MILLEN FARM – A farm for locals
Millen Farm: www.millenfarm.org
We are fortunate in our area to have an abundance of space. Despite this, many of us utilise supermarkets and go further afield to source produce that can be farmed locally, even on small lots.
Millen Farm is a recently established not-for-profit entity run by the community, for the community. We are developing a commercially viable organic farm and teaching space that aims to be a catalyst for significant food production for our local area. You can learn how to grow your own produce in spaces from patio containers, suburban backyards and small acreages through to broad acre farming. You can produce this fresh food for yourself or for sale at the farmers market that will be established at the Farm site. The ‘end game’ is to feed our own community.
Millen Farm is situated at the Samford Commons, formally the old CSIRO land just north of Samford Village. Millen Farm is a partner of Samford Commons Limited – a community organisation focussed on researching and building for a sustainable future.
Although work on the farm site itself has only just begun, Millen Farm has been running educational workshops over the past year on local properties. The 2016 learning schedule includes everything from fruit and vegetable growing and permaculture through to keeping bees and managing poultry for eggs and meat. A lifetime membership is only $25. It includes member advantages and is a great way to support an important local initiative.
Keep your diary clear for 18 October as you can learn how to improve and manage your own soil as well as sample and buy food and produce from local businesses.
In the morning, the Digging Deeper into Soil conference will explore soil here in Australia and the local area. The focus is on improving and managing soil for food production – be it for the home kitchen or for sale. The conference will include a variety of Australian and local farmers and market gardeners as well as food production and soil management educators, researchers and authors. As one of the conference presenters says, ‘You have to learn to grow soil as well as crops – just growing crops will only last a short time’. This is a ticketed event, so visit our website to secure your place!
In the afternoon, Millen Farm is hosting its first community festival ‘Learn Grow Feast’. This festival will showcase local and regional sustainable businesses and food vendors. With music and demonstrations, the festival will culminate in a dusk screening of ‘Fair Food: The Documentary’. This documentary explores issues with the Australian Food production system and its impacts on Farmers, consumers, animals and our environment. A Q&A session with experts, local business owners, food growers and suppliers will follow the film, discussing the issues and what we can do locally to strengthen our food system. Entry to the festival is free.
To find out more, visit our website at www.millenfarm.org .
*
