Ronni Martin, Author at Northey Street City Farm

January 30, 2018 by Ronni Martin

Veganic Farmers at NSCF markets

An interview with Kim Accardi, Northey Street stall holder and vegan farmer.

Check out Kim Accardi and Chris Spencer’s sensational preserves and seasonal produce at the Northey Street City Farm Markets every Sunday from 6.30 to 11 am.

How did your love of Organics start?
My love for animals and nature was where it all began. The more I learnt about conservation, horticulture and cruelty free living, the more interested I became in organics. I began researching the effects of pesticides and herbicides not long after I became interested in gardening. Herbicides such as glyphosate and the effects they have, not only on the environment but also potentially to our own health and the health of our families and furry friends. I had always made sure my own garden and home grown veggies were pesticide free so I believe it was a natural transition into organics. Permaculture was what really sucked me in. I loved the concept of strategic planting to supply nutrients and to control pests.

Tell us more about your veganic farming methods, and are there any other Vegan Farms in operation that you know of?
Our objective is to grow produce with the least harm, not only to the environment but to all animals. This means we do not use any animal manure, blood and bone, eggshells, fish emulsion, etc.

Key aspects to successful Veganic farming are: careful planning of annual ‘bed’ rotation, green manures, cover crops, weed tea, bull kelp and lots and lots of compost! We use companion planting and other methods to repel pests rather than killing them. A lot of thought goes into the best way we can handle various pests with the least harm, such as attracting natural predators, creating barriers or planting decoys. Veganic methods are quite common in most vegan backyards, however I don’t believe veganics is seen as ‘cost effective’ on a large scale. It certainly is more time intensive and a lot more hard work and planning, but well worth it.
All of the products we make and sell (Jams, Sauces, Chutney, etc) are all 100% vegan too of course.

What’s a typical week look like for you?
As we have such a wide variety of fruit trees and crops, no week is ever the same. Strawberry and mango seasons are very busy for us as they are our biggest crops, however we put a lot of hard work in all year round, pruning, watering, making compost, feeding the soil, maintaining and expanding our conservation and re-vegetation areas. As they say, a farmer’s work is never done! Then comes cooking all tasty products we take to market, in which hours can fly by with sometimes minimal result. We have 3 beautiful dogs, a cat and loads of wildlife that all enjoy and need our attention too. Before you know it…it’s 3am Sunday and we’re up and packing the vehicles for Market day.

What’s your favourite thing about Northey Street City Farm Markets?

I love how excited our customers get about our produce and other products! It is really great to be able to communicate directly with the customer and answer any questions they may have, whilst also providing us with feedback. I also love the atmosphere and the community feel that Northey Street City Farm has.

If you could get the population of Australia to all do one thing, what would it be?
That one is a no brainier for both of us. Take the time to meet your meat and get to know them for who they are. Cuddle a lamb, watch a calf prance around like a puppy or get smooched by a piglet. Research the meat and dairy industry and then follow your heart

December 7, 2017 by Ronni Martin

NSCF Organic Farmers Market stallholder wins award

Jean, Laclan and Adrian Tiller with the Best Organic Retailer of the Year Award.

Sherwood Rd Organic Meats is still celebrating their win – Best Organic Retailer 2018 at the Australian Certified Organics Awards in Adelaide last month! One of our regular long-term Organic Farmers Market stallholders, Jean Tiller, said “We wear our “Bud Logo” with pride these days more than ever”.

Market Co-ordinator, Camilla Tulley, interviewed Jean recently:

1) What time are you up on a Sunday?

Our van is loaded Saturday, so 4am – probably considered a sleep-in to others.

2) What’s your fav stall?

COFFEE or any stall that sells caffeine.

3) Favourite market snacks?

Apples from our wonderful neighbour, Di! @charlwoodorganic

4) How many hours do you work a week?

I help out my sister, Amy who co-owns the shop with our dad – Adrian – the Farmer! I alternate with the lovely Lisa – who many would know as the Duck Farmer! I work in disability services during the week.

5) Best thing about Northey Street Organic Farmers Markets?

