Holy Grail Garlic
This is the garlic partnership between Wynlen House and Clarevale Farm. Our garlic is grown at Bundanoon, and on Clarevale, the farm of our garlic partner, Victoria Royds, about 5k from Braidwood. Victoria is a regenerative farmer and the ecological and environmental work that she is achieving has recently been awarded Ecological Outcome Verification, through the Savoury Institute as part of the Land to Market Program. This measures the overall health of a landscape recognising land regeneration trends and targets.
We specialise in mid and late season garlic. Harvest for these garlics starts with the mid season groups in November through to early January. The process of natural drying and curing takes about 8 to12 weeks for mid to late groups which are ready for sale by late March, early April. We also grow Turban’s, Monaro Purple which is ready usually in December or late November.
Holy Grail Garlic is specialising in growing a range of garlic groups that are specialised and not commonly grown or available through retail outlets. These garlics also have very distinctive flavours and very good cooking qualities. Wait until you taste them. Look out for one of our garlic tastings.
The story of Holy Grail Garlic is entwined with the story of Braidwood Garlic
Garlic was first grown in the Braidwood area some 40 years ago. Wynlen House began growing around 2002. In September 2012 Bronwyn Richards, from Wynlen House, organised a gathering of local garlic growers and those interested in growing garlic. It was clear at the gathering there was a strong interest in growing garlic across the region. It was agreed we needed to share information and learning to encourage new growers. A digital forum (Braid Garlic) was established to share information and to assist with a learning / labour exchange to enable those interested in growing garlic to work alongside existing growers during peak activities – planting, harvesting and braiding. All harvesting in this area is done by hand.
In 2015 Bronwyn Richards for the Braid Garlic Group with the support of Upper Shoalhaven Landcare Council received a Landcare Grant. The project was to demonstrate the potential of garlic, as a commercial crop, to enhance economic resilience, agricultural profitability and sustainability in the Braidwood area.
As part of the community involvement in the Growing the Braidwood Garlic Growers, Landcare project, the Anglican Church offered Wynlen House a vacant block of land adjacent to the church for garlic growing. Holy Grail Garlic was born. The church in its enthusiasm in May 2015 and 2016 conducted a Blessing of the Crop. For the 2017 crop planting Holy Grail Garlic relocated to Clarevale Farm as it had outgrown the Anglican church site.
Bronwyn Richards and the Braidwood Garlic Growers group was awarded the 2017 Australian Government Innovation in Agriculture and Land Management, NSW Landcare Champion. You can purchase from our range of garlic from the farm gate here.
