     | "A farm can be more than a place just for farmers and can be welcoming, engaging, educational and fun. A farm and it's community can showcase itself through more than just farmers markets and fancy farm to table dinners." Last Saturday night, Lindsey (my partner) and I attended our local CSA farm for an evening of community and dance. Thankfully we weren't dancing but a project from our state called Farm to Ballet did. Farm to Ballet is a concept created by local dancer Chatch Pregger who wanted to achieve two things. One, was to celebrate the regions farming culture and two, to bring ballet to a new audience. We arrived expecting the typical little farmers market crowd but instead drove into the property and were shocked by throngs of kids and dogs running around. Families gathered around on picnic blankets, the pizza oven was firing and craft beer was flowing. There had to be at least 150 people attending, which for our sparsely populated corner of the US is an amazing turn out for any event. But the magic really happened when the two farm owners stood in front of the crowd and proudly spoke to us about how thrilled they were to share this night with all of us. That their farm was more than just a place of production but also a place of community, of sharing and of enjoyment. This was followed by the entrance of the ballet troupe and an hour and a half of the most engaging ballet I have ever been witness too. The story began with Jack Frost announcing that he had kept the land cold for the winter but was now departing and that the next three seasons where now free for growth. With that we were introduced to the lead dancer who in turn interpretatively introduced us to all her farm animals from the rooster to the pig. Then the dance sequences followed the seasons and the cycles and we watched as seeds were sown, as the roster organized his flock, as irrigation was laid, as seedlings grew. And throughout the entire show the highlight easily had to be the engagement and excitement of the kids during the show. There was never an entrance of a dancer that wasn't followed by a chorus of tiny voices shouting out the characters costume. THERE IS THE GOAT! THERE ARE THE TOMATOES! So damn cute, there was a little confusion as to whether the dancers were strawberries or tomatoes and whether the girls in green holding large green fans above them were lettuce or cabbage but all the same, the kids and the adults all had an awesome time. This event proved and confirmed so much to me! A farm can be more than a place just for farmers and can be welcoming, engaging, educational and fun. A farm and it's community can showcase itself through more than just farmers markets and fancy farm to table dinners. Maybe it's not ballet, maybe it's interpretive dance, its all the same, as long as someone is dressed up like a cabbage everyone will have a great time! Farms rock! Hope your guys are all doing great! Sending my love from this big confused, innovative, gun loving country! Matt |
 | Future Feeders stands with the Byron Greens commitment and initiative to support our regions young farmers and the development of the local agriculture industry. We want to see the Byron Shire become a vibrant hub for ecological agriculture, not just a development hub. We need a well structured and future driven sustainable agriculture strategy not a rural land use strategy. Lets unlock our regions amazing agricultural potential which can preserve our regions beauty and rich biodiversity, enhance our local food security and provide excellent sustainable local economic development. |
Listen to Bay FM reporter's Dione Green podcast and interviews
]]>Great to have him on board as a co-farmer at the Future Feeders market garden, in developing our growing CSA model and in the continued evolution of the Future Feeders Movement.
As a new young farmer to the region Erik already comes with rich market gardening experience through his ventures at the Fresh As farm and now with his enterprises at The Farm Byron Bay.
Erik is also looking for the next place to put down roots and extend his farming opportunities.
View his profile on farmLinks
Tell us a bit about yourself
My partner and I migrated to the northern rivers in July last year, accidentally falling into farming as a means of providing both an income and accommodation. Both of which are in drastically short supply in the region.
What is it about Farming?
After ups, downs and round abouts and the hardest year of my life, there is still nothing I would rather do.
Why Future Feeders?
Partnering with Future Feeders is the next stage in collaborative and co-operative working, Agriculture of the people, by the people, for the people.
]]>My partner and I migrated to the northern rivers in July last year, accidentally falling into farming as a means of providing both an income and accommodation. Both of which are in drastically short supply in the region.
What is it about Farming?
After ups, downs and round abouts and the hardest year of my life, there is still nothing I would rather do.
Why Future Feeders?
Partnering with Future Feeders is the next stage in collaborative and co-operative working, Agriculture of the people, by the people, for the people.
Farm Endorsement Ecological Development (FEED) is a Participatory Guarantee Systems (PGS), which as defined by IFOAM, is a "locally focused quality assurance systems.
They certify producers based on active participation of stakeholders and are built on a foundation of trust, social networks and knowledge exchange."
They represent an alternative to third party certification and are especially adapted to local markets and short supply chains. They can also complement third party certification with a private label that brings additional guarantees and transparency.
PGS enable the direct participation of producers, consumers and other stakeholders in:
the choice and definition of the standards
the development and implementation of certification procedures
the certification decisions
The primary motivations for seeing the development of an PGS in our local region are;
To reward local farmers who are making exceptional efforts in their ecological practice,
To deter the prevalence of generic claims and improve the integrity of ‘spray free’ / ‘chem free’ labeling which ensures additional consumer confidence and transparency,
To provide an exceptionally affordable option for farmer recognition,
To provide an alternative to Organic Certification for those cases where it proves unviable/unaffordable/unnecessary
To create a local collective and improve communications between local ‘Ecologically’ minded farmers, for knowledge and resource sharing.
