Sydney City Farm

Often when I meet people and tell them about the vision to create a City Farm and sustainable living centre in the heart of Sydney, they look into the distance and start imagining their farm: ‘It could have a bike repair workshop… and a Saturday growers market … and an and interweb of paths that wind through the orchard. There would be a solar house and an organic cafe…’ But everyone has a different idea of what the perfect city farm would be, and we want to record all these ideas to combine the best ones, and hit the ground running when we get a site.

So tell us: What does your City Farm look like? How does it run? What events do you have? And what do you want to grow?

Write your comments as a response to this blog and we will make sure they get considered in any proposal for the City Farm.

Sydney City Farm Annual General Meeting, including Special Resolution

Saturday Dec 5, 2009 Cane Room, Callan Park, Rozelle

ATTENDANCE
19 non—voting members
21 Financial voting members including
Committee:
President Andrew Jackson
Secretary Elsa Evers
Treasurer Liesje Clement
Commitee Member Anthony Sheedy (Trustee)
Committee Member Carolin Wenzel
Committee Member Carolyn Matthews

Proxies
Vice President Rod Simpson

Apologies
Committee Member Brandon Saul (Trustee)
Committee Member Michael Beaumont
Sky De Jersey

11:00 Members arrive

11:20 Chair welcomes members

Hello, on behalf of Sydney City Farm I’d like to extend a warm welcome and thank you for attending our second Annual General Meeting.

My name is Anthony Sheedy and it’s my pleasure to serve as both a Committee Member and a Trustee of Sydney City Farm.

I would like to acknowledge that we are here today on the land of the Gadigal people, of the Eora nation – who are the Traditional Custodians of this land. We pay respect to elders past and present and extend that respect to any Aboriginal people present today.

At this AGM we will hear reports on developments of the organization through the year, including our audited financial statement.
We have given notice that we need to vote on a Special Resolution to make necessary amendments to our constitution.
We will elect some new committee members, and all our office bearers for 2010.
And we’re delighted to have with us a special guest speaker, Alex Graham, who will talk to us about the Australian Conservation Foundation’s Green Home program.

So the first item on our Agenda is to confirm the minutes of last year’s AGM
- you should all have a copy, or be able to see one.

11.13 Confirm minutes of last AGM

Mover Anthony Sheedy

Seconder Andrew Jackson

11.16 Introduce President Andrew Jackson

We’ve had some great developments for Sydney City Farm in 2009 and I’d now like to welcome our current President, Andrew Jackson to tell us all about them.

11.17 Andrew gives President’s Report – significant developments of previous year

- Involve membership more with Public Meetings
- Set up subcommittees – Seedling Project, Investigating finding another site,

Led to meetings with City of Sydney council – Council voted unanimously to investigate suitable sites and models. Keen for it to continue to be a community organization. We are keen for a form of partnership with council.
The closest we’ve been to the farm starting to become a reality,
The org is really about to change from lobbying focus, to deciding what we’re going to do there.
- Not giving up on Callan Park, ultimate vision is for a network of Sydney farms, or one City Farm spread over several sites.

Realising the City Farm is more important than ever. Right now while Australia’s and world leaders are trying to come to agreement on changes that need to be made to deal with climate change, the groundswell of community concern and action on reducing our ecological footprint needs support.

11.27 Chair introduces Treasurer Liesje Clement

Our finances have been audited and I’d like to now hand over to our current Treasurer, Liesje Clement, to take us through the financial statement – which you should also have a copy of.

11.28 Liesje presents audited statement (Appendix 1. See below)

Accept President’s and Treasurer’s reports
Moved Anthony Sheedy
Seconded Andrew Jackson

11.30 SPECIAL RESOLUTION (Appendix 2. See below)

Now we have a very important procedural matter. When we went through our constitution we noticed that it needed to be updated, especially so that we could expand the number of committee members to increase our effectiveness. We’d like to acknowledge the pro-bono help of legal firm Wolfe & Associates in preparing the Special Resolution.

