I’m very excited to introduce you to a brand-new enterprise at the Harcourt Farming Co-op: it’s a mobile sauna called fire+stone sauna, and it’s taking up residence on the farm every Thursday, from 3 pm to 8 pm. (Read to the end to find out about a very special “come and try” offer this week.)

My name is Fiona, and a lot of you will already know of me because I’ve been working on the farm as part of Tess’s dairy for the last 4 years. Even if we haven’t met in person, I’m part of the team that has been helping Tess with washing bottles, wrangling cows, and doing markets.

So, why a sauna, and why on this farm?

A sauna might seem like a slightly unexpected addition to a farm full of fruit trees, cows, bushfoods and vegies, but I feel that it fits beautifully with what the coop is trying to create here — a productive, diverse farm that’s also a place for people to connect, learn, slow down and enjoy being in the countryside.  

It’s been so lovely for the farm community to welcome me as I launch my passion project.

This isn’t a fancy city wellness centre. It’s a mobile sauna parked here on the farm, surrounded by paddocks, cows, orchards and the foothills of Leanganook.

You get an hour of heat, quiet and relaxation, with the added bonus of being somewhere that actually feels like you’re away from it all.

After a day of work, kids, life, farming, gardening, chopping firewood or pretty much anything else, there’s something very appealing about sitting in a hot sauna.

The many benefits of taking time for a sauna

Regular sauna bathing is firmly embedded in many cultures. I experienced it first-hand when my husband Ben and I visited Finland and Norway.  I immediately started thinking about how I could possibly run a sauna in Australia, but had no idea how I could do that until this opportunity came up.

In countries where sauna is practiced regularly, visiting sauna together acts like the ‘glue’ that helps to hold communities together, which I absolutely love and want to support here in Harcourt. 

Apart from the gentle social aspect, there’s also a growing body of research into the health benefits. 

Health benefits of regular sauna

Regular sauna use has been associated with cardiovascular benefits, relaxation and stress reduction, improved sleep and a general feeling of wellbeing. 

The heat causes your heart rate to rise and your blood vessels to dilate, giving your cardiovascular system a bit of a workout while you sit around doing absolutely nothing — which is a pretty appealing kind of exercise!

Research into the benefits of heat (and cold) therapy is really exciting, and I’ll be sharing more about it in upcoming blogs and posts. (I’ve also started an Instagram account for the sauna, which you can follow here: @fireandstonesaunaau)

And there’s something to be said for the simple benefits too: an hour without your phone (optional – don’t worry, we don’t confiscate it!), nowhere you need to be, a good sweat and time to catch up with a friend.

Two-for-one-offer this week

Speaking of catching up with friends, this week I’m offering a special two-for-one offer. 

I’ve tried to keep sauna sessions affordable compared to city saunas, at $40 for an hour session, but I’d love to welcome as many locals as possible during my launch period, so this week I’m offering a “try it out” session, so you and a friend can have an hour in the sauna for the price of one session. Regular sessions are still available to book during this time too. 

If you love sauna and want to introduce a friend to it, have never tried it and want to give it a go, or would just like to visit and see what it’s all about, this is your chance!

Book your sauna session here (this link will take you to a page where you select and pay for the 2 for 1 package. A code will be generated which can then be used to redeem it when you book your sauna session here. The code is valid for 7 days post purchase.)

The sauna will be here every Thursday, so if you discover that an hour of connection and relaxation in the countryside is exactly what you needed, you can make it part of your regular week. (We’ll also be having regular specials and deals, so keep an eye out for them.)

Please let me know if you have any questions or feedback, and I look forward to meeting you in the paddock!

See you in the sauna!

All the best,

Fiona