Drought. Catastrophic Fire. Endless days of heavy smoke pollution. Torrential rain and storms. Sydney, New South Wales, and all of Australia have been through some extremes this summer. Fellow growers have run out of water on their properties, or had their crops burnt in fires. How do farmers and growers respond to these changing conditions? We want to bring forward stories from growers in our community who are feeling the effects first hand, providing a time to listen and understand what is happening.

This February we’re talking all about local Australian cheese! We’ll be hearing from local cheesemakers about their craft and the interplay between animal husbandry and regenerative agriculture, as well as the specific local dynamics and demands of Sydney’s cheese market.

This December we're chatting about Sydney's role as a coastal city and the competing demands for recreation, conservation, and food supply! While chatting you’ll enjoy a beer from Young Henrys, Kombucha from Ballsy Brewing, soup from Hearth & Soul and bread from Brickfields Bakery.

This October we’re chatting Food Security, and why it matters for us as city dwellers. While chatting you’ll enjoy a beer from Young Henrys, Kombucha from Ballsy Brewing, soup from Hearth & Soul and bread from Brickfields Bakery.

September Farm Chats we are focusing on BEES! It’s estimated that a third of the food we eat is pollinated by bees, and without them our days on this Earth are numbered, and with heavy use of pesticides and the global phenomenon that is colony collapse disorder their risk of future extinction is a real possibility. So what can we do? How do we help maintain healthy populations of bees - both native and honeybees - that is natural and respectful to them? We’ll introduce you to four people working with bees guided in discussion by Costa Georgiadis for an evening of heartfelt discussion on our favourite little insect friends.

August Farm Chats we are focusing on wine. We’ll introduce you to a panel of folk working in wine, from grape growing, to producing and selling. There is a lot of discussion about local, natural, and organic wines - join the chat to hear from a few people who are working in the field, along with the triumphs, challenges and stories of growing and making wine.

May Farm Chats we are focussing on Young Farmers again! We’ll introduce you to four young people who have found a career and life in agriculture, wether by starting their own businesses or working for other farmers. There is loads of talk about the rising average age of farmers and the need to bring more young people into agriculture - join the chat to hear from a few people who are making it work.

We’ve all heard the latest about the benefits of being outside with our hands in the soil, and there is a growing movement for ’Therapeutic Horticulture around Australia and the globe.  We are gathering a panel of horticulturalists, researchers and community workers to chat about their experiences, the relevant research, and the incredible programs they run around Sydney.

Back by popular demand this years WOMEN WHO FARM Chat showcases a range of women growing food and fibre and caring for land. Come along to hear their stories.

To kick off 2019, we’re looking at FAIR FOOD IN THE CITY. How do we access it and fill our pantry with fair food? How do we make decisions between multiple options? What really is ‘ethics’ as related to food? We hope for this chat to add to your decision making toolbelt when it comes to buying food and be actively involved in supporting ecologically sound practices.

So what's the juice on all this fermenting hype? Hear from panelists who ferment their way through a variety of ingredients and end up with wildly different products - krauts, lacto ferments, pickles, breads, beers, and of course that mysterious wonder beverage kombucha.  

There's alot circulating in the media right now about the current drought - and along with that comes all sorts of opinions around how to best aide farmers, what is best practice in land management, and what to do in the interim before the next big rain event. Hear from a panel of farmers and those involved with land management about what is happening on the ground in different areas, and how we as city dwellers can actually be ongoing supporters.

This month we're chatting about retrofitting the suburbs. The panel will kick off with David Holmgren sharing about his new book Retrosuburbia, a compendium of innovative designs that Australian householders (renters included!) can use to live well while making better use of the house, growing food and other activities that kick-start the household non-monetary economy towards resilience in the face of uncertain futures.

Our kids are inheriting the complex food, agricultural and land management systems in which we live, and with things changing faster than we can keep up, how do we best engage and equip the next generation to be ready for a complex future? Come along to hear the panel of educators and parents with a range of experiences and approaches to join in on the conversation.