They certify producers based on active participation of stakeholders and are built on a foundation of trust, social networks and knowledge exchange."
They represent an alternative to third party certification and are especially adapted to local markets and short supply chains. They can also complement third party certification with a private label that brings additional guarantees and transparency.
PGS enable the direct participation of producers, consumers and other stakeholders in:
the choice and definition of the standards
the development and implementation of certification procedures
the certification decisions
The primary motivations for seeing the development of an PGS in our local region are;
To reward local farmers who are making exceptional efforts in their ecological practice,
To deter the prevalence of generic claims and improve the integrity of ‘spray free’ / ‘chem free’ labeling which ensures additional consumer confidence and transparency,
To provide an exceptionally affordable option for farmer recognition,
To provide an alternative to Organic Certification for those cases where it proves unviable/unaffordable/unnecessary
To create a local collective and improve communications between local ‘Ecologically’ minded farmers, for knowledge and resource sharing.
First On-farm inspection - with Byron Bay Banana Man
Feed proudly introduced Craig - Byron Bay Banana Man as the inaugural applicant for endorsement by FEED's Ecological Guarantee.
Photos here are from our first on farm inspection and peer-review by fellow farmer Joel Orchard and consumer advocate Paul Crebar
Craig has successfully transformed a conventional banana farm into an ecological paradise in the high hills of Palmwoods near Main Arm, Mullumbimby.
Find Craig and his Bananas at the Byron Farmers Market on Thursday's. Support your local FEED farmers in their effort to protect our precious soils, waterways and ecosystems.
Photos here are from our first on farm inspection and peer-review by fellow farmer Joel Orchard and consumer advocate Paul Crebar
Craig has successfully transformed a conventional banana farm into an ecological paradise in the high hills of Palmwoods near Main Arm, Mullumbimby.
Find Craig and his Bananas at the Byron Farmers Market on Thursday's. Support your local FEED farmers in their effort to protect our precious soils, waterways and ecosystems.
Proper introductions coming soon!
We have outgrown our nursery so
Day 1 on the job involved giving it a fresh start.
What's old is new is old and is new again! recycled, upcycled, repurposed and renewed.
The original nursery had already been constructed out of used building materials, but with a few tweaks and repositioning we have significantly improved its design and capacity and made room for a stage 2 to be coming soon.
Salvaging everything and adding in some extra secondhand materials has given us great results and growing space.
Thanks for your help guys.
With nursery extensions needed you too can help.
Have you got an old hoop house, grow tunnel, greenhouse, shade cloth or other materials on your property?
We would love to hear from you.
Thanks to everyone who has supported our fledgling CSA program. Such a rewarding experience sharing produce with the smiling faces in our community.
Im glad some of the more interesting veg and herbs have provoked some questions and also some culinary exploration!
We have steered away from your standard peas and carrots for a number of reasons, although bound to grow these at some point :)
Climate Specific
A lot of your standard European foods that we are so used to simply don't perform well in our Sub-Tropical humid, hot and wet summers. They require additional support, pest management and represent a significant risk to any farmer - but especially to us as we are only on the farm at most 2 days of the week to keep an eye on soil moisture, pests, disease etc.
While we will explore these standard varieties, we have tried to chose crops which are happier in our local climate in the hope they will require less inputs and time + its fun to try new things.
Availability
Its true most people are not too adventurous with their foods. This means your local farmers are battling with crops and varieties that are not so suited to our region. While it might be fine to grow zuccini and tomatoes in your home garden and suffer small losses after a wet season deluge - this represents a huge loss to a farmer depending on their crop for income.
And yet to meet consumer demands and make the farm financially viable - this is what is happening.
Either that or we are bringing produce from further afield where it is easier to grow.
So to be competitive in a local food market we are trying to supply different varieties and foods and hope that this exploration will educate consumers about what is seasonally specific and climatically appropriate to grow in the Northern Rivers.
Exploration
There are so many bold, beautiful, tasty and sensational foods in the world. Why limit our cuisine to what we already know. Our regions rich farmlands have huge potential to develop as substantial crop-lands. Perhaps there is a great value to exploring culturally specific foods for a growing multicultural communities on the Gold Coast and Brisbane ? and feeding local mouths with exciting new flavors.
Im glad some of the more interesting veg and herbs have provoked some questions and also some culinary exploration!
We have steered away from your standard peas and carrots for a number of reasons, although bound to grow these at some point :)
Climate Specific
A lot of your standard European foods that we are so used to simply don't perform well in our Sub-Tropical humid, hot and wet summers. They require additional support, pest management and represent a significant risk to any farmer - but especially to us as we are only on the farm at most 2 days of the week to keep an eye on soil moisture, pests, disease etc.
While we will explore these standard varieties, we have tried to chose crops which are happier in our local climate in the hope they will require less inputs and time + its fun to try new things.
