Meet Sophie Kovic, the founder of Seed & Sprout, who shares her journey on purchasing two acres of land in the hinterland of Byron Bay and why she decided to build a tiny home and natural swimming pool.
Where or when do you feel the most wild?
I think it’s when I’m swimming. There’s something about being in a natural body of water, the weightlessness and the fluidity of movement that makes me feel extremely free. Even better if it’s a skinny dip!
You recently purchased two acres of land in the Byron Bay hinterland, as part of a community farm, and built yourself a gorgeous tiny home. Please tell us what inspired this move?
I had a vision to live in unity with nature and a compassionate community. So once I stop looking at things in such a rigid way, this really made a lot of sense to me.
What is something that has surprised you about living off-grid?
I really enjoy the feeling of being disconnected from general utilities and feeling empowered when I have to solve a problem on my own and realise that I am capable.
What is something that has required growth?
There were periods during the build that were incredibly challenging and to be honest at one point I felt so overwhelmed that I reached out to somebody to sell the property before it was completed. Although I do have help and support from those around me, I did undertake this challenge solo and it was a big challenge. I’ve never done anything remotely like this before, so everything was a steep learning curve.
What three things would you say to someone considering a move off-grid or into a tiny home?
- When designing, consider how much time you will be spending outside the home itself and factor in great outdoor spaces to relax in.
- Storage will be a factor so consider planning for that. Where will the things you want to keep but don’t fit in the house go?
- Just do it. It’s the best!
Tell us about your natural swimming pool, which instead of chemicals and salt uses plants to filter the water.
I have been obsessed with natural pools since I first came across the concept a few years ago. I don’t enjoy swimming in traditional pools as I don’t like the feeling of treated water on my skin. I knew the natural pool would be good, but I really underestimated just how good it would be. It’s probably the best thing I could’ve done, and I really enjoy the aspect of fostering that ecosystem as well. I’ve got different species of fish, frogs, shrimp and aquatic micro organisms living in there and I feel like a proud mama to them all.
Could you ever imagine yourself living in a more urban space, larger home, in the city again?
Yeah I can. I can be quite a chameleon and I really enjoy the convenience of being footsteps away from great restaurants and shops. I’m such a foodie so yeah, definitely.
What’s next for you personally?
I’ve got a couple of projects I’m working on – like bringing out my e-book on how I built my natural swimming pool and how I used AI to help me write it which was an interesting experiment. And also some other things that I’m not ready to talk about yet. Also, my TikTok account has grown so much recently that I’m wondering what to do with that moving forward. Whether it’s just a space for me to share my journey or whether I should be focusing on it more. And, of course, nurturing my baby Seed and Sprout which has made all of this possible!
For more, visit seedsprout.com.au
TikTok @sophiekovic
Instagram @sophiekovic