We have been at Northey Street since 2012 – before we even owned a butcher shop. At the time we sold our Organic Lamb/Hogget/Mutton/Goat delivered direct to doors. So, the best thing for sure is getting to know our amazing CUSTOMERS! We are so lucky to have the nicest, most appreciative shoppers to share a laugh with every Sunday! Also, I get to bring my son Lachy who absolutely loves helping out!

6) Why Organics?

My family (who produce our meats) wouldn’t have it any other way! Dad (Adrian) reacts badly to chemicals and, contrary to what he was taught at Ag College, believes them to be completely unnecessary. Our farm has been Certified Organic for many years – we wouldn’t have it any other way!

Thank you and Congratulations Jean, Lachlan and Adrian – and rest of The Tiller Family

Sherwood Rd. Organic Meats

Australian Certified Organics

December 5, 2017 by Ronni Martin

Christmas menu and gift ideas

Northey Street Christmas Eve Markets

24 December 2017 from 6am to 11am

Our City Farm Nursery will also be open from 6am to 12pm to pick up any last minute gifts.

Embrace a sustainable and green festive season with Northey Street City Farm by supporting local farmers, makers and businesses.

The holiday season can take a toll on the environment. By shopping directly from local businesses and farmers markets, buying Australian-made and from local makers, and reducing waste, you can not only make the Christmas season more sustainable, but also save money and have a positive impact on your community.

Northey Street Organic Farmers Markets

Northey Street Organic Farmers Markets is the one stop shop for locally sourced, seasonal, organic and fair trade produce. As well as having the best variety of organic fruit and veg, our stall holders also offer organic, locally sourced grains, eggs, oil, and dairy.

Your sustainable Christmas feast

Christmas Hams, also offering organic and ethical lamb, beef, chicken and pork, from Brisbane Certified Organic.
Blueberries – certified organic, naturally grown from Hampton Blue.
Mince pies – gorgeous spelt mince pies from Sol Breads.
Gingerbread houses – from Montrose Fine Biscuits.
Healthy drinks and sauerkraut – made in Brisbane, from Buchi Kombucha.

Ethical Gift Ideas

Shop local! Many gifts come from halfway around the world, and the impact of their transportation contributes to greenhouse emissions and global warming. Love having artists and craftspeople in your neighborhood? Reduce your emissions and support a sustainable local economy at the same time.

Check out some of the ethical gift ideas from our stallholders:

A-zumble-zay – one of a kind hand-crafted felt products. handmade hats, purses & bags, jewellery, scarves, soaps and toys are just some items available.
Lesley Hurley Ceramics – artisan tea wares and table wares. Porcelain and Stoneware.
Happy Flame Candles – candles! Beautiful, non-toxic, handcrafted and 100% local and made from organic beeswax. Paraffin candles are made from petroleum residue and are no good for your health or for the environment. Candles made from beeswax are eco-friendly because they biodegrade and are smoke-free.
Herbal Gardener – fresh, natural skin care. Made with calendula oil, 100% certified biodynamic Australia.
Ilo Organics – cold process soaps made with organic plant oils- chemical, colouring & fragrance free, organic essential oils blended for lifestyle support, mineral bath salts blended with premium BP graded ingredients & organic essential oils and 100% recycled sterling silver jewellery
Little Deer Studios – stationery with soul, handcrafted notebooks and unique eco-friendly gifts hand crafted in Australia from recycled and eco-friendly materials
Mamitas Fair Trade – one of a kind handmade pieces- woven with stories from faraway lands, modern bohemian, ethical and fair trade.
Miessence – products are certified organic skincare, personal care, home care and superfood products – probiotics, protein powder etc.
My Heart Beats Green – funky organic cotton clothing for babies, kids, women and men, made in Brisbane.
Yaku Latin Goods – amazing chocolate! Yaku Latin Goods is a social entrepreneurial business that promotes ethical Latin American products in Australia, aiming to weave cultural bridges between both continents, while supporting social projects.
Rueby’s Workshop – furniture made of reclaimed timber by Brisbane based Reuben Schafer.
Bel Aqua Gardens – invite nature into your home with innovative vertical garden designs.