Availability
Its true most people are not too adventurous with their foods. This means your local farmers are battling with crops and varieties that are not so suited to our region. While it might be fine to grow zuccini and tomatoes in your home garden and suffer small losses after a wet season deluge - this represents a huge loss to a farmer depending on their crop for income.
And yet to meet consumer demands and make the farm financially viable - this is what is happening.
Either that or we are bringing produce from further afield where it is easier to grow.
So to be competitive in a local food market we are trying to supply different varieties and foods and hope that this exploration will educate consumers about what is seasonally specific and climatically appropriate to grow in the Northern Rivers.
Exploration
There are so many bold, beautiful, tasty and sensational foods in the world. Why limit our cuisine to what we already know. Our regions rich farmlands have huge potential to develop as substantial crop-lands. Perhaps there is a great value to exploring culturally specific foods for a growing multicultural communities on the Gold Coast and Brisbane ? and feeding local mouths with exciting new flavors.
Veggie Curry - a produce box inspired recipe
Thanks to Future Feeders customers Tess and Jaime
Ingredients :
Half Pumpkin - chopped finely
2 Squash - chopped
1 Zucchini or Angled Luffa - chopped
2 large Onions or 1 bunch Shallots - chopped
2 cups Tomatoes - chopped
2 Tbsp Lemongrass - thinly sliced bulb
1 Chilli - finely chopped
2 Kaffir Lime leaves
1 can Coconut cream
salt to taste
In a large pot or deep wok on medium heat saute all the vegetables and spices to release flavors until soft .
Add Coconut milk and simmer for another 5-10 mins
Add salt to taste!
Serve with Rice or Quinoa
easy as that - enjoy
Half Pumpkin - chopped finely
2 Squash - chopped
1 Zucchini or Angled Luffa - chopped
2 large Onions or 1 bunch Shallots - chopped
2 cups Tomatoes - chopped
2 Tbsp Lemongrass - thinly sliced bulb
1 Chilli - finely chopped
2 Kaffir Lime leaves
1 can Coconut cream
salt to taste
In a large pot or deep wok on medium heat saute all the vegetables and spices to release flavors until soft .
Add Coconut milk and simmer for another 5-10 mins
Add salt to taste!
Serve with Rice or Quinoa
easy as that - enjoy
We would love to hear how you use your weekly produce varieties.
Please share and send in your recipes and ideas. Or post on our FB page. Thanks!
]]>The Idea :
Is a simple and cheap DIY system for farmers to make directly on site and then make their own organic bio active fertilizer from vermicomposted waste.
The compost tea can then be fed constantly at low dose and directly into the root zones, via dripline fertigation or foliar application.
The Aim :
To make quantities (1000L batch) of bio active compost tea to feed directly into our dripline irrigation system (fertigation) - and excess for sale.
This unit is stage II of the vermicompost - worm farm system that we have existing.
http://futurefeeders.weebly.com/our-blog/a-wriggling-resource
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQgrNtbYXTw
The Design :
The aim to keep materials cost to a minimum to make the unit functionally affordable for small scale farmers.
As such we are aiming for under $1000.
Request :
I am requesting some advice, availability and a quote for the most affordable appropriate stand alone solar system.
The system will require sufficient stored DC energy to power the pump unit as below or similar for 48H. Battery units will need to be able to maintain continuous operation, however w can assume viability under full sun conditions only.
Costs and Components :
<$100 Aeration Tank : Up-cycled 1000L holding tanks, readily available
<$100 Pump : Hailea ACO-007 DC 12V Air Pump or similar
<$200 Venturi Siphon kit for variable control of soluble and liquid fertilizer injection
<$500 Solar panels and battery units
<$100 Sundries : air pipes, grommets, taps, wires etc
I am requesting some advice, availability and a quote for the most affordable appropriate stand alone solar system.
The system will require sufficient stored DC energy to power the pump unit as below or similar for 48H. Battery units will need to be able to maintain continuous operation, however w can assume viability under full sun conditions only.
Costs and Components :
<$100 Aeration Tank : Up-cycled 1000L holding tanks, readily available
<$100 Pump : Hailea ACO-007 DC 12V Air Pump or similar
<$200 Venturi Siphon kit for variable control of soluble and liquid fertilizer injection
<$500 Solar panels and battery units
<$100 Sundries : air pipes, grommets, taps, wires etc
Pump Unit :
Hailea ACO-007 DC 12V Air Pump
POWER: 130W
OUTPUT: 140L/min
VOLTAGE: 12V DC
PRESSURE: >0.10Mpa
Additional Details :
The brews can be adapted to be more fungal / bacterial dominant and mineral enhanced depending on the requirements of the crop and soil type. Soil Food Web has done great research on this.
There are a number of units like this on the market however this units point of difference is that it is low lech and low cost. Big price tags and technicalities just put farmers off.
I am trying to develop an appropriate technology; somethings that just makes sense and is simple and get people using them.
These system could easily be adapted for remote communities, developing nations etc
There are 240V systems available, but there is a need for an 'in the field' design that is off grid.
