Great patch to live in

By Lachlan Ellis
A family-owned farm is feeling nostalgic this month, with an owner marking 52 years since moving to Bacchus Marsh.
Run by Jeff and Glenda Jones, Jeff Jones Plants & Produce has been operating in Bacchus Marsh for over 60 years, and on Sunday 15 May, Glenda Jones marked 52 years in the business and also, over five decades of marriage.
Though things have certainly changed in town since she arrived from North Balwyn, Ms Jones says Bacchus Marsh is still a perfect place to live.
“When I came here, it was a very close-knit little family town. When I first arrived there were only about 3,000 people living here. It was quite different, along the Avenue of Honour there were about ten families who owned little orchards,” she told the Moorabool News.
“Primary production has changed enormously…before I came it was mainly dairy, where we are now was a dairy farm before it was planted out in 1960. There were all little apple orchards along the Avenue, now there’s only one big one, the Dellios’. Then you’ve got Payne’s, the little one, that’s an original family one,” Ms Jones said.
During the Jones’ time in Bacchus Marsh, traffic has become a big problem – Ms Jones regrets the Woolpack Road bypass not going ahead – and the shop was “busier 30 years ago”.
But despite the town’s rapid growth, and the struggles it’s gone through, Ms Jones still believes Bacchus Marsh is “the bee’s knees”.
“Bacchus Marsh has been very kind to our family, our children have had a great life here, Jeff and I have had a great life here. I think the close proximity to Melbourne, Ballarat and Geelong help to keep it still rural, but a bit metropolitan too,” she said.
“I just love Bacchus Marsh…it’s been terrific running Jonesy’s all this time. We used to sell from the shed in the early days, but of course it has changed, the demographics of selling now have definitely changed.”
The farm has started growing heritage pumpkins again, which Ms Jones says bring a sense of nostalgia and “look great in photos”.
“We’ve grown them for years and years…they’re all different, people really do like the different ones. There’s all different flavours, some are for soup, some are for roasting,” she said.
“They’re eye-catching too, people take fabulous photos of kids sitting on them and that sort of thing with the bright colours. They’re a drawcard in that way. They have a bit of a nostalgic feel, and they attract heritage type people who like old-fashioned stuff.”
Jeff Jones Plants & Produce is located in The Avenue of Honour at 388 Bacchus Marsh Road, on the right-hand side as you head towards Melton.

To read the full story – Simply click on the following link

 https://issuu.com/themooraboolnews/docs/mn_2022-05-24/1

in the 24 May 2022 edition
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pick up a paper around your town.