Sustainable Christmas ideas from City Farm Nursery

Christmas trees – a live potted tree is a terrific alternative to something commercially grown with chemicals, or mass produced and plastic. If you live in a small space, you can also create a Christmas tree alternative by decorating a potted plant.
Plants make the best presents. Giving plant gifts for Christmas has always brought joy – even before “green” was a trend. So, for this year’s holiday shopping, get back in touch with a time-honored tradition. City Farm Nursery features something for everyone on your list within any budget, whether it’s a succulent for a Secret Santa or a fruit tree for a loved one!
Table decorations – stunning and sustainable table centerpiece with succulents and herbs. Have you considered decorating your home with plants to create a magical indoor garden this Christmas?
The City Farm Tote Bag – environmentally friendly and fashionable! If only you used reusable bags over your lifetime that would remove more than 22,000 plastic bags from the environment!

Sustainable Living Workshop Gift Vouchers

And from our Education Program – give a Sustainable Living Workshop Gift Voucher. The recipient can choose from our wide range of workshops – from beekeeping to basket weaving. See the current list here. Full-day or half-day workshops run on most Saturdays throughout the year.

Purchase workshop vouchers here.

Northey Street City Farm wishes all our members, volunteers, customers and supporters a happy, healthy and safe festive season.

November 29, 2017 by Ronni Martin

Permaculture Design Course starts February 2018

The Permaculture Design Course (PDC), delivered one day a week over 16 weeks, gives you the knowledge and skills to observe and design from the natural patterns to create productive gardens & properties, grow your own food, apply appropriate technologies, learn to use resources wisely, build on living systems and rebuild communities.

The next PDC will run on Fridays, from 9 February to 1 June 2018

Learn to:

Build Resilience through Connectivity
Facilitate Regeneration of the Earth
Create Abundance through Design

The Permaculture Design Course builds from its foundation in the permaculture ethics, design principles and strategies to inspire critical thinking giving you the techniques and tools to design your life.

COST: $1450/ $1130 Health Care Card Holder (GST Inclusive)

INCLUDED IN YOUR COURSE FEE:

Rosemary Morrows ‘Earth Users Guide to Permaculture’
Extensive resources and handouts to complement course outcomes
Teachers whose conceptual understanding of the permaculture design process complements their broad range of knowledge and experience to create an immersive learning environment
• Visit to Crystal Waters where we will explore how these landholders have implemented permaculture design concepts into their lives
An experience of COMMUNITY & FUN

YOU WILL LEARN:

the history of permaculture and agriculture and the foundational concepts of the permaculture ethics and design principles
to design from ecological pattern literacy, systems thinking, using Ethics and Design principles, designing from the whole, differentiated into parts
to use the Scale of Permanence to give realistic outcomes for any design
climate analogues and how varied micro-climates affect your site
the patterns of our intent and that of our landscapes, elements and their functional connections in your design, to minimize waste
to savour our soils: soil biology, amendments, uses and putting it all together
about trees and forests and how we can integrate them into our systems
how we can cultivate our ecology to produce food based on our unique needs including annuals, perennials, forest gardens and animals into our systems
to enhance our communities and local economies through social permaculture design
a practical understanding of the design process through group and individual design work

For more information check the PDC page

“Thought provoking, inspirational and informative – whether you are planning for a farm, house or unit. Everywhere I now look I see patterns, choices and opportunities…” Mark Lacy, PDC student

FOR MORE INFO and to BOOK – Email: adultedn@nscf.org.au or Ph: 38578775

November 23, 2017 by Ronni Martin

Vegepods at City Farm Nursery

We are excited to welcome the addition of Vegepods to the City Farm Nursery! Vegepods make growing food as easy as it can be. They come equipped with a water-storing reservoir at the base and an adjustable shade (and possum) cover. The additional stands and trolleys make it easier to access and maintain your veggies. To welcome Vegepods to the nursery, we are running some exciting pre-Christmas specials. Until December 24th, Vegepods, stands and trolleys are discounted and our package deals including soil, plants, installation and more, are also discounted.

And with Christmas just a few weeks away the Nursery has been stocking up on ethical gifts. We have a great selection of books, permaculture calendars and gardening guides. NSCF organic cotton canvas carry bags and ONYA reusable produce bags are a great way to replace single-use plastic bags in 2018.