Compost tea applications through fertigition have the potential to have big impacts on soil health, food nutrient density and plant disease resistance. It also give farmers the ability create their own organic inputs and drastically reduce fertilizer costs while cycling nutrients through waste organic matter.
Would really value your input, assistance and support on this project.
]]>Hailea ACO-007 DC 12V Air Pump
POWER: 130W
OUTPUT: 140L/min
VOLTAGE: 12V DC
PRESSURE: >0.10Mpa
Additional Details :
The brews can be adapted to be more fungal / bacterial dominant and mineral enhanced depending on the requirements of the crop and soil type. Soil Food Web has done great research on this.
There are a number of units like this on the market however this units point of difference is that it is low lech and low cost. Big price tags and technicalities just put farmers off.
I am trying to develop an appropriate technology; somethings that just makes sense and is simple and get people using them.
These system could easily be adapted for remote communities, developing nations etc
There are 240V systems available, but there is a need for an 'in the field' design that is off grid.
Compost tea applications through fertigition have the potential to have big impacts on soil health, food nutrient density and plant disease resistance. It also give farmers the ability create their own organic inputs and drastically reduce fertilizer costs while cycling nutrients through waste organic matter.
Would really value your input, assistance and support on this project.
We recently engaged the Environmental Analysis Laboratory (EAL) at Lismore to test two soil samples from the east and west wing of our 1.5 acre market garden site at the Mullumbimby Community Gardens.
Firstly, we'd like to offer a massive thank you to the EAL for supporting Future Feeders and sponsoring the cost of the tests. After hearing Laboratory manager Graham Lancaster speak about the importance of understanding your soil we thought it was high time we got to know our soils and little better. EAL offer an innovative service that aims to enable producers to reduce their dependence on inorganic fertiliser. They recognise that maintaining healthy soil is the key to sustaining biological diversity.
Now our test results are in and we'd love to hear your insights for how we might best remediate our soils. Soil samples offer a neat snapshot of what soil is made up of but there is no magic formula for how to correct those deficiencies. Check out our results below and let us know what you think here or by shooting us an email at [email protected].
Firstly, we'd like to offer a massive thank you to the EAL for supporting Future Feeders and sponsoring the cost of the tests. After hearing Laboratory manager Graham Lancaster speak about the importance of understanding your soil we thought it was high time we got to know our soils and little better. EAL offer an innovative service that aims to enable producers to reduce their dependence on inorganic fertiliser. They recognise that maintaining healthy soil is the key to sustaining biological diversity.
Now our test results are in and we'd love to hear your insights for how we might best remediate our soils. Soil samples offer a neat snapshot of what soil is made up of but there is no magic formula for how to correct those deficiencies. Check out our results below and let us know what you think here or by shooting us an email at [email protected].
Check out their great project at www.wattlebee.com
www.facebook.com/wattlebeeproject
Our couch surfing hosts put us onto an initiative happening in Mullum called Future Feeders.
Reading about it hit all the right words for me:
We got in contact with Joel Orchard, the Project Manager. As with many of the discoveries on our trip, combining short notice with busy schedules can make for tricky chat coordinating! But we found a time that worked, and we’re so glad we did. With a gentle calmness and discernment about him, we talked about a whole bunch of stuff, ranging from the project to corporate food, the structure of today’s society, to education and parental expectations – you know, just the normal topics tackled daily around the dinner table – or is that just us?
Future feeders was born out of Joel’s desire to see opportunities in agriculture for keen, enterprising young people. Therein he recognised a problem – a gap in getting interested youth onto farms. Surprisingly, it’s a lack of training opportunities holding them back, rather than land as one might expect. It’s the missing link I noticed without realising it a long time ago – the deficit left behind because we no longer routinely pass on information from one generation to the next, especially in practical trades and crafts. We don’t go out and learn on the job anymore – we go to school, learn all the theory, get a little practice in a non-contextualised classroom and then sport the piece of paper to say we are qualified when perhaps some of us feel fraud-like about that fact (me at least, and some others that I have spoken to).
Apprenticeships are obviously the exception here – they blend a much larger mix of on-the-job training with the educational theory work. And internships – its all on-the-ground intensive learning. These two models are perfect candidates for learning to farm – but they appear to be a rarity now. And for anyone who has read Joel Salatin’s latest book ‘Field of Farmers’, it wouldn’t be a surprise. He highlights with startling detail just how lacking our bridges are between incoming and outgoing farmers. A clear gap can now be seen between the older farmer without anyone to pass on their wisdom to and the interested youth, often coming from the city or suburbs with minimal, if any, experience. There simply are too few opportunities for real, practical learning in the form of internships or apprenticeships. And it’s for a myriad of reasons, but perhaps mostly owing to the fear and scant time/energy of farmers leftover to invest in creating a quality training program. Joel Salatin goes through the trials, tribulations and costs they encountered in starting their own apprentice and intern programs, as well all the developments they went through. With that all laid out, it’s clear what a big investment it is, and that it must be passion which drives it. For the Salatins, it was the love and desire to ensure their local food system remained – not just for their own sake but also that of the community (just so you know, I love reading his books – if you need a daily dose of common sense to boost your resolve and immunity to this world, I recommend you pick one up).