In checking the rules of Association, we discovered that we need 75% of eligible voting members present, plus any proxies to pass this resolution. This is why we were very particular when you arrived to make sure that people had renewed their membership if they wanted to be a voting member.

For the purpose of voting on this resolution I’d like to now ask your cooperation – can anyone who is sitting at the front who is not a financial member please move towards the back, and anyone who is a financial member who arrived later, please come forward.

You might like to read your hand out while Committee member Carolin Wenzel reads it out.

11.35 Motion to accept Special Resolution: (requires 75% of voting members present)
Mover Jeanette Cudmore

Seconder Liesje Clement

Motion carried unanimously

11.40 Announce resignations and vacancies

Resignations
Michael Beaumont – from committee

4 Offices bearers – resigning some to stand for re-election
- Pres –Andrew Jackson
- Vice Pres – Rod Simpson trustee
- Treasurer – Liesje Clement
- Secretary- Elsa Evers

Announce nominations for committee members & office bearers
Now that we have passed the resolution we would like to expand our number of committee members and we have the following nominations:

David Gilligan
Sky de Jersey
Carla Thackrah

Rest of Committee
Anthony Sheedy – Trustee
Brandon Saul – Trustee
Carolin Wenzel
Sky de Jersey
Carla Thackrah

“In accordance with the rules of association – these 11 committee members are considered to be elected

We also have the following nominations for office bearers
Pres – Andrew Jackson
Vice- Pres – Carolyn Armstrong – qualified horticulturalist, Both Andrew and Carolyn have served the committee well in their negotiations with City of Sydney Council, Leichhardt Council, Friends of Callan Park and the Callan Park NGOs precinct.
Secretary – Liesje Clement – Keeps all our organisational matters up to date, and generally takes care of everything
Treasurer – David Gilligan – who is an accountant

As the number of nominations for office bearers equals the number of vacancies to be filled, the people nominated are taken to be elected.

Moved Jeanette Cudmore

Seconder Carolin Wenzel

Vote by acclaimation – Unanimous acceptance

11:50 Chair introduces Guest Speaker – Alex Graham, Green Home program

It gives me great pleasure now to introduce Alex Graham, who is the Coordinator of the Banksia Award winning Green Home program run by the Australian Conservation Foundation.

GreenHome helps people help the environment by making simple changes to the way we live. Alex will share some practical tips with us on how we can make changes at home and at work to reduce our ecological footprint. And she will give us her insights into how City Farms support a more sustainable approach to urban living.

11.51 Alex speaks about Green Home program, relevance of City Farms to

reducing the carbon footprint of cities and practical ways to save water and energy

How City Farms can contributre to Sustainable Living
What’s the Vision
- a place that attracts a lot of people – show them active examples of sustainable living
- there all the time, not a one off event
- come because they want to, exciting, things happening, a café
- everything that’s done on City Farm is done because it’s sustainable

Everyone has a different entry point to sustainable living for a lot of people it’s food – 50% or our ecofootprint
We can do a lot to reduce our energy use for heating and cooling
Switching to solar hot water cuts our greenhouse emissions and can hearly halve our electricity bill

to address that
Greenhome is about facilitating local solutions for that community. Facilitators, not necessarily experts– have lots of information available for free,

Produce guides on real changes people can make in the home
Greenhome guide – Sydney specific
http://www.acfonline.org.au/uploads/res/Sydney_web.pdf
Greenhome Guide
http://www.acfonline.org.au/uploads/res/NSWGreenHomeweb.pdf
Incl cleaning, shopping, energy saving, dealing with waste

Challenging to live in a society driven by consumption
So taking fewer flights, reducing amount of animal products we eat makes a massive difference.

12.05 Chair thanks Alex – Liesje gives Alex present

Chair calls for Any other Business or questions for clarifications

Request by SCF member Liz
Sydney Food Fairness Alliance AGM on next week, asking is there anything that SCF wants presented, or support we need
http://sydneyfoodfairness.org.au/alliance-to-act-on-food-security/
Sydney Food Fairness Alliance coordinates the efforts of rural producers, health professionals, community workers and community-based advocates active in developing a socially, economically and environmentally sustainable food system in the Sydney region.

