Sydney City Farm

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.

March 2009 News + Updates

AGM wraps up 2008, and sets the scene for 2009
The Annual General Meeting was held on the 23rd of December at Callan Park.

The update by President Andrew Jackson on Sydney City Farm’s status after the Callan Park handover to local council control opened up discussion about a renewed strategy for City Farm in 2009. It has become apparent that the local council’s master planning process will take at least two years to complete. So we voted to hold a brainstorming meeting about the direction of Sydney City Farm in the interim period. Check out the details below to join the brainstorming meeting.

President Andrew Jackson’s speech, which sums up the activities of 2008, can be found in the Resources section of the website, along with minutes from the AGM and the organisation’s financial reports for the financial year 2007-2008.

Open brainstorming session at Callan Park on April 4 a way forward for Sydney City Farm
A brainstorming meeting will be held on Saturday the 4th of April at 11am for all City Farm members to help shape upcoming City Farm activities and the final City Farm vision. Find all the details about the meeting on our website and RSVP to contribute your ideas when we meet at the Cane Room in Callan Park.

Donations to City Farm now tax-deductible
Donations to Sydney City Farm are now tax deductible! After much to-ing and fro-ing with the tax office, Sydney City Farm is now officially recognised as a worthy not-for-profit organisation. That means that all donations over $2 can be claimed off your tax. What better reason to have than to donate now. Now that 2009 is in full-swing, we will be revamping our membership drive. So, if you’re not already a member for, help us out by joining now. If you are already a member, you can continue to contribute by making a tax-deductible donation. Every cent is appreciated and carefully spent on activities that will lead to the realisation of our ultimate vision of a City Farm at Callan Park.

After some delay to set a date for the brainstorming meeting, we have finally set the date to Saturday the 4th of April.

Now that the committee has a clearer idea about what possibilities there are for Sydney City Farm within the NGO precinct on the physical site at Callan Park, the stage is set for some truly creative planning!

So please join us for a brainstorming meeting about future activities, both short and long term, for Sydney City Farm.

Date: Saturday 4th April

Time: 11am -1pm

Place: Cane Room, Callan Park, Rozelle

Possible themes for discussion are:

-         Activities that SCF can do without a site

-         How to work with NGO’s already on the site

-         How to engage with the Council’s master planning process for Callan Park

-         How to increase and maintain interest in Sydney City Farm

Please RSVP by emailing sydneycityfarm@gmail.org with ‘Brainstorming Meeting’ in the subject line so that we can get an idea of the numbers attending.

After the AGM the City Farm committee have taken a break and will start back on our City Farm work in February.

At the AGM we agreed to hold a brainstorming workshop in relation to the ideas of how we can move forward on the 1st of February. Although we are excited about this workshop and are all looking forward to it, there are several reasons why we need to postpone it.

In our inquiries about accessing the NGO precinct to propose therapeutic planting workshops we have discovered it is still unclear who is in control of the site. We would like to be clearer on what options we are presenting for discussion and involvement at a larger meeting, so we are making further inquiries.

We will be in touch soon with a new date for the brainstorming meeting – probably in late February or early March. This will also give us more time to plan the logistics and send adequate notice to our member list.

Thanks again for your enthusiastic support for the Sydney City Farm vision and your active engagement in making it a reality.

We hope you have enjoyed the end of year and new season and will see you soon.

The first AGM for City Farm today was an exciting congregation of enthusiastic and determined City Farm members. Over thirty people were present along with the committee members, and after some lively discussion there was overwhelming consensus about what the next steps should be for 2009.

A motion was passed to investigate the development of plant nursery programs with those mental health organisations already working in Callan Park within the NGO precinct. This could happen with the help and facilitation of SCF member, Douglas Holmes.

The decision was also made to hold a meeting in late February to brainstorm ideas on how to get active in the interim period that the masterplan process for Callan Park is underway.

If you have any ideas for the agenda of that meeting, or a certain set of skills that you could offer Sydney City Farm, please respond on this blog with your full name, ideas and skills outlined.

We will send an announcement out with the exact location and time details for the upcoming meeting closer to the date.

PS. It’s not too late to buy your loved one a Sydney City Farm membership for Christmas.

Our ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING (for financial members) will be on

SATURDAY 20 DECEMBER, 2008, 11am – 12pm in The Cane Room, Wharf St, Callan Park.

Click on map for enlargement

Park at end of Wharf St on waterfront

RSVP by reply email by Sat 13 December, 2008. <sydneycityfarm@gmail.com>

AGENDA Introduction of Committee members

Report by the Chairman

Financial statement

Questions

Any other business

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Dear City Farmers,

We are pleased to invite you to our first ever AGM! It’s been a dramatic year of growth and surging fortunes for our vision to create a vibrant City Farm and Sustainable Living Centre in Callan Park.

It’s incredible that in just a year we have generated more than 1500 supporters on our email list, and 270 financial members.

Financial membership entitles you to participate in formal meetings of Sydney City Farm & Sustainable Living Centre Inc.

So please come along on Saturday December 20th, for our first AGM, appropriately held in in The Cane Room on the site we propose would be perfect for a City Farm at Callan Park.

It’s a chance to meet our office bearers and committee members, and find out about all our activities this year. Lemonade, tea and cake will be provided or feel free to bring a coffee over from the markets.

We will also have some of our popular City Farm t-shirt for sale. A great Christmas gift.

On behalf of the Sydney City Farm Committee: Andrew Jackson, Rod Simpson, Brandon Saul, Liesje Clement, Carolin Wenzel, Anthony Sheedy and Carolin Armstrong.

It’s taken a while, but finally any donations and membership payments to Sydney City Farm over $2, made after 8th Dec. 2008, are a tax deduction. Help keep us going financially and it will help you too. We will be listed soon on the official website at Register of Environmental Organisations – Tax Deductible Organisations