Turning crops into spirits and rare orchids thriving in old cemeteries

A Big Country

Stories from around Australia by the ABC's rural reporters.

Career change to pub owner and new priest turns heads in rural parish

Meet the pint-sized publican granny; motorcycle riding priest shares passion for social justice with rural parish; farming camels for milk and meat; agriculture students get out of the laboratory to taste life on the land.

Turning crops into spirits and rare orchids thriving in old cemeteries

Turning red wheat and sugar beet into unique spirits, historic cemeteries offer protected habitat for rare orchids, learning from the best at bull-riding camp, country cafe building community.

Island community doing golf differently and blossoms turn coffee plantation white

For two days a year, coffee tree blossoms turn plantation white; golf in a stunning setting brings community together on a remote island; lavender grower marks 35 years of labour of love; how conservation dogs are helping with turtle conservation.

Rare shrub thriving and moving fresh milk in kegs

Introduced bumble bees are thriving in Tasmania, researchers are tracking them to find out why; kegs replace plastic bottles to get fresh milk from farm to cup; endangered shrub with a yellow flower showing signs of resurgence; finding the next varieties of a favourite Australian fruit.