Simon is an organic farmer working with agroforestry in the subtropical Northern Rivers of NSW, Australia. He originally studied ecology and marine science at university (followed by many years of surf travel) before he fell in love with agroforestry and regenerative agriculture. This took him to Brazil, where he learned from world leading farmers how to grow food in harmony with forest ecosystems. He is pioneering this farming practice at his farm, Macaco Agroforestry. He composes poems in his head while working and hopes to share some of this wonderful world with children and their parents.
Illustrator:
Caroline Keys is an illustrator based in Ballarat, Australia. She grew up in South Africa and has wanted to be an artist from the time she could hold a crayon. After studying graphic design, she cut her teeth in illustration, working on readers and textbooks for children in rural African schools, before moving to Australia in 2002. Throughout her career, she has honed her craft in many mediums but most notably in watercolours. Recently she has thrown herself into digital illustration, using all the principles and techniques learned from decades of working traditionally. She feels very fortunate to always have a stack of fun and interesting manuscripts on her desk and is a big advocate of the power to educate and bring joy through the magic of pictures.