About Heath Goods

I grew up in a family that treated the backyard as a second kitchen. My yiayia grew tomatoes, silverbeet, and beans in a small patch behind our place in Coburg, and my father did the same when we moved to Ballarat in the early nineties. It was never a hobby for them, it was just how you fed people without spending money you didn't have. I carried that through my adult life without really thinking about it, until 2021 when I found myself doing the numbers on a kitchen table in Ballarat at about eleven at night, working out whether I could actually keep the lights on for another quarter.

Before Heath Goods I was running small construction contracts around regional Victoria, mostly residential stuff, nothing glamorous. When work dried up in late 2020 I had two kids, a mortgage, and about $4,200 in a business account that needed to last until something came through. I started spending more time in the garden because it was free, and I started noticing that the gear available at the big hardware chains was either too cheap to last a season or priced like it was meant for a commercial operation. There wasn't much in between. That gap kept bothering me, the way a loose floorboard bothers you after a while.

— Thanks for being here. — Nikolaos, Nikolaos Souris

Our team

• Despina Vartholomeos — Operations and Fulfilment Lead: Despina came on board in early 2023 after eight years coordinating stock and dispatch for a Geelong-based outdoor furniture wholesaler. She manages the relationship with our third-party logistics provider in Canning Vale and keeps the inbound freight schedule tight across our Victorian and WA suppliers. If an order arrives damaged or a shipment is two days late, Despina is the one who already knows about it and has a plan.
• Brayden Quigley — Customer Service and Product Support: Brayden is based in Toowoomba and handles customer enquiries, assembly questions, and warranty claims across all channels. He joined in mid-2023 after running his own small garden maintenance round in the Darling Downs for four years, so he actually uses most of the products we sell and can answer a technical question without reading from a script. He also writes the assembly notes that ship inside every kit.
• Anouschka Ferreira — Digital and Content: Anouschka looks after the website, product photography, and the email list from her home studio in Fremantle, about four kilometres from our workshop. She spent three years doing e-commerce content for a Mount Gambier-based nursery before going freelance in 2021, which means she understands the specific language people use when they're actually trying to grow something in Australian soil. She joined Heath Goods in January 2024 on a part-time retainer.

Frequently asked questions

How long will my order take to arrive?

Standard delivery to metro areas in WA, NSW, VIC, QLD, and SA typically takes 3–7 business days. Regional and remote areas, including NT and TAS, can take 7–14 business days. You'll get a tracking number by email once your order ships.

Do you ship to PO boxes or parcel lockers?

Yes, we ship to Australia Post PO boxes and parcel lockers via standard AusPost. If you choose StarTrack express, a physical street address is required as StarTrack does not deliver to PO boxes.

Can I return a product if I change my mind?

Yes, we accept change-of-mind returns within 30 days of delivery, provided the item is unused, in its original packaging, and in resaleable condition. Return postage is at the customer's expense for change-of-mind returns.

What is the garden bed frame made from, and is it safe for growing food?

The Sunburst Garden Bed Frame Kit is made from treated pine using H3-level treatment, which is rated safe for in-ground contact and suitable for vegetable gardens. The treatment does not leach harmful chemicals into soil at the levels used in food gardening.

Does the potting mix contain anything that could cause allergic reactions?

The Premium Potting Mix contains composted bark, perlite, and a wetting agent. It may contain trace organic materials including peat and composted plant matter. If you have known sensitivities to these, we recommend wearing gloves and a dust mask when handling, and checking the product label for the full ingredient breakdown.

Do you offer custom sizing or made-to-order products?

Not at this stage. Our products are stocked in fixed sizes and configurations. If you're after something specific, feel free to reach out to us at hello@heathgoods.com and we'll let you know if anything in our range comes close.

Do you offer wholesale or trade pricing?

We do work with trade customers and garden centres on a case-by-case basis. Send your business details and what you're looking to order to hello@heathgoods.com and Nikolaos will come back to you within 2 business days.

Do you offer gift wrapping?

We don't offer gift wrapping at the moment. Most of our products are garden and outdoor tools, so standard protective packaging is the priority. You're welcome to add a note at checkout and we'll include it in the box.

Customer reviews

• 5/5 “Garden bed went together in under an hour” Ordered the Sunburst Garden Bed Frame Kit on a Tuesday and it arrived by Thursday, which was quicker than I expected for Perth metro. The timber was clean and the pre-drilled holes lined up perfectly. I've had cheaper kits before where nothing matched — this one didn't have that problem. Already have a second one on order.
• 4/5 “Solid loppers, packaging could be better” The Pro-Grade Bypass Lopper handles thick branches without much effort — I cut through a 4cm olive branch in one go. The blade arrived sharp and the grip is comfortable for extended use. Knocked one star because the packaging had a bit of movement in transit and there was a small scuff on the handle, though it doesn't affect function.
• 5/5 “Drip system actually works as described” Set up the 30m Drip Line Irrigation Kit across two garden beds and a pot run along our back fence. The timer is straightforward to program — no manual-reading required if you've used one before. It's been running for six weeks now with no leaks and the plants are noticeably better than when I was hand watering every couple of days.
• 4/5 “Good 4-in-1 tool, one head attachment is a bit stiff” The Multipurpose Garden Tool Combo is well built for the price and the cultivator head is the one I reach for most. The hoe attachment clicks in fine but one of the other heads takes a bit of force to lock. Not a dealbreaker but worth mentioning. Shipping to Melbourne took five days on standard, which was reasonable.
• 5/5 “Best potting mix I've used in a while” I've tried a few bagged mixes from the big hardware chains and they've been hit or miss. The 50L Premium Potting Mix held moisture noticeably better from the first water, which I'm putting down to the wetting agent. My balcony herbs are looking healthier than they have in months. Arrived double-bagged with no spillage.
• 5/5 “Great garden bed, clear instructions” Bought the Sunburst Garden Bed Frame Kit as a first attempt at a veggie patch. The instructions were clear and I didn't need to look anything up online, which I appreciated. Timber felt solid and the corners were square once assembled. Delivery to Sydney took about five business days.

From the journal

• How rent pressure pushed me to start this thing — I needed something that would actually cover the bills, so I worked backwards from what people were already buying.
• Finding a timber supplier who actually answers the phone — I went through four suppliers before I found one who could tell me the H3 treatment schedule without putting me on hold.
• Getting the drip irrigation kit to work in heavy clay — Clay soil and soaker lines do not automatically get along, but there are a few things that change the outcome significantly.
• What the packing process actually looks like at 9pm — There is no team, no warehouse, just the spare room and a Wednesday night batch that has to go out by Thursday morning pickup.
• Getting the bypass lopper ready before the autumn prune — A lopper that has not been looked after since last year will make the job harder and the cuts messier than they need to be.
• What running this for 18 months has actually taught me — The things I thought would be hard turned out fine, and the things I did not think about enough are still catching me out.