to a number of rare breed animals and poultry.
Masterclass
Annie hosts a series of classes each year. Her classes are demonstration in style drawing on Annie’s knowledge and years of experience. The classes are held at our restaurant, du Fermier in Trentham. Held in the dining room, these demonstration classes include morning tea on arrival, notes and recipes to take home, followed by a spot of lunch and a glass of wine. They are fun and informative, and our class participants have returned again and again over the years.
Store
A little shop where you can purchase signed copies of Annie’s books and masterclasses and take away when available.
Walking Gently on the Earth | A Portrait of Annie Smithers.
“There was an old saying that you could feed a family on an acre of land […]”
Walking Gently on the Earth tells the story of Annie Smithers; a chef based in Lyonville, Australia whose life is dedicated to having a positive impact on the environment by treading as lightly as possible on the ground beneath her feet.
Directed, shot and edited by Guido Pezz.
We respectfully acknowledge and extend our appreciation to the Dja Dja Wurrung People, the Traditional owners of the land on which du Fermier and Babbington Park are located, where we live and farm. We pay our respect to the First Nations Peoples and their elders, past, present and future.