Our ‘stories’ section is an opportunity to showcase particular listees and give an insight into what’s going on for the people producing your food. Below are some links to blogs and articles about what’s going on at the farm, farmers’ market, community garden and so on. Sign up to our newsletter (“Keep me Updated” link above) for regular inspirational stories.
Here’s some snippets to wet your appetite…
“Rich volcanic soil, fresh air, a vibrant community”
Hepburn Shire in Victoria has some of the best soil and water for a thriving food production system. Edward Benedict moved to Glenlyon with his family to escape from city life. He decided to make a living growing organic vegetables on his 1.2 hectare property. Edward and his family at Adsum Farmhouse are now finding their niche in selling pickled gherkins.
Find out more in this Weekly Times article about the Adsum Farm homestead and their Doctor-Who-Tardis tool-house. Find out how about the joys and the challenges of farming in this area in this Courier article featuring three of Hepburn’s small-scale farmers.
Community box scheme, Brunswick and northern suburbs of Melbourne
Blue Sky Organics farmer, Madeline Watts, supplies organic garlic from her farm in East Gippsland that is delivered to over 45 locations throughout Melbourne as part of Fruit and Vegetable box deliveries by the CERES Fair Food network.
Busch Organics, in East Gippsland, provides broccoli, cabbage, beetroot, carrots and other seasonal vegetables delivered to over 45 locations throughout Melbourne as part of Fruit and Vegetable box deliveries by the CERES Fair Food network.
You can find more fruit and vegie box supplier stories at the CERES Fair Food Vimeo page. Or go to ceresfairfood.org.au for more information on the program.
Dave grew up around Japoonvale and has spent much his life growing sugar cane. Even farmers have tree changes, and Dave headed for the hills and has been steadily diversifying his production base.
In just a few years Dave has managed to supply most of his own food needs and shares some of his excesses with us. He wants to help our Realfood Network to succeed because he knows that farmers need to connect with those consuming their products.
Dave has been selling directly to the public through a roadside stall and appreciates the feedback. He is constantly broadening his horizons and is now applying compost tea through keyline ploughing and establishing tree corridors using permaculture swales. We are indeed privileged to have his support and incredible produce.
Find out about local box delivery for Queensland Tablelands at Real Food Network.
“Bulk, Organic, and Plastic-free Wholefoods”
The Source Bulk Foods was created in 2012, by husband and wife duo Emma Smith and Paul Medeiros. Leaving their busy corporate lives in Sydney for a sea change in Byron Bay, they begun with one small community minded health food store, and now boast over 30 stores. Reducing packaging and waste, in addition to supporting local growers and producers, is central to their ethos. The Source Bulk Foods is about getting back to basics, shopping the way it used to be by refilling your own containers and buying just the amount you need without all the fancy packaging.
Find out how important it is to have 100% waste free stores at this article and The Source website.
The Bauer family farm is situated in the heart of the Lockyer Valley (one of the top ten most fertile farming areas in the world) and draws its water from a crystal clear underground supply fed by Blackfellow Creek. The Bauer family has farmed here since Rob’s great-grandfather took up a ‘selection’ in 1885. This 363 hectare property, made up of 5 mostly-adjoining farms, grows a wide range of vegetables and is Queensland’s largest producer of certified organic veggies.
The farm is owned and managed by Rob Bauer and his son Anthony. Rob is one of the pioneers of the certified organic industry, choosing to grow produce in harmony with nature since the early 1980s. The farm is certified through the Australian Certified Organic system. They grow carrots, potatoes, broccoli, celery, sweet corn, lettuce, cauliflower, tomatoes, bans, pumpkins and melons.
See more stories of the hard-working farmers supplying Food Connect.
One Farm Day is a blog of farming stories written by Sophie Hansen, food writer, blogger and deer farmer at Mandagery Creek Venison. The project is in recognition of both Australian Year of the Farmer and National Year of Reading through the NSW Department of Primary Industries writer in residence program.
52 Farming Stories in 52 Weeks tells the story of a different farmer every week for a year. Fleur McDonald is a farmer and author based in Western Australia who is widely known as the voice of the outback. With a significant city-based readership from her novels, Fleur’s blog connects an urban audience to farming realities and also dispelling some myths.
The Sunshine Coast Regional Food Local Harvest website (separate but just as interesting!) has blog stories about local food producers.