Carolin to draft request and email to Liz

Member suggests SCF vision includes project similar to one in Nth England – a regional food centre
Incl cookery classes, cottage industry for making jam, cheese, bread etc

Tim Jackson from Friends of Sydney Botanical Garden
Brought cuttings of Plectranthus Agentatus

Committee to meet late Jan or early Feb

Date for first Public Meeting
Saturday 20 or 27 February 2010

12.25
There being no further business, I now declare the meeting closed

Thanks to everyone who brought a plate for morning tea. Let’s enjoy chatting over cups of tea and cake.

Appendix 1
Audited Financial Statement

Profit & Loss Statement

July 2008 through June 2009

Income

Donations                                                              $831.00
Activities Income
T-Shirts sold                                              $1,960.00
Membership Income
unwaged members                                      $105.00
Standard members                                   $1,120.00
passionate members                                   $150.00
business members                                         $70.00
other members                                         $6,380.00
Total Income                        $10,616.00

Cost of Sales
T-Shirts manufactured                             $2,893.84
Total Cost of Sales               $2,893.84

Gross Profit                         $7,722.16

Expenses

Supplies
Merchant Fees                                                  $839.34
Hire of premises                                              $244.00
Insurance                                                           $766.71
Late Fees Paid                                                     $21.00
Legal & Accounting                                         $544.00
Promotion & Advertising                                $731.00
Training                                                                $75.00
Website                                                              $280.45
Employment Expenses
Contract Staff                                  $5,139.10
Staff Amenities                                    $38.59
Total Employment Expenses  $5,177.69
Postage & Email                                                $103.71
Printing & Stationary                                      $658.34
Total Expenses                          $9,441.24

Operating Profit                       -$1,719.08

Other Income

Other Expenses

Net Surplus / (Deficit)           -$1,719.08

Appendix 2

SPECIAL RESOLUTION

To amend Sydney City Farm Constitution

2. To consider and if thought fit to pass as a special resolution pursuant to clause 37 of the Constitution the following alterations to the Objects and Constitution of the Centre:

Objects:

1. To add a further object (1.h) as follows:
“(1.h) To operate independently from any other group and be wholly devoted to the creation of a working urban farm and centre for sustainable urban living.”

Constitution:

1. To alter Rule 14(1) as follows:

Delete sub-paragraph 14(1)(b) and insert instead:
“(b) a minimum of three and a maximum of seven ordinary members each of whom is to be elected in accordance with Rule 15.”

Insert at the end of Rule 14(1): “A member shall not be entitled to be a committee member unless the member has paid the member’s annual subscription payable for the then current year.”

2. To insert at the end of rule 14(2) the sentence:

“Office bearers hold office as office bearers until the conclusion of the annual general meeting following their election as office bearer and are eligible for re-election as office bearer.”

3. Delete Rule 14(3) and insert instead:

“14(3) At the annual general meeting in every year one third of the committee members, or if their number is not a multiple of three, then the number nearest one third, shall retire from office, the retirement to take effect upon the conclusion of the meeting. A retiring committee member is eligible for re-election.

14(4) The committee members to retire in every year shall be those who have been longest in office since their last election, but as between persons who become committee members on the same day those to retire shall (unless they agree among themselves) be determined by lot.”

4. To re-number Rule 14(4) as Rule 14(5).

5. To insert in sub-paragraph (a) of Rule 15(1) after the words in the second line: “two members of the association” the words “who have paid their annual membership fee for the then current year”.

6. To add at the end of Rule 15(6) a further sentence: “Only members who have paid their annual membership fee for the then current year shall be entitled to vote.”

7. To add new paragraph 17(c):

“17(c) A certificate by the Treasurer as to payment of any monies due by a member including any membership or subscription fees shall in relation to the right of the member to vote, be conclusive evidence.”

8. To amend Rule 32(4) by deleting from the fourth line the words “other than” and inserting instead “including”.

Notice sent to members November 13, 2009
Special Resolution passed at AGM Saturday Deccember 5, 2009-12-15
Passed unanimously by 21 voting members present and all proxies.

