A note from the founder…

“In 2021, I began tinkering on some big ideas for a small business. 

I was living my post-covid dream - from a van, on the magical Aussie road with my Kelpie dog.

This journey led me to rediscovering one of my truest passions was for Australian Indigenous plants, and their medicinal qualities. 

What (shouldn’t have) surprised me was the lack of knowledge of these mysterious, ancient and potent medicines. 

This was more than just an epiphany to me but rather, a real saviour.

 I was at this time, trapped in a chemical skincare maze where my teenage acne wouldn’t leave me alone and I was now in my mid-20’s. 

It affected my confidence, my self worth and now I understand, my internal, physiological body systems.

 Gratefully I realised that with a little bit of passion, further research of native botany, my history in science and a great hope to help others, I could produce my very own natural skincare treatments.

Thus, Gumdrop Native Oils was born. 

After months on the road in my van with my thoughts, I stumbled across the magnificent Atherton Tablelands, and what I believed instantly was to be my new home. It was one of those serendipitous happneings - I arrived and cried at the beauty of it all, fell in love with the mountains and the rainforest, and everything quite ridiculously, just fell into place.  That same evening, no word of a lie, I met my fiancé, Henry - an Ecologist/Zoologist completing his PhD in the Australian bush.

Today, the two of us live at his family home among endless acres of rolling Malanda hills, working everyday on our passions; our syntropic garden Henry has nurtured into such lovely fruition, tending to our flock of old-english chickens, practicing yoga, selling at local markets and honing in on all of our future endeavours.

At the beginning of 2023, I completed my Yoga Teacher Training (RYT200), to extend on the knowledge of my current passion of practice. Here my interest was built upon, and I am excited to currently have local Yoga classes in the works in an effort to provide tools to others for managing stress, enhancing wellbeing and connecting with self. Through my dedication to yoga, it became clear to me just how connected the physical and spiritual body are, and how this intertwines with connection and appreciation of the beautiful natural world around us.

With our combined interests, it is our dream to build beautiful diverse gardens and food forests to feed our community, local wildlife and family, sell our very own seeds, preserves and plants, hold workshops on bushcraft and yoga, and combine my original offering of natural skincare, with all the other things that go along with natural living. 

Our endeavour with agriculture is a regenerative one. We hope to show that we can produce abundance by working with nature rather than against it, ultimately becoming stewards of the landscape and caring for country. Taking on the responsibility to care for our country as well as other natural living practices, reflects what we think is a gem of Australian culture - the indigenous perspective; obtaining sustainability and seeking a higher level of consciousness,

We connect with nature through quiet observation, nurturing and appreciation;

Connect with our individual ‘selves’ through yoga and self-care practices.

 And connect with each other in our home garden and kitchen. 

We dream that everyone has the option to move away from bygone convenience and common discontentment with ease. 

‘By seeing yourself as a natural system within a larger - our beautiful, diverse Australian environment - what glorious secrets and gifts there are to discover.’

Together, people can make really big changes. 

And we believe natural living is the change Australia needs.’

GUMDROP NATURAL LIVING  respects and acknowledges the Ngadjon and Mamu people as the First Peoples and Traditional Custodians of the land, skies and waterways on which this business operates.  We pay our respects to Aboriginal Elders - past, present and emerging - and recognise their continuous connection to Country. Sovereignty has never been ceded.