So it seems a skills shortage really does exist – its just not the one the government told you about. Our society is set up differently these days. Different doesn’t have to mean bad.
Different = new pros & cons = opportunity.
Con: farming can be seen as not valued or viable these days = Con: big disconnection, hard to get youth on land and learning.
Pro: today’s youth often bring a different way of thinking and skills from other areas to the farm – which, Pro; can help transform it into a healthy, rewarding career option (while, Pro: healing the land and the people finally receiving nutritious food – not just something that looks like a vegetable).
Reading about it hit all the right words for me:
- growing young farmers
- small scale farm management
- ecological agriculture
- resilient communities
- local food security
We got in contact with Joel Orchard, the Project Manager. As with many of the discoveries on our trip, combining short notice with busy schedules can make for tricky chat coordinating! But we found a time that worked, and we’re so glad we did. With a gentle calmness and discernment about him, we talked about a whole bunch of stuff, ranging from the project to corporate food, the structure of today’s society, to education and parental expectations – you know, just the normal topics tackled daily around the dinner table – or is that just us?
Future feeders was born out of Joel’s desire to see opportunities in agriculture for keen, enterprising young people. Therein he recognised a problem – a gap in getting interested youth onto farms. Surprisingly, it’s a lack of training opportunities holding them back, rather than land as one might expect. It’s the missing link I noticed without realising it a long time ago – the deficit left behind because we no longer routinely pass on information from one generation to the next, especially in practical trades and crafts. We don’t go out and learn on the job anymore – we go to school, learn all the theory, get a little practice in a non-contextualised classroom and then sport the piece of paper to say we are qualified when perhaps some of us feel fraud-like about that fact (me at least, and some others that I have spoken to).
Apprenticeships are obviously the exception here – they blend a much larger mix of on-the-job training with the educational theory work. And internships – its all on-the-ground intensive learning. These two models are perfect candidates for learning to farm – but they appear to be a rarity now. And for anyone who has read Joel Salatin’s latest book ‘Field of Farmers’, it wouldn’t be a surprise. He highlights with startling detail just how lacking our bridges are between incoming and outgoing farmers. A clear gap can now be seen between the older farmer without anyone to pass on their wisdom to and the interested youth, often coming from the city or suburbs with minimal, if any, experience. There simply are too few opportunities for real, practical learning in the form of internships or apprenticeships. And it’s for a myriad of reasons, but perhaps mostly owing to the fear and scant time/energy of farmers leftover to invest in creating a quality training program. Joel Salatin goes through the trials, tribulations and costs they encountered in starting their own apprentice and intern programs, as well all the developments they went through. With that all laid out, it’s clear what a big investment it is, and that it must be passion which drives it. For the Salatins, it was the love and desire to ensure their local food system remained – not just for their own sake but also that of the community (just so you know, I love reading his books – if you need a daily dose of common sense to boost your resolve and immunity to this world, I recommend you pick one up).
So it seems a skills shortage really does exist – its just not the one the government told you about. Our society is set up differently these days. Different doesn’t have to mean bad.
Different = new pros & cons = opportunity.
Con: farming can be seen as not valued or viable these days = Con: big disconnection, hard to get youth on land and learning.
Pro: today’s youth often bring a different way of thinking and skills from other areas to the farm – which, Pro; can help transform it into a healthy, rewarding career option (while, Pro: healing the land and the people finally receiving nutritious food – not just something that looks like a vegetable).
This discussion is also related to another thing I have often lamented (ha! ‘lamented’ – now I really do sound like an old farmer!). That being how people are hired for jobs – often resting the burden upon that aforementioned piece of paper rather than the person’s natural aptitude or suitability. That’s what I love about how things used to happen (from what I can tell and yes, probably through rose coloured glasses, but I will continue all the same) – the local business owner would take on new workers realising it was an investment. An investment in passing on their knowledge, their trade, their craft (have you noticed the reemergence of pride in craftsmanship and artisinal skills these days?). I think they appreciated the broader value in it and were therefore willing to spend the time and energy growing productive, empowered people. People who were also more than likely to become members of their own community. All of this meant they would choose candidates not necessarily on their experience or schooling but upon their character, and if they would be able to do the work. You got a job because your character was worthy and you would be suited to the job. What a novel idea! (do you see it? – that’s my tongue in my cheek).
One of the original land healing farmers, George Henderson, demonstrated the self-evident value of operating this way generations ago in at least one of his books. And I know a few forward thinking managers who recognise this. But, how many times have we let a good candidate go, or not even noticed them because they didn’t have the right qualification? Or what about just looking at the educational requirements – an example of Coles comes to mind – requiring night fillers to have finished year 12 if you were old enough to have done so – why? What relevance do year 12 subjects have to stacking shelves and how does that mean you will be better at the job? Why not look at who they are, what they have done and why.
School is only one way to learn.
