Under the current restrictions on public gatherings, all our community workshops and events are postponed until further notice.
If you would like to be notified when this event will be going ahead in the future, please add your name and contact details to the wait list.
Why Farm Chats? In Pocket City Farms we’ve found ourselves in a community of like-minded humans who want to hear more in-depth discussion about food in Australia, and what better place to hold these conversations than our urban farm in Camperdown? We believe that real-life interaction, conversations and local Australian stories will allow us to take discussion and action to the next level. So get on board, come to a farm chat to be well watered and filled with ideas.
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.
With the amount of rain we’ve had, it could be that the public’s mind moves on from the summer’s intensity, but we want to use this Farm Chat to hold our focus on climate change and its impact on local farmers. We want to hear their stories. We want to hear their ideas. We want to gather together after the season we’ve had, and look towards building resilience.
Cost: $30
Provided: Your first drink (thanks to our brewing mates Young Henrys + nibbles from Brickfields Bakery.
Bring: Coins for beer donations. All donations go directly to our school education program.
THE PANEL :
Olivier Sofo of Living Earth Farm
Growing up surrounded by well-grown food, Olivier is a full-time market gardener, having farmed in Italy, Australia and Canada. Olivier’s growing experience is incredibly varied – he’s worked in many climates and soils. He’s grown organic veggies as a self-employed grower, and within a larger enterprise. Olivier and his wife Falani run their market garden Living Earth Farm in the Southern Highlands NSW.
Hayden Druce of Epicurean Harvest
Hayden 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.
Aaron Brocken of Harvest Farms
Aaron runs a Community Supported Agriculture farm over two blocks of land in the Hawksbury, NSW. He grows veggies, berries, stonefruit and apples, and grazes miniature goats in the orchard! Using permaculture design and biodynamic farming methods, Aaron focuses on soil health to provide a unique, area specific food for his community. Aaron uses the farm space to teach visitors and interns, as well as runs a weekly farmers market at Westmead Children’s hospital.
Lizzie Buscaino of Piccolo Farm
Lizzie and Gianluigi Buscaino decided to start a family and wanted to supply it and others with the best possible food. The only solution? To start a farm raising pastured fowl and delicious organically grown vegetables. Lizzie and Gianluigi farm in Thirlmere, on the outskirts of Sydney on a mere 4 and 1/4 acres. Their little farm is certainly not big, (Piccolo means small in Italian), but they’re farming with all the best intentions.
In Conversation With:
Fraser Bayley of Old Mill Road
Fraser and Kirsti have managed their family farm, a mixed farm enterprise on the South Coast for the past 16 years. The farm’s main income stream is from vegetables grown and sold within their community. Being first generation farmers, Fraser and Kirsti have started from scratch to attempt to develop a perpetually productive system minimally affected by factors-political, economic or resource based that are external to their control. There’s nothing they can do about the weather.
OUR SPONSORS
Young Henrys is an eclectic group of passionate brewers, distillers, musicians and artists, united for the love of good beer and fine gin.
Brickfields baking heavenly pastry, cakes and crusty sourdough and serving up delicious treats at their corner bakery in Chippendale.