Read all about the new developments in Sydney Central

Sydney-siders moved a big step closer to having a City Farm and Sustainable Living Centre when Sydney City Council voted unanimously to fund a feasability study and investigation into possible sites for a City Farm in the Sydney Council area on Monday night – 23 November.

Previously, City of Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore had spoken in strong support of Sydney City Farm. Sydney Council have already prepared an interim report outlining the possible sites and models for a city farm after the Sydney City Farm committee had proposed the idea to Council in August this year.
Read it here.

“City Farms provide real, hands-on experiences to teach residents, businesses and schools about sustainable living. City Farms demonstrate the simple ways that everyone can Live Green and give the community access to local organic produce. It’s fantastic that the Sydney City Council is so supportive of having a City Farm where Sydney residents can grow healthy local food and learn about sustainability,” said Sydney City Farm President Andrew Jackson.

“A City Farm modelled on successful urban farms like CERES in Melbourne and Northey Street City Farm in Brisbane is a perfect fit with plans for a Sustainable Sydney by 2030 ,” said Mr Jackson.

The Sydney City Farm non-profit group proposed the idea to Council in August this year. The group was formed to create a vibrant centre of learning and community participation where Sydney residents will be inspired to learn to grow their own food, compost and recycle; as well find out about the latest water and energy saving technologies.

“Like Stephanie Alexander’s Kitchen Garden projects, the City Farm is an idea whose time is well and truly here. Wherever we hold information stalls people are super-keen to get involved,” said Mr Jackson.  “We are sure that when City of Sydney Council identifies a preferred site and begins the consultation process, there will be overwhelming community support for the idea.”

“Ultimately our vision is for a network of City Farms, including our original proposal for a 3 hectare City Farm inside Callan Park,” said Mr Jackson.

Sydney City Farm will hold its Annual General Meeting on Saturday December 5 at 11.00am at the Cane Room in Callan Park (Wharf Rd entrance) map

To find out more, visit www.sydneycityfarm.org
Media contact: Carolin Wenzel  mo: 0417 668 957

It’s that time of year again to make some key decisions about how to get City Farm up and running. And we want your input.

When: Saturday, 5th December, 11am – 1pm

Where: The Cane Room, Callan Park, Rozelle (map)

What’s on the agenda?

1. A solid constitution – to make sure Sydney City Farm is a robust community organization before any hairy decisions have to be made, we need to get the constitution right. We will be making some changes to the constitution at the AGM, which you can preview here before you vote on the day.
2. Where will we put the first city farm? – Update on where the city farm is positioned, including an update on progress with Sydney City Council.
3. Vote on committee members – If you would like to nominate yourself or anyone else to be a committee member, you can do it by emailing a nomination form to sydneycityfarm@gmail.com or posting it to 237 Bulwara Rd, Ultimmo, NSW, 2007.

Renew your membership and vote at the AGM
To be eligible to vote at the AGM, you need to be a current financial member. You can join or renew online, or of course you can join in person on the day at the AGM.
If you are one of the 1500 people on our email list who is not a member, please take the opportunity to join up now and become a financial and voting member of Sydney City Farm.

GENERAL BUSINESS

Over the last 12 months we have seen considerable activity and progress towards our dream of Sydney’s first City Farm and we expect 2010 to be another big year. The City Farm public meetings have been successful in communicating to City Farmers and obtaining much appreciated support and energy from passionate members. The Saturday City Farm public meetings are open to all farmers and we encourage you to attend.

Sydney City Farm has established a social network on Ning.com. If you want to actively participate in one of the member committees but can’t make the public meetings go to: http://sydneycityfarm.ning.com/

We are rolling into 2010 with momentum and expect that our demand for skills and member support to grow. Please email us if you can help in any of these areas:
• Fundraising
• Communications/PR and Media
• IT and Database Management
• Business and Workforce Planning
• Community Engagement

Finally a reminder that donations over $2 to Sydney City Farm are Tax Deductible. Now is a great time to donate to help us make this City Farm a reality.

