Article: A Day in the Garden with Sue Heward
A Day in the Garden with Sue Heward
The Riverland sun rises early, soft gold spilling across rows of fig trees that have stood for generations. Among them walks Sue Heward, basket in hand, beginning another day on her family’s century-old orchard Singing Magpie Produce.
Sue grew up wild and free in the Riverland of South Australia, where her family has tended the same patch of earth for over a hundred years. The land, with its rich soil and blazing summers, shaped her love for nature, good food, and slow, meaningful living.
But like many young Australians, Sue was eager to see the world. She spent 28 years travelling, building her career, and living in Melbourne’s fast-paced rhythm, far from the rustle of leaves and the hum of bees. Still, the call of home never left her.
In 2016, Sue, her partner Mark, and their three-year-old daughter Frankie made the life-changing decision to trade the city for the orchard, to return to her roots and share the country life she had loved as a child. That return home rekindled not only her connection to the land but also her creative spirit and sense of purpose.
Today, her days follow the gentle, grounding rhythm of the garden.
5:00 – 10:00am: Among the Fig Trees
As the day begins, Sue walks through the fig orchard, the air still cool, the light soft and pink. She gathers fig leaves for a few local chefs who are experimenting with new products, a collaboration that blends her love for food with her deep understanding of the land.
“While I’m out here,” Sue says, “I’m dreaming up ideas like fig spritzers, fig salt, and fig leaf ice cream.” Her imagination is as alive as the orchard around her.
She pauses to observe the tiny fig wasps at work, nature’s quiet miracle of pollination. “It’s such an incredible symbiotic dance,” she reflects, watching them move from fruit to fruit. “They remind me that everything in nature has its purpose.”
By mid-morning, the sun is high and fierce, a reminder that summer is on its way.
10:00am – 1:00pm: Growing and Gathering
Back home, Sue tends to the vegetable garden, a living, breathing reflection of her values. “We’re aiming to grow everything we eat,” she says. “We’re not quite there yet, but we’re loving every minute of it.”
What started as a practical way to attract bees has become a full-blown flower obsession. The garden bursts with colour, scent, and texture. Dahlias are the stars of the day, their tubers and labels prepped for planting while Sue works undercover, sheltering from the Riverland’s high UV.
It’s slow, thoughtful work, the kind that nourishes both soil and soul.
1:00 – 3:00pm: Veggie Harvest and Headspace
Afternoons are for picking produce. Sue moves quietly among the rows, filling baskets with vegetables for dinner. “This is my joy,” she says, “and also my stress management.”
Running a small artisan food business demands creativity, long hours, and resilience, but the garden keeps her grounded. Each handful of greens, each ripe tomato, reminds her of why she came home: to grow, to create, and to live with purpose.
3:00 – 5:00pm: Golden Hour Magic
As the heat softens and the light turns golden, the garden transforms. Sue calls this her favourite time of day, the golden hour.
She wanders through the flower beds, gathering poppies in the late afternoon glow. “They’re taking over the garden right now,” she laughs, “along with the snow peas.” It’s the most glorious time to be outside, still, warm, and filled with colour.
In this light, surrounded by the hum of life, Sue’s world feels perfectly balanced: beauty, simplicity, and a deep connection to the land she calls home.
Every day in the garden is different, shaped by the weather, the season, and the steady rhythm of nature. But for Sue Heward, it’s always a reminder of where she came from and what truly matters: family, food, creativity, and the quiet joy of growing something beautiful from the earth.
Follow Sue’s journey on Instagram as she continues to nurture her family’s 100-year-old orchard, celebrate the beauty of seasonal living, and share her love for figs, flowers, and the art of slow, purposeful life.
