The story behind Giles Herbs
Most flower farms grow roses but Chris and Amanda Giles grow Herbs.
Their Bundaberg farm produces everything from coriander and parsley to basil, mint, rosemary, thyme and sage, with bunches heading to local shops as well as wholesale markets in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne.
But it wasn’t fresh herbs alone that unexpectedly put Giles Herbs on the map. It was a bouquet.
Intrigued by the story behind the bouquets, Chitchat reached out to Amanda Giles to learn more about the family farm, the passion behind the business, and how a bunch of herbs became more than just ingredients.
Q: Who is involved in the success of Giles Herbs?
Amanda: Giles Herbs QLD Pty Ltd is a family-owned and operated herb farm located in Bundaberg, Queensland. The farm is owned and managed by Chris and Amanda Giles, with day-to-day operations supported by a dedicated team who share a passion for growing high-quality fresh herbs.
We supply local shops as well as the Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne markets.
Q: What do you grow?
Amanda: We specialise in growing a wide range of fresh culinary herbs including chives, coriander, dill, thyme, rosemary, sage, tarragon, oregano, basil, flat-leaf parsley, curly parsley and mint.
Our herbs are supplied fresh to wholesalers, local retailers and customers throughout Queensland and beyond.
Q: When did Giles Herbs begin?
Amanda: Chris’s farming journey began many years before me, but Giles Herbs officially started in 2015 with a love of fresh produce and a desire to provide customers with premium-quality herbs grown locally.
Over the years, the farm has continued to grow and evolve while maintaining a strong focus on quality, sustainability and supporting local produce.
Q: Where do you farm?
Amanda: We farm in Bundaberg, Queensland, where the climate allows us to grow fresh herbs year-round.
Every bunch is harvested, prepared and packed on-farm by hand to ensure maximum freshness.
Bundaberg’s climate provides ideal growing conditions, allowing the farm to harvest continuously throughout the year before produce begins its journey to customers across Australia.
Q: Why do you farm?
Amanda: This is always the easiest question to answer. We farm because we genuinely love what we do. There is something special about growing food from the ground up and seeing it make its way into family kitchens, restaurants and local businesses.
We take pride in producing fresh, high-quality herbs and creating opportunities for our local community. Every day is different, and being connected to the land is what keeps us passionate about farming.
Q: How did the herb bouquets come about?
Amanda: The idea for our herb bouquets actually started during COVID when so many shops were closing and we were having to throw away a lot of stock.
We weren’t sure what we were going to do, but one day a lady messaged me and asked if I could send her friend all the herbs we grow because she loved to cook.
I said, “Sure, I’ll just wrap them in paper.”
By the end, it looked like a flower bouquet, and that’s where the herb bouquets started.
They’ve continued to be a favourite gift in Bundaberg ever since.
Many people asked if we could send them interstate after seeing us on ABC and Landline, but herbs grow at different lengths and don’t always travel well without water. The quality started to drop, and we don’t like sending produce that isn’t perfect, especially to customers who continue to support us.
Herbs aren’t just ingredients. They’re fragrant, colourful, edible and long-lasting, making them perfect for arrangements that are both practical and attractive.
Today, our herb bouquets can be purchased directly through the farm, with each bouquet handcrafted using herbs grown right here in Bundaberg.
Q: What would you like people to know about Giles Herbs?
Amanda: At Giles Herbs, we’re passionate about quality, freshness and supporting local agriculture.
Whether it’s a bunch of chives heading to a restaurant or a herb bouquet gifted to a loved one, we take pride in knowing that every product has been grown, harvested and packed with care.
Our goal is simple: to share the beauty, flavour and versatility of fresh herbs with as many people as possible and to show our love of farming through Facebook and Instagram.
If you see us driving around in our mini Herbet truck, we’re probably dropping off fresh herbs to another shop in town.
Most importantly, we’d like to thank the locals and customers interstate who continue to support our family farm.
– Chris and Amanda Giles
While most people never stop to think about where the herbs in their pasta sauce, roast dinner or summer salad come from, there’s a good chance they started life in a Bundaberg paddock, nurtured by a family who somehow managed to turn a bunch of herbs into a bouquet of success.
Published July 2026. Chitchat Newspaper.