Ingrid Dimock, Founder, City Chicks and My City Garden
Create something for yourself – be it a garden, a business or a recipe ...
When the lightbulb first went off in Ingrid Dimock’s head and she decided to sell chickens from her property in The Gap, the mother of three was anticipating a casual, one-day-a-week job. But as usual, life had other plans, and her family business City Chicks grew into four franchises across the country as well as a sister company, My City Garden. Most of us could learn a thing or two from Ingrid and her philosophy on growing your own food and living simply – that is, if we slowed down from the rat race long enough to listen. Ingrid has helped more than 15,000 families across Australia get back to basics, supplying them with everything from native beehives to cheese-making and mushroom-growing kits. The Weekend Edition popped into the pen to have a chat with Ingrid about her weekend rituals.
How do you like to start your weekend?
With a long walk enjoying the outdoors after we feed the chickens. My children normally come with me.
What’s your favourite thing to do on a Saturday morning?
Watch my children play sport – they play soccer and do horse riding. Then it’s off to work at our chicken shop.
How do you like to unwind?
I like to read, watch good dramas on ABC, catch up with friends and share stories of the week. I also like to head off each school holiday, either to the beach or inland, to get amongst nature.
What are your essentials for a well-spent weekend?
A bottle of champagne, a movie, my husband and my children.
What’s something you’ve been meaning to do on the weekend but haven’t got around to yet?
Gardening – four acres of it!
What’s your favourite thing to do on a Sunday evening?
Movie time with my family. The popcorn comes out and we all snuggle together under the movie blankets.
What are you looking forward to next weekend?
I’ve just installed my first European beehive so I’m being shown how to harvest the honey without getting stung. I have my bee suit arriving in the post this week – very exciting!
What are you reading at the moment?
Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion by Robert Cialdini. It’s an interesting look at how and why buyers buy, and how sellers sell.
What inspires you?
How nature has designed its wildlife, and my children and how they naturally handle things I would be worried about.
What was your childhood dream?
To be a famous actress. That didn’t happen and so now I put all of the theatre into my business, exciting families about chickens, bees and other wonderful things that we sell.
What has been your greatest achievement?
Creating the empire of City Chicks, selling chickens to families in Brisbane, the Sunshine Coast, Sydney and Melbourne. We hatch around 500 chicks a week that end up all over the country and in the backyards of families.
What is success to you?
Creating something for yourself – be it a garden, a business, an interesting product or recipe. Simple and successful.
What are your words of wisdom?
Being happy and content with your lot, no matter what your income.
Only a local would know … Anstead! It’s where I have my business, it has some of the best mountain-bike riding and bushwalking in Southeast Queensland, and no one in the city knows it’s here. Shhhh …
FAVOURITE WEEKEND SPOT TO:
Perk up … With a big bike ride!
Relax … At home with the children and a movie.
Dine … I love cooking at home and trialling new recipes on the kids.
Indulge … Vitalelife in Paddington – they give great organic facials.
Shop … Myer – so easy.
Catch-up … Litse Lounge in Keperra. It’s a great little spot in suburbia with great food and service.
Be inspired … Every day I’m inspired by the tiniest things!