City Farm Nursery will be open as usual on Sunday 24th December and closed Monday 25th – Wednesday 3rd January. We will reopen in the New Year on Thursday 4th January and look forward to seeing you all then!

September 19, 2017 by Ronni Martin

Introduction to Survival for Teens

We are excited to be running this fun and interactive one-day workshop for teenagers which will cover what to do in an emergency in the bush, how to manage survival situations and, crucially, how to not get into an emergency situation in the first place!

It won’t be all talk though, there will be practical applications of shelter building, firelighting, finding north without a compass, time of day from the sun, water sourcing/cleaning and much more besides. This workshop is being held on Saturday November 4th, from 9am to 4pm.

The workshop is being facilitated by Andy Currey who comes with a wealth of experience in bushcraft knowledge and skills. Andy is the owner/operator of Sun and Stars Bushcraft, an entity designed to encourage people to get outside and re-connect with nature. Andy has engaged in all manner of Outdoor Recreation for the last 30 years, studying everything from sailing and kayaking, through to climbing and abseiling. His experience and natural leadership shine through in his mentoring style and he is passionate about sharing his skills and knowledge with anyone keen to learn. Last year he decided to turn his experience and passion into a qualification and achieved his Cert III in Outdoor Recreation, and is a qualified Wilderness First Responder. He now teaches Remote First Aid, Bushcraft, survival skills, Earth Arts, tool use, natural resourcing, nature connection and much more to anyone keen to start their own journey into the outdoors. His passion is to make the wild more accessible, to demonstrate that it doesn’t have to be hard, or expensive, or uncomfortable and to just try to get more and more people away from their screens and back into wondering at the nature all around them.

Fee: $88 Regular / $66 Parent holding a Health Care Card

Places for this hands on workshop are limited so book now to avoid disappointment.

To book in, go here:

https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/introduction-to-survival-for-teens-with-andy-currey-tickets-38030615595

August 5, 2017 by Ronni Martin

Gardening with guilds

By Lydia Blocksidge, City Farm Nursery Co-ordinator

Have you heard the term garden guild or guilding before? If you have, it’s probably been used in the context of agro-forestry and forest gardening, as this is where the concept is most commonly applied. Guilding is a Permaculture technique that recognizes the relationships in nature, especially in a forest system, and applies it to productive garden and orchard spaces.

When I was living and working at Rancho Mastatal, a Sustainability Education Centre and operating permaculture farm in rural Costa Rica, we established and maintained planting guilds throughout our agro-forestry orchards. But don’t be mistaken, you don’t need acres of land to use guilding, it is an incredibly adaptive and useful tool to use anywhere, in any productive garden setting.

In simple terms, a planting guild or garden guild is a harmonious collection of plants comprising two things, primary crop species and secondary support species. The primary species are commonly the food producing plants and the secondary species have functions to support the healthy growth and abundance of the primary food crops. These functions can include pollinator and good bug attracting species such as marigolds and other flowering plants, nitrogen-fixing species such as pigeon pea and pinto peanut, fungal deterrent species such as turmeric and ginger, pest deterrent species such as citronella, erosion control such as vetiver grass and chop and drop species for mulching such as arrowroot.

Guilds can be established in two main ways, either by guilding each single plant in your garden or by guilding the garden as a whole. If guilding each plant individually the primary crop species is usually in the middle of a guilding circle or half circle, with the support species around it. At Rancho Mastatal this method was used in the orchards around young tropical fruit and nut trees. Many of these trees take 10-15 years to start producing food so a healthy start in life is crucial for them. This was a useful method of planting because not only did the guiding circles help to locate the tree seedlings, it was also easy to manage them, with all the materials for healthy growth in one place.

If the entire garden is established as a whole guild, primary crop species are planted throughout the space and support species are interspersed between them. This is a great way to plan the urban garden. Whichever method you choose, the main thing to remember when establishing a guild in your garden is that all you need to do is define two things, your primary crop species and then decide which secondary species are going to support your primary crop. If you have separate garden beds you could choose to grow different primary species in each and different secondary species to support them.

Below are a few examples of urban garden guilds you could use at home.

Primary crop species: Tomatoes

Support species: Beans, Corn and Nasturtium.