UPDATE FROM EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Andrew provided an update on activities, key points were:

1. SCF committee members had a very positive meeting with Sydney City Council about possible sites.
2. The Annual Membership renewal process will shortly commence after some upgrades to the website.
3. Planning for the 2009 AGM is underway

UPDATE FROM THE SUBGROUPS

Proposal Writing Group (exploring funding ideas for the Sydney City Farm concept with a variety of donors for different aspects of the farm’s needs)

David provided an update on the proposal writing group. Over the last month a number of grant applications have been lodged to help support future activities of the City Farm. Work is also continuing to research philanthropy organisations.

The Building Community Partnerships Grant application is progressing with the Council’s assessment committee seeking further information. Verity Firth will shortly post all grant applications on her website and seek the community’s vote.

Seedling Group (exploring how we can collectively grow seedlings for the farm in advance of having a physical site).

Chris & Dave of the Seedling Group created City Farm history. Once the formal part of the Public Meeting was complete City Farmers, with sleaves rolled up, emersed their hands in soil and planted City Farm’s very first crop.

Next meeting AGM 5 December, 11 -1pm, Cane Room, Callan Park – Bring a plate for morning tea.

UPDATE FROM EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Andrew provided an update on the City Farm meeting with Jamie Parker (Mayor of Leichhardt), key points were:

• The Mayor is a supporter of the City Farm concept.

• The Council was looking to have formal submissions on Callan Park by the end of the year with a view to making a decision mid next year.

• The Mayor supported City Farm looking at alternative sites in the Leichhardt Council area.

Update from the Subgroups

Alternative Site Group – Liesje provided an update of the alternative site group.

Progress has been made in discussions with both Leichhardt and Sydney City Councils.  Meetings have been held with Jamie Parker and arrangements are being made to meet with Sydney City Council.

In addition Verity Firth has written to Clover Moore expressing her support for City Farm.

ACTION
Meet with Sydney City Council.
Follow up alternative sites suggested by Mayor with Leichhardt Council.

Seedling Group – Chris provided an update on the Seedling Group.

Progress has been made in discussions with primary schools and an order for heirloom seeds been placed with the Diggers Club.

ACTION
City Farm members to collect egg cartons for planting seeds.  Bring to next meeting.
A short promotion piece on City Farm to be written for school newsletters (Joss).
Complete outline of the aims and objectives of the seedling group.

Proposal Writing Group – Dave provided an update on the proposal writing group.

Progress has been made with a formal submission lodged for a Building Community Partnerships Grant.

ACTION
The group is looking at registering with a number of philanthropy organisations.

Notes from City Farm Meeting 15th August (Thanks Tim for taking minutes)
Next meeting: Cane Room, 11am Saturday 26th September, Callan Park.
AGM 31st October 2009

UPDATE FROM EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Andrew provided an update on activities since the last meeting, key points were:

1. Contact has been made with Sydney City Council to discuss alternative sites to commence the Farm while the Callan Park community consultation process continues.
2. Executive Committee is in the process of arranging a meeting with Jamie Parker, Mayor of Leichhardt, to discuss alternative sites in the Leichhardt Council area.
3. Andrew and Liesje recently attended the Callan Park mental health workshop organised by Leichhardt Council.  Key take away was that there are many views on mental health and on how to utilise the Callan Park site.

Andrew made the point that the Sydney City Farm Executive Committee was still committed to Callan Park, however, given the length of time to run on the community consultation process other sites would be considered as an addition the the eventual Callan Park site.

UPDATE FROM THE SUBGROUPS

Seedling  group
Sky ran through the draft proposal prepared by Rhys.

Suggestions/comments provided by the Group:

• Emphasise “edible” seedlings
• Explore use of glasshouse in Balmain
• Include photos of backyard seedlings on SCF webpage
• Approach Leichhardt Council on growing seedlings on public space
• Change wording from virtual farm to networked farm
• Donation concept supported
• Liaise with local nurseriesplus

Action
• Rhys to contact Victoria, Maureen, Chris, Peter and Dave to join the Group.
• Rhys to email Chris regarding promotion/website ideas

Proposal writing group
Dave provided an update on the proposal writing group.