It used to be that school was a basic general education so you could then go off and learn what was right for you – granted, the options for employment were also much more limited in previous generations. Nevertheless, it seems like we are specialising kids younger and younger and requiring more and more study – to the detriment of experience and balanced human beings in my opinion. We have seen the social norm go from leaving school early (joining the family business or leaving to earn for the family), to finishing high school, to doing a bachelor degree, to completing something post-grad (Honours, Masters or a PhD). It just keeps escalating – a PhD now seems no more valuable in the job market than Honours used to be, despite the extra 3 years (at least) required to obtain it. I’m not saying any of those are not worth doing or unwarranted – I just don’t think they should be pre-requisites for individuals to be considered ‘educated’, ’suitable’ or ‘worthy’. Anecdotally, it seems particularly rife in America – it is just expected that you will go to college and get a degree – even if you already plan never to use it or go into that line of work. Doesn’t that seem like a non-sensical social norm? Children placate their parents desires and the business of education is perpetuated for it’s own sake. I’m sure it came from a well-meaning place, namely our parent’s desires to see us secure and do better than them, but it’s not the only way! Please realise that, parents and students alike.
Remember the term ‘life experience’? Or the old fashioned version that came up in our conversation with Joel: ‘worldliness’? It is incredibly worthwhile and should count for something. To understand the context within which we live, and apply our skills thereafter, must be more valuable than thrashing around in the dark confines of one system, one education, one job, one mindset. Let us learn, think for ourselves and act accordingly.
Returning to Joel’s take on things, (Joel Orchard that is, who would have thought i’d be talking about two influential Joel’s in one post?), he wanted to see real skill sharing so people with a passion could learn enough to get onto land and make something of it. WWOOFing (Worldwide Workers On Organic Farms) could be an option but in Joel’s experience spots are often taken up by travellers (ahem….sorry!) or it hasn’t been substantial enough to meet the need. He also thinks there is a reluctance to enter the field by some due to the picture we have been sold of farming as old, lonely, isolated & poor. It’s the scarcity model rather than the abundance we keep seeing is actually possible. This abundance comes from hard work no doubt, but is more than repaid with incredibly rewarding, healthy, purposeful work, and a good chance of having an awesome office to boot.
So what can you do if you can’t find an internship? Call on others to come with you and build your own – while also moulding it into a viable business and reproducible model so others might get an opportunity too. This is what Joel did – initially floating his idea to the local community. Good feedback and involvement has now settled into a smaller core of permanent volunteers. And bear in mind all the Future Feeders crew are making this start-up happen between other jobs that pay the bills until it stands on its own feet – pretty admirable in my book. Its heartening to see people putting themselves out there to save the future of things that are important. Like local, healthy, responsibly farmed food. I am struggling right now to think of many things more important or fundamental to us as humans or communities – particularly when taking all the side benefits into consideration – like jobs, empowerment, health and community relationships, all of which build resilience. And Joel is certainly on the same page there – saying he thinks “farming is the most noble profession – so connected, gentle and fundamental”.
They piloted the program at Mullumbimby Community Gardens – 1.5 acres converted into a market garden. Joel said the gardens provided the community interface they were looking for – purposely trying to bring people to the farm rather than the other way around. Visions of chefs and herbalists coming to pick their own supplies embodies the kind of connection they wish to foster – seeing that visceral next level past farmers markets as important. But for now the group has partnered up with a local CSA scheme (community supported agriculture) and recently made their first sale – woop woop! This is moving them towards building the sustainable financial and business aspects of the model.
One of the original land healing farmers, George Henderson, demonstrated the self-evident value of operating this way generations ago in at least one of his books. And I know a few forward thinking managers who recognise this. But, how many times have we let a good candidate go, or not even noticed them because they didn’t have the right qualification? Or what about just looking at the educational requirements – an example of Coles comes to mind – requiring night fillers to have finished year 12 if you were old enough to have done so – why? What relevance do year 12 subjects have to stacking shelves and how does that mean you will be better at the job? Why not look at who they are, what they have done and why.
School is only one way to learn.
It used to be that school was a basic general education so you could then go off and learn what was right for you – granted, the options for employment were also much more limited in previous generations. Nevertheless, it seems like we are specialising kids younger and younger and requiring more and more study – to the detriment of experience and balanced human beings in my opinion. We have seen the social norm go from leaving school early (joining the family business or leaving to earn for the family), to finishing high school, to doing a bachelor degree, to completing something post-grad (Honours, Masters or a PhD). It just keeps escalating – a PhD now seems no more valuable in the job market than Honours used to be, despite the extra 3 years (at least) required to obtain it. I’m not saying any of those are not worth doing or unwarranted – I just don’t think they should be pre-requisites for individuals to be considered ‘educated’, ’suitable’ or ‘worthy’. Anecdotally, it seems particularly rife in America – it is just expected that you will go to college and get a degree – even if you already plan never to use it or go into that line of work. Doesn’t that seem like a non-sensical social norm? Children placate their parents desires and the business of education is perpetuated for it’s own sake. I’m sure it came from a well-meaning place, namely our parent’s desires to see us secure and do better than them, but it’s not the only way! Please realise that, parents and students alike.
