G'day and welcome to episode 72 of the A Place To Call Home Podcast
Today I’m joined by Jacob (Jake) Wolki, a mixed-enterprise farmer from Woomargama in southern New South Wales. Jake and his wife Ann run a 60-hectare home block with Nguni cattle, Berkshire pigs, laying hens, honey, an orchard and a stack of little side enterprises – all feeding into their on-farm butchery and direct-to-consumer business.
What started as a personal health crisis and a backyard veggie patch has evolved into a fully fledged, multi-layered farm business: regenerative, direct-to-consumer, value-adding, and fiercely family-centred. Jake is also known for creating one of Australia’s first 24/7 unstaffed butcher shops, his unapologetically honest social media, and his advocacy for “fit-for-purpose” African genetics like Nguni cattle and Damara sheep.
Whether you’re dreaming of stacking enterprises, going direct-to-consumer, or just want your kids more involved in the day-to-day, this yarn is packed with hard-won lessons, uncomfortable truths and plenty of practical inspiration.
In this episode we chat about
How a health crisis pushed Jacob from the “stupid Australian diet” into growing food and building a regenerative farm business.
The journey from leasing his dad’s 100-acre block to creating a fully integrated farm, butchery and nationwide direct-to-consumer model.
Why he built one of Australia’s first 24/7 unstaffed butcher shops — and how it transformed the business.
The power of value-adding: turning trim, fat and “waste” into high-margin products like tallow, broth and skincare.
Why Jacob chooses African genetics like Nguni cattle and Damara sheep for fit-for-purpose, low-input, resilient farming.
Resources Mentioned
How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie - Penguin Books Australia
The Richest Man in Babylon, eBook by George S. Clason | 9789897786884 | Booktopia
MAN, CATTLE and VELD : Zietsman, Johann: Amazon.com.au: Books
Follow Jacob and Wolki Farms
📘 Facebook: Wolki Farms
📸 Instagram: @Wolkifarms
🌏 Website:Wolki Farm Grass Fed Meat
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