Stallholder Profile for The Chilli Patch
https://www.facebook.com/thechillipatch/
Your name: Debbie Aitcheson
Your
Business name and Facebook link: The Chilli Patch,
The
suburb/town you live in now: Minden
What
is it that you make and what skills do you use? We grow from seed all our
potted herbs, chillies and salad greens. Paul hand makes timber products such
as bird feeders, bug hotels, boxes and crates, chalkboards and egg
carriers.
What
inspired you to start your business? A friend said to us in 1999 that no one
was growing Chilli plants in the horticulture industry so we started and
haven’t looked back. We love it.
How long have you been ‘creating’? Our business started
in 1999 as we wanted to start a family and working from home was a way to do it.
Is it a full time/ part time/hobby or business? It’s a full
time business and has taken us a long time to get to this. One of us has
generally worked in a part or full time job but it always put too much pressure
on the person trying to cope with the business. It’s really a two person or
more job.
Where do you sell your creations?: We do the markets all
weekend around Toowoomba, Mulgowie and Forest Hill and also have timber
trolleys that Paul has created in shops around Brisbane. We drive and fill the
herb trolleys each Thursday so they are fresh every week.
What makes what you so special or different? We rotate
the plants in the trolleys so the stock always looks good. The timber Paul
makes our products from is a rough sawn pine and we source it locally from
a timber sawmill. It looks rustic.
What
is the most rewarding part of what you do? Having our customers come back and
letting us know there plants are thriving and they can’t believe how fantastic
they are growing. Also the bird feeders are working beautifully. The
customer has kept the birds happy by having it in their yard.
What
is your favourite product that you make? Our bug hotels. Paul creates them with
whatever he can. They are something special that has won our customers hearts
and their bugs too.
Do
you teach classes or workshops? Yes I (Deb) go to Garden Clubs and talk about
Herbs - how people can grow and use them in culinary cooking. I also talk
about harvesting herbs and chillies, recycling with herbs, companion planting
and soap making.
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