Why it works: Tomatoes are heavy nitrogen feeders and beans fix nitrogen in the soil. Nasturtiums attract bees and other beneficial insects and also add color to the garden, as well as creating a ground cover for the soil. And corn provides a natural, food-producing trellis system for the tomatoes and beans, as well as mulch from the husks.

Primary crop species: Leafy greens

Support species: Oregano, Marigolds, and Carrots

Why it works: Oregano has a strong scent that helps to deter garden pests. It also forms a thick ground cover for the soil. Marigolds provide color and attract pollinators and beneficial insects. And carrots aerate the soil and provide a root crop, utilizing the space more efficiently.

Primary crop species: Broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower and other brassicas

Support species: Land cress, thyme, and garlic

Why it works: Land cress is extremely attractive to common chewing garden pests but it’s also highly toxic to them. So it does two things, keeps chewing pests off your primary crop and naturally eradicates the pests from your garden. It’s also a delicious peppery addition in salads. Thyme attracts pollinators to your garden with its beautiful flowers and it’s a tasty culinary herb. And garlic produces a supplementary crop that uses minimal space while also helping to keep pests out of your garden with its scent.

Guilding your home garden is an extremely effective method to maximize your yield outputs and minimize your labor inputs. It is important to remember when establishing guilds which plants grow well together in terms of water, soil, sunlight and so on. Companion planting guides are a great place to start. From there, consider what you want your primary crop species to be and then decide what support species are going to benefit the primary species, and you, most efficiently.

I always use the permaculture principle every element has multiple functions to determine my support species. For example, nasturtium in example 1 above, provides ground cover for the soil, it attracts pollinators, it’s beautiful and it can be used in the kitchen. Land cress can be used in the kitchen, it eradicates chewing pests and it can form a ground cover over the soil. If you can come up with at least three uses/reasons why you’ve selected the support plants you have, then you’re on the right track!

So who’s ready to start their urban garden guild? The City Farm Nursery has everything to help get you started!

June 29, 2017 by Ronni Martin

New View Farmers

Interview with Camilla Tulley – NSCF Markets Co-ordinator

Holly and Justin from New View Farm run a 5-acre project east of Stanthorpe. They are regenerating the site from pine forestry, using permaculture principles to grow fruit and flowers. They also rent a market garden from another Granite Belt grower Undercliffe Dave. Here they grow produce with other Granite Belt farmers to sell collectively at Northey St. Markets. Holly and Justin’s interest in growing started with their involvement with the Queensland Herb Society, a local Brisbane group, who hold their meetings around the corner from the Farm at the Albion Peace Center. Around the same time, they started shopping at Northey Street Organic Farmers Market and Holly completed our two-week intensive Permaculture Design Certificate. The high school sweethearts got married in 2012 and spent their honeymoon WWOOFing around Canada meeting awesome farmers, homesteaders and viewing garden projects. They came back inspired and ready to start their own organic farm.

Holly and Justin, tell us about your menu collaboration with head chef Glen Barratt from Wild Canary bistro at Brookfield? I’ve been following his passion for locally grown produce!

Glen is keen supporter of farmers’ markets, local produce and permaculture, and we also share a passion for unusual and unique foods! His restaurant has its own veggie garden where he grows many things to use in dishes. He invited us to speak at his producer’s lunch, a six-course degustation featuring produce from the Granite Belt Organic Growers!

What are your thoughts on shopping at big supermarkets vs a farmer’s market such as Northey St. Organic Farmers Market?

There are lots of benefits to shopping at a market – more of the produce is local, it’s much fresher and you know exactly who you are supporting through purchasing it. There’s also much more variety available! A good market still has the diversity of a supermarket – we can get meat, fish, dairy, fresh produce and dry goods. We think Northey St Organic Farmers Market is more exciting because we can also get homewares, beauty care, clothing, chocolate and natural therapies!

Supermarkets expect farmers to provide ever higher quality produce for less and less money, despite the many difficulties in growing. They don’t support locally grown either and have a crazy desire to wrap everything in plastic!

Agreed. Have you noticed any shifts in attitudes towards natural/organic farming over the time you’ve been growing and selling at the Northey St. Organic Farmers Market?

