Sydney City Farm

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.

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.