Darriwell Farm owner Lisa Pitkethly said an announcement by Premier Daniel Andrews about a shutdown of all non-essential businesses on Sunday prompted her to sell out her perishables at half-price and tell people she was closing.

But then, she found out she didn't have to close.

"I cleared my stock yesterday," she said.

"I put it out there and my customers are so supportive they came in and helped me clear my perishables but now they think I'm closed which is most unfortunate.

"It's very distressing. I'm trying to do the right thing, so now I'm open again. I feel quite silly really."

Ms Pitkethly criticised the Premier for putting the wrong message out there and causing confusion with his statement.

"Everyone's still confused, they don't know what's happening," she said.

Darriwell Farm has now adapted the shop to adhere to the new rules and was providing takeaway. Ms Pitkethly said she was setting up a website so she could stay in business if there was a total shutdown.

"I guess we're waiting for the axe to fall," she said.

"I'm scaling down as we go because eventually it's going to happen and just trying to keep my staff in a job and me in a job."

But despite the uncertainty and hardships facing the community, she said she was heartened by the little acts of kindness with one lady going out of her way to come in to the shop to buy morning coffees to distribute to other businesses owners in the street.

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