Remember the term ‘life experience’? Or the old fashioned version that came up in our conversation with Joel: ‘worldliness’? It is incredibly worthwhile and should count for something. To understand the context within which we live, and apply our skills thereafter, must be more valuable than thrashing around in the dark confines of one system, one education, one job, one mindset. Let us learn, think for ourselves and act accordingly.
Returning to Joel’s take on things, (Joel Orchard that is, who would have thought i’d be talking about two influential Joel’s in one post?), he wanted to see real skill sharing so people with a passion could learn enough to get onto land and make something of it. WWOOFing (Worldwide Workers On Organic Farms) could be an option but in Joel’s experience spots are often taken up by travellers (ahem….sorry!) or it hasn’t been substantial enough to meet the need. He also thinks there is a reluctance to enter the field by some due to the picture we have been sold of farming as old, lonely, isolated & poor. It’s the scarcity model rather than the abundance we keep seeing is actually possible. This abundance comes from hard work no doubt, but is more than repaid with incredibly rewarding, healthy, purposeful work, and a good chance of having an awesome office to boot.
So what can you do if you can’t find an internship? Call on others to come with you and build your own – while also moulding it into a viable business and reproducible model so others might get an opportunity too. This is what Joel did – initially floating his idea to the local community. Good feedback and involvement has now settled into a smaller core of permanent volunteers. And bear in mind all the Future Feeders crew are making this start-up happen between other jobs that pay the bills until it stands on its own feet – pretty admirable in my book. Its heartening to see people putting themselves out there to save the future of things that are important. Like local, healthy, responsibly farmed food. I am struggling right now to think of many things more important or fundamental to us as humans or communities – particularly when taking all the side benefits into consideration – like jobs, empowerment, health and community relationships, all of which build resilience. And Joel is certainly on the same page there – saying he thinks “farming is the most noble profession – so connected, gentle and fundamental”.
They piloted the program at Mullumbimby Community Gardens – 1.5 acres converted into a market garden. Joel said the gardens provided the community interface they were looking for – purposely trying to bring people to the farm rather than the other way around. Visions of chefs and herbalists coming to pick their own supplies embodies the kind of connection they wish to foster – seeing that visceral next level past farmers markets as important. But for now the group has partnered up with a local CSA scheme (community supported agriculture) and recently made their first sale – woop woop! This is moving them towards building the sustainable financial and business aspects of the model.
The market garden site is also being used to train participants in ecological farming methods – including possibly certified organic but embracing any types of agro-ecology (i.e. biological farming methods that work with nature or mimic it, rather than the industrial/artificial/chemical model that is of convention today). Amusingly, my computer’s auto correct does not recognise “agro-ecology” thus keeps changing it to “afro-ecology” – a highly entertaining alternative and mental picture, but perhaps not as accurately descriptive. Aah computers….
The Future Feeders’ plan is to replicate the model on other sites – something they aren’t short of. Joel says they receive offers of land to farm literally every week. Every week! Sadly, they have to turn them down – highlighting the shortfall again of opportunities, time and mentors for training. They simply don’t have enough people to farm the land being offered yet. Good problem to have.
Moving onto the challenges – what are they and how do you overcome them? Joel says the work is physically demanding but the trickier challenge can be that of people. Communicating, cooperating and problem-solving with others is sometimes difficult – for no other reason than humans simply being humans. It’s useful to know. Really – you might like to note it down somewhere…
I know it seems obvious now, but do you remember anyone telling you that in school? That’s an important lesson I could have used a heads up on – forewarned is forearmed you know. But seriously, it’s a message we keep hearing on our travels – managing human relationships can be hard. Yet, the other thing reiterated to us is the power of human relationships to pull us through and overcome the challenges – think those that we work with, our customers, our mentors, the community and family or friends. An interesting paradigm isn’t it? People – the hardest part yet the best part.
Joel said he was pulled through by the love and collective nature of working with people. He also said you have to believe in what you are doing. So, in addition to people, I think he hit on the two other staples for dealing with obstacles – love for what you are doing and the belief or resolve that comes from being part of something bigger than ourselves. Lets call it our top 3 challenge adversaries:
The Future Feeders’ plan is to replicate the model on other sites – something they aren’t short of. Joel says they receive offers of land to farm literally every week. Every week! Sadly, they have to turn them down – highlighting the shortfall again of opportunities, time and mentors for training. They simply don’t have enough people to farm the land being offered yet. Good problem to have.
Moving onto the challenges – what are they and how do you overcome them? Joel says the work is physically demanding but the trickier challenge can be that of people. Communicating, cooperating and problem-solving with others is sometimes difficult – for no other reason than humans simply being humans. It’s useful to know. Really – you might like to note it down somewhere…
I know it seems obvious now, but do you remember anyone telling you that in school? That’s an important lesson I could have used a heads up on – forewarned is forearmed you know. But seriously, it’s a message we keep hearing on our travels – managing human relationships can be hard. Yet, the other thing reiterated to us is the power of human relationships to pull us through and overcome the challenges – think those that we work with, our customers, our mentors, the community and family or friends. An interesting paradigm isn’t it? People – the hardest part yet the best part.
