2018 has brought forth an exciting collection of monthly talk series held on the farm. These nights have included and involved local and young regenerative farmers, innovative people working in food, food waste and sustainability in fun/friendly discussions and panels. Our goal is to create a community of mindful humans through connectivity and shared experience. We believe that real-life interaction, conversations and local Australian stories will allow us to do so. 

At the end of June, we will be joined by a group of stellar young farmers running small scale farm enterprises around Australia. The panel will share the different paths that have brought them to be managing their own farms, how they learnt what they know about all things farming, what are the unique edges to their businesses and what others can expect if considering a future in agriculture.

Agriculture is, statistically speaking, a dying profession, yet these young women and men have chosen to find land and produce high quality food in an ecologically friendly manner. With rising land prices, uncertain climatic conditions and increasing demand for cheaper food requiring cheaper modes of production, starting a business as a small scale producer may be considered a risky venture. Why (and how!) do they do it? Come and join the discussion for more insight into the worlds of these young farmers.

Cost: $20

Provided: First Young Henry's beer on arrival + snacks

Bring: Coins for beer donations that will go towards resources for our education program.

THE PANEL

HAYDEN DRUCE is one half of Epicurean Harvest in Hartley, NSW, at their property Bula Mirri. Hayden has a background in Horticultural Science and holds an Agricultural Research Masters, and moonlights as an excellent voice artist during breaks on the farm. As well as managing 2 acres of spray-free vegetables for provision to fine restaurants in Sydney, Hayden and partner Erika run a small herd of Belted Galloways under Holistic Management principles.

PHIL GAROZZO of Loop Growers. Phil started his life as a farmer building worm farms in the rural communities of Mexico, living and working side by side people whose main ambition in life was to produce, procure and provide good food. From here he saw food as the main precursor to culture and this drove him to learn how to grow food that would inspire healthy community. Loop Growers is now the product of this journey; together with farming partner Alice Star, they work with numerous cafes, restaurants, bars, breweries and coffee roasters in Brisbane to cycle organic yields (not waste) though their market garden and grow food back to this community.

ALICE STAR of Loop Growers. Alice is a market gardener in the Samford Valley who has been destined for a life surrounded by green ever since her first potted succulent. Her abhorrence at the current state of wastefulness in today's world drew her to a partnership with Phil Garozzo and the formation of Loop Growers. She spends her days nurturing seedlings raised on the compost which flows from their closed loop system and that will go onto feed countless people in their community. Unwavering in her desire to always grow from seed, she farms and in doing so, reengages her friends and peers in the forgotten ballet that is living off the land.

EMMY KING , market gardener at Buena Vista Farm. Emmy has a background in community development and found her way to a love of soil and food after interning with some of the top market gardeners in the state. She currently runs a thriving market garden selling to her community and local cafes, located at Buena Vista Farm on the South Coast of NSW.

EVAN BAYLEY  is a small-scale livestock farmer based in Turlinjah on the far South Coast of New South Wales. He has around 45 acres of grazable land on which he runs 20 cattle and 200 laying hens. He manages the land holistically, aiming to improve the land and pastures and in turn increase the numbers and diversity of stock he runs. He currently supplies the local markets and restaurants with produce and hopes to soon venture his products into places like Canberra. 

IN CONVERSATION WITH CHARLIE ARNOTT
Charlie is a biodynamic farmer and grazier, on his family property ‘Hanaminno’ in Boorowa. After seeing his Father 'conventionally' managing the land, using significant amounts of chemicals and grazing livestock in a way that was not sympathetic to the landscape, Charlie's attitude shifted to a more ecological framework that would care for nature and the land which he was connected to and responsible for. Charlie is passionate about supporting and bringing young farmers into the industry, with profit share and social enterprise on-farm opportunities.  

THE SPONSORS

YOUNG HENRYS is an eclectic group of passionate brewers, distillers, musicians and artists, united for the love of good beer and fine gin. www.younghenrys.com