A Working Retreat In The Dandenongs

A visit to the Dandenongs is an escape from the city's grey hustle and bustle to cool green forests, the sound of birds and the scents of plants and fresh moist air. It's an area which has been home to many artists who love its serenity and scenery.

Innisfree Herbs & Follies is on several acres of sloping, richly cultivated land at Kalorama and was once the home of painter, Max Middleton.When Ann Creber and David Morrow first met, Morrow recited W. B. Yeats poem, The Lake Isle of Innisfree. Romance followed and the hunt for a home which, they found two days before their wedding, and named in celebration of that first meeting.

The poem talks about the peace, that "comes dropping slow" and of living alone "in the bee-loud glade." But Ann and David's Innisfree is not about dropping out or retreating from industry, it's a veritable hive of activity. They run craft courses in the former sky-lit studio space, cooking classes, 'hands-on' and 'feet in the dirt' workshops on rose growing and, David's speciality -- the creation of spiral herb gardens, an ingenious means of containing a huge number of herbs in a small space by 'terracing' the herbs from top (those that need least water) to bottom, those that drink most.

It took this energetic couple over a year to get the property in some sort of shape. In that time David shed 18 kilo. The garden was very overgrown and it was heavy and hard work to clear it, establish paths and beds and decide on the planting of all the herbs, vegetables, fruits and flowers.

But the work at Innisfree does not stop. The gardens require daily maintenance and the fruits and herbs constant picking and use. Their harvest is more than bountiful, it is daunting (what do you do with thirty two kilos of pears, as many of quinces, plums etc.) But, first, there's the battle with hundreds of cockies as to who gets to the fruits first. The birds here are beautiful, the bold white cockies and the multicoloured galahs and parrots. But their appetites are voracious despite the seeds left out for them in the vain hope of distracting them from the fruit and flowers. "They eat what we leave out for them as an appetiser and then go to the garden for main course, " said David.

Another battle which they are engaged in is the opposition to the proposed sky rail gondola service from the Silvan Reservoir to Kalorama. Ann feels very strongly that this will destroy the view and threaten the environment.

Meanwhile the program of classes continues. In November there will be a Herb Workshop (how to identify and plant, making of herb vinegar's and oils, pomander balls) on Saturday 8, Spiral Herb Garden on Sunday 9, A Day of Dine & Roses which includes a rose-flavoured lunch, demonstrations of rose-painting and discussion with Brenda Millott the landscape designer of the splendid Chateau Yering (where Eleonore's restaurant was) on Sunday 22 (and a further two rose workshops Nov 29 and Dec 6); Beekeeping Workshop on Saturday 28, Christmas in the Kitchen cookery class on Monday 30.

There are also special events which are proving enormously popular. In September the Woorilla Festival of Words held several events at Innisfree and in March the inaugural Teddy Bear's Picnic attracted more than 400. Throughout the year there are several teddy bear making workshops in preparation for next year's event.

One of the features of Innisfree is an enormous spreading oak tree beside which David is planting a 'village green' though facing considerable competition from the wild ducks who enjoy feeding on the newly sown grass. The ducks share the grounds with chickens, geese and alpacas. No wonder that families love holding children's parties here. Ann, who was Cookery Editor for Australian Parents Magazine for 8 years, will prepare fairy cakes and bread, ribbon sandwiches, home-made cordial, little baskets of sweets and a "magic spell box" to take to the hidden fairy garden.

On the first weekend of each month from November to April, Innisfree will be open to public visits, by appointment at other times. Ring 97284475. If you want to stay in the area, Ann recommends Rosehill Lodge where former catering college head, George Hill, cooks personally for his guests or Villa Toscana which is next door to Innisfree. Some eating places nearby include Kenloch with their glorious historic gardens; the old fashioned country lunch at Coonara Springs; the bistro dishes at Le Port d'Amsterdam and the schnitzel nights at the Mount Dandenong Hotel, every Wednesday, a choice of schnitzels served with salad and chips for just $7.

More recommendations in Mietta's Eating & Drinking in Melbourne (published by Hardie Grant $18.95).