Suggestion/comments provided by the Group:
• Grant should include funding for admin/marketing person
• Executive Committee to consider grant sign off process
• This group aims to support other subgroups

Action
• Andrew to attend the next subgroup meeting
• Group to prepare submission for council grant closing 10th August
• Dave to contact Douglas and Jeanette to join the Group.

Training Manual Group
Celia provided an update of the training manual group.

Suggestions/comments from the group
• Reference website for content
• Consider the 30 second radio grab
• Link into Sydney Food Fairness Alliance conference

Action
Liesje to email Linnet for review of proposal

Alternative Site Group
Andrew provided an update of the alternative site group

Suggestion / comments from the group
• Consider 68 William St as a Site

Action
Executive Committee to arrange meeting with Verity Firth to discuss alternative sites

Next Meeting: Saturday 15th August, 11-1pm, Cane Room, Callan Park.

At our last meeting in June, attendees participated in two brainstorming sessions; we heard a presentation on the organic farm, CERES, in Melbourne; and an outline of the vision for Sydney City Farm at Callan Park, and the progress on it to date. The brainstorming sessions were about: promotional activity to generate interest and communicate with current and potential supporters of the farm; and content for a training manual for council meeting attendees.
The promotional activity brainstorm group resulted in proposals for:

• Growing of seedlings in our own homes/gardens, for sale or as give-aways with a flyer about the farm. Action points included: looking into the possibility of a free market stall at one or more local markets; contacting the inner west permaculture group, who are currently doing a similar thing; the seedling group looking into the timing of a good promotional event, and work backwards with a time frame. SEEDLING WORKING GROUP: Rhys, Joss, Kate, Chris, Sheridan with David and Tim helping.

• More regular newspaper advertisements. This is a sensitive area due to not wanting to step on the toes of other interested groups. It is an ongoing activity with committee members.

• Sending attendees to meetings of other Callan Park interest groups. It was suggested that a list of such meetings could be sent around, so that people know what is on when and where. The training manual (see below) would also be helpful for these attendees.

• Looking into raising the Google ranking for the website. This is an ongoing work item for the committee currently. Call for interested and skilled people to help with this and other IT things.

• Working with schools: send an annual seed pack with information on the Sydney City Farm and how to grow the seeds, to be sent home with kids attending and for presenting to parents and citizens (P & C) meetings. Also assistance with school kitchen gardens, eg a consultant-like service, to encourage growing and familiarity/support for the farm.

• Presenting to other community groups, such as P & C meetings, schools, the Inner West permaculture group, other Callan Park interest groups etc.

• Reinstating the old plant nursery on site. This would be closely tied to the seedling project. Action point: to call the contact Caroline and Tim made on the day of the meeting and ask permission to use the site. WORKING GROUP: as for Seedling Group.

• Apply for funding with the ABC Open Gardens grant scheme, which is open for applications until the end of May. We could apply with the seedling idea, or the farm idea as a whole. This could be a first attempt proposal that would make it easier to apply for other grants in the future even if we’re not successful this time.

The training manual content brainstorming group looked at:
Information required for the meeting attendees training manual, which included a five minute spiel on the farm, containing:

• The vision for the farm, with verbal walk through of the virtual farm.

• A glossary of words used in the meetings and by the Farm community.

• Frequently asked questions and answers.

• The reason for having a farm.

• Examples and statistics from the rest of the world, particularly Melbourne, to light-heartedly capitalise on the competition between the cities.

• Facts and figures.

• Elements which speak to all manner of learning – stats, visuals, vision, objectives etc.

• Materials such as pamphlets, power point to email, etc; a sheet of little flyers to copy and distribute.

• A contact detail sheet to add names to the mailing list.

Who the audience will be for the information we give, and who we are meaning to talk to:

• Decision makers, eg councilors.

• Groups already active in like-minded organisations, such as community gardens, food co-ops, etc.

• Non-locals, regarding services we could provide, as a way of bringing the farm to them, eg consultative services.