Joel said he was pulled through by the love and collective nature of working with people. He also said you have to believe in what you are doing. So, in addition to people, I think he hit on the two other staples for dealing with obstacles – love for what you are doing and the belief or resolve that comes from being part of something bigger than ourselves. Lets call it our top 3 challenge adversaries:
People, Passion and Purpose.
A lot has happened for a project that only started earlier this year – what is next for Future Feeders and its momentum? Pushing the envelope Joel says – using alternative thinking, and youthful innovation to mould farming into a new shape for today. This includes navigating the co-operative model waters – determining good ways to build an inclusive and incentivised network of members and partners. With any luck, it will simultaneously increase ecological production of healthy food, farmland, business, community and training opportunities.
It is essentially a farm, education and business enterprise and they aim to expand into different pockets of land using a cycle of learning. A trained farmer teaches the student, student farms land and becomes a new teacher – they teach a new student and then move on to new land, gaining more valuable learning themselves while having produced another trained student, that will in turn became another teacher. And so it goes on. It will develop a network to leverage better opportunities in labour, equipment, buying, distribution and markets. For example, pooling resources like equipment or machinery (this is a good time to mention that they are keen to stick to appropriate technologies, as are many others – learn more here).
We talked more about our current food system and how it is broken (aka corrupted) – it’s something many could go on about at length. Me included – in fact I did in the draft version of this post, but for now have withheld it. Suffice it to say, the system is such that too many people don’t know where their food comes from – we are disconnected from that which is most fundamental. So I think it’s incredibly exciting to see people take their distaste for the situation and turn it into something positive like this. I think it’s Joel’s form of peaceful protest, useful activism.
In fact, Future Feeders is reminiscent of a like-minded manifestation in America (who seem to be about 5-10 years ahead of us in their action on the food front) called Greenhorns – all about advocacy for, and growth of, the young agricultural sector to maintain true food security there. Back home, the little group of farming friends that center around our local farming elder Di (Bickleigh Vale Farm, McLaren Vale), only discovered Greenhorns recently – with much joy and resolve that something similar is needed in Australia, and in more local chapters too. I certainly see Future Feeders as starting that progression – and indeed Joel hopes that advocacy is an area they will eventually move in to.
It also reminds me of several friends in Adelaide who have just up and started small-scale farming projects independently – Wagtail Urban Farm, The Garden Farmers and most recently Sand Road Farm. Grass roots projects are springing up like weeds – apt pun intended. So if it’s happening somewhere, I bet it’s happening elsewhere – if you know about something like this, or someone wanting to start-up, PLEASE let us know. These people should be put in contact so they can learn from and support each other! I want to finish with something Joel said in conversation, a bolster for all those battling on the local food front:
It is essentially a farm, education and business enterprise and they aim to expand into different pockets of land using a cycle of learning. A trained farmer teaches the student, student farms land and becomes a new teacher – they teach a new student and then move on to new land, gaining more valuable learning themselves while having produced another trained student, that will in turn became another teacher. And so it goes on. It will develop a network to leverage better opportunities in labour, equipment, buying, distribution and markets. For example, pooling resources like equipment or machinery (this is a good time to mention that they are keen to stick to appropriate technologies, as are many others – learn more here).
We talked more about our current food system and how it is broken (aka corrupted) – it’s something many could go on about at length. Me included – in fact I did in the draft version of this post, but for now have withheld it. Suffice it to say, the system is such that too many people don’t know where their food comes from – we are disconnected from that which is most fundamental. So I think it’s incredibly exciting to see people take their distaste for the situation and turn it into something positive like this. I think it’s Joel’s form of peaceful protest, useful activism.
In fact, Future Feeders is reminiscent of a like-minded manifestation in America (who seem to be about 5-10 years ahead of us in their action on the food front) called Greenhorns – all about advocacy for, and growth of, the young agricultural sector to maintain true food security there. Back home, the little group of farming friends that center around our local farming elder Di (Bickleigh Vale Farm, McLaren Vale), only discovered Greenhorns recently – with much joy and resolve that something similar is needed in Australia, and in more local chapters too. I certainly see Future Feeders as starting that progression – and indeed Joel hopes that advocacy is an area they will eventually move in to.
It also reminds me of several friends in Adelaide who have just up and started small-scale farming projects independently – Wagtail Urban Farm, The Garden Farmers and most recently Sand Road Farm. Grass roots projects are springing up like weeds – apt pun intended. So if it’s happening somewhere, I bet it’s happening elsewhere – if you know about something like this, or someone wanting to start-up, PLEASE let us know. These people should be put in contact so they can learn from and support each other! I want to finish with something Joel said in conversation, a bolster for all those battling on the local food front:
“it’s more than food production,
it’s a way to change the world in a peaceful way”
it’s a way to change the world in a peaceful way”
Find out more or get in contact with Future Feeders via their Facebook page here or their website here .
Cheers and encouragement to everyone working towards feeding our future! xx
Cheers and encouragement to everyone working towards feeding our future! xx