Yes, there is a definite trend towards a desire for natural foods which is evident in many facets of life right now. The prevalence of healthier eating depicted in the media, the rise in alternative eating choices through new diets, and the increase of organic products available in the supermarkets, shows that people are paying more attention to what they are eating right now.

As well, we have noticed an increase in patrons at the markets who are interested in knowing where and how their food is grown, and even who the farmer is. We believe that farmers are starting to get the support and recognition they deserve.

What would you say the main challenges of farming are for you?

The weather is getting more variable and it’s much harder to predict what is going to happen. Some of the farmers of past generations, that have been farming for 40 years, remember a time when you could rely on the forecast. People can advise on weather trends in the region to some degree, but even that isn’t always correct. For example, you used to be able to expect that frost would happen around Anzac Day each year and this year we only had a really light first frost at the end of May, a whole month later.

We do what we can when the sun is shining, and when it’s not we plant, plant and plant! And sometimes we just have to work in the cold muddy, rain! That’s just what farming is really! 🙂

Our next biggest challenge is efficiency! It’s something we are getting a lot better at. There’s a fine line between financially viable and a huge waste of time. We came into farming with some plant growing experience but no farming or market experience, so the learning curve has been pretty steep. We try to be fast learners! And the online farming community really helps us, giving us ideas on how to organize and innovate, find info on varieties and cool tools to get. It’s great having instant feedback on how the season is going for other farmers too, so you can be aware of certain pests doing the rounds etc. It all helps us become more resilient farms.

What about the pros of living the farming life?

We think the biggest pro is that we live abundantly! We love having a rainbow of delicious, nutritious food at each meal and we love being able to share that with our customers, especially through a place like Northey St. Organic Farmers Market.

Another pro would be the connection with nature. We get to work out in the fresh air, surrounded by the plants and animals each day. You really get to experience each season.

Love your work Holly and Justin, I am so impressed by your enthusiasm and dedication to ethical farming. Thanks for your time!

Visit the Granite Belt Growers stall at Northey St. Organic Farmers Markets! They are there every Sunday 6am-11am.

You can follow Holly and Justin’s farming adventures on Instagram @new_view_farm

You can find more information on the Queensland Herb Society here: www.qldherbsociety.org.au

You can find Glen Barratt through: https://wildcanary.com.au

June 20, 2017 by Ronni Martin

Spring 2017 Permaculture Design Course

This unique course, delivered over 16 weeks at Northey Street City Farm, gives you the knowledge and skills to observe and design from natural patterns to create productive gardens & properties, grow your own food, apply appropriate technologies, learn to use resources wisely, build on living systems and rebuild communities.

Learn to:

Build Resilience through Connectivity
Facilitate Regeneration of the Earth
Create Abundance through Design

DATES: Saturdays, from 12th August to 25th November 2017

The Permaculture Design Course (PDC) builds from its foundation in the permaculture ethics, design principles and strategies, to inspiring critical thinking, to giving you the techniques and tools to design your life.

Class sizes are limited to 15 to ensure the quality of your learning. Click here for further information and to book a place on the Spring PDC.

May 20, 2017 by Ronni Martin

Working towards a zero-waste festival

As a sustainable living festival, we encourage all attendees to each do their bit to reduce our environmental impact while celebrating the gift of life the Earth provides us. This year we’re aiming to reduce our collective environmental impact by working towards a zero-waste festival.

All food stalls will be using either washable crockery and cutlery or biodegradable/compostable single-use items. So please help our Waste Management Team volunteers by returning your dirty dishes and cups to the washing up station at the Chai Cafe. We also welcome you to BYO if you wish to use your own plate, cutlery, mug, etc. There will be a place provided for you to wash them up.

Also, to minimise plastic waste, there will be no bottled water sold. Single use plastic bottled water is a massive waste of embedded energy and not necessary with a bit of forethought. Please BYO a re-usable water bottle or cup. We will have water refill stations around the site where you can top up all day. We appreciate your support in caring for our Planet.

Caloundra Music Festival are claiming they will be the first Australian event to make the move to zero-waste later this year. However, we know Renew Fest recently achieved it and now we will too. Let’s show the bigger festivals that it’s possible to party and be responsible citizens of Earth at the same time.

Check out our full program including our 11 sustainable living workshops.

Buy Tickets.