TRAINING MANUAL WORKING GROUP: Celia, Holly, Carolin Wenzel.

Carolin’s presentation of the CERES farm in Melbourne. Information on the CERES farm can be found on their website.

Next public meeting 4th July, 2009 at 11am, Cane Room Callan Park.

Approximately thirty people turned out on Saturday morning to take part in a brainstorming session to move City Farm forward in the most creative way possible. Participants broke into four groups, and their ideas have been captured here below:

1. Engaging with the Masterplanning process

• Form a sub committee for process which looks after who goes to masterplanning meetings and who reports back to the committee
• Approach Council with the idea of a short-term interim ‘lease’ on the site
• Look for more direct financial sponsorship – for support and web maintenance etc.
• Research the councilors – the issues and their perspectives
• Develop a communication pack/document that addresses common concerns in advance – for example the business plan and financial sustainability prospects
• Put some signage for Sydney City farm out on the road at front of Callan Park to show our prospective existence at the physical site and within electorate
• Get elected to Council or support a candidate.
• Get a regular column in the Inner West Courier to promote SCF and the associated activities that are synergistic with the Farm within the electorate
• Connect with local schools (Montessouri, see Anne Sloane)
• Erect a permanent sign in Callan Park saying “We want the Sydney City farm to be here.”
• Look to a variety of levels on which to engage with the Masterplanning process eg. Masterplan meetings, meetings with the councillors, and be aware, co-ordinate and engage synergistically with other interest groups to build widespread support. (Create a list/document that outlines this three-pronged approach)
• Improve email communications about meetings and attendance
• Generate/develop RSVP email notices to ensure attendance at meetings
• Research all possible grants at local, state, and federal level as well as philanthropy.

2. Finding a new site for the Sydney City Farm

• Contact councilors and private developers
• Look at vacant land that is privately owned
• Tackle sites with a limited number of stakeholders
• Avoid anything that would take too long
• The new site should be ‘as well as’ rather than ‘instead of’ Calla Park
• The new site needs to be a 3Ha minimum. Q: How far is too far away?
• Site options might include smaller sites in Leichhardt, Sydney Park or Hyde Park Barracks
• At a TAFE? Railway land? The Botanical gardens? The Domain?
• Need to be able to have animals as well as vegies ultimately for it to be considered a farm – but interim just with vegies?
• Contact other councils. Ask Leichhardt for an alternative site, then start asking the next surrounding councils
• Look at leasing/borrowing private land for a period of time until no longer available
• Ask developers – they would know which sites are available and how long they might be abandoned for (before construction starts)
• Q: Should we be dividing our energy in seeking another smaller site?

3. Maintaining enthusiasm for the Sydney City Farm

• Approach SHFA re making use of the nursery on-site to grow seedlings for distribution to schools to provide resources for “kitchen school” gardens.
• Monthly public meetings to maintain community involvement
• Regular emails to members to maintain interest
• Have a weekly Orange Grove stall manned by volunteers to maintain face to face contact and perhaps sell locally grown vegies
• Host regular discussion or film nights showing how city farms work across the globe
• Encourage letter writing to SMH, local papers and the Telegraph
• Develop a media plan
• Research Randwick Council program of providing free seedlings and tools to those who plant on the nature strip and ask Leichhardt to do something similar.

4. Working with NGOs already on the site

• Start gardening in temporary boxes (such as Earth boxes) that can be easily moved and offer free sets to the NGO’s to house on their site that we would maintain with as much or as little participation from the NGO’s
• Conduct needs analysis of the NGOs. Look at what’s in it for them and from their perspective (Talk to Douglas Holmes)
• Just start gardening and get those who participate to sign a disclaimer to avoid legal issues
• Write a list of the NGO’s on the site – who are they and what do they do?

At the end of the meeting it was decided that it was time to open up City Farm to monthly public meetings. The next public meeting will be held on Saturday the 2nd of May. All are welcome. Prior to that, the committee will review the outcomes from the brainstorm meeting and decide which ones are priorities and can be made into immediate action points to be designated at the public meeting.