EIGHT years ago, Brendon Eisner and his wife, Kate Ulman, moved to a 20ha Muskvale property.

They had a plan to establish a small, organic garden, with enough produce for themselves and a small business.

Today, that business, Daylesford Organics, not only supplies some of Victoria's best restaurants - including Daylesford's Lake House and Melbourne's Circa - but last year won a Vogue Produce Award.

More recently it was ranked sixth in Australian Traveller Magazine's best gourmet experiences.

Aside from producing seasonal fruit and vegetables, the couple also have 1000 free-range chickens, which are guarded by their two Maremmas, Bingo and Banjo.

"We back on to the Wombat State Forest so we have a big fox problem," Mr Eisner said.

"When we first got the chooks we lost 70 in one hit and about 200 in total.

"Since getting the Maremmas we haven't lost one. They live full-time with the chickens.

"I often come out in the morning and see them sitting there in the middle of the flock, cross-legged and majestic."