Community Supported Agriculture : Australia New Zealand
Administration
Joel Orchard
Farmer | Food System Activist | Photographer I am a new school farmer, food systems activist, passionate advocate for young farmers and local agricultural industry networker. My interests are in exploring the social sustainability of local food production and tackling the issue of an ageing farmer population. I have been involved in establishing Future Feeders : a young farmers hub, peer support and community farming program in Northern NSW and the capacity building organisation - Northern Rivers Young Farmers Alliance. I am also interested in PGS (Participatory Guarantee Systems) currently developing Northern Rivers FEED [Farm Endorsement of Ecological Development] : as a regional ecological agriculture participatory guarantee system and alternative to third party organic certification. Email : [email protected] Mobile : 0424 73 8899 Linked In : www.linkedin.com/in/joel-orchard |
Sally Ruljancich
I’m one half of Colin and Sally’s Organic Lamb and Beef, and we’ve been selling our meat direct for five years, and have a fully-subscribed CSA, in its second year. I always refer to CSAs as the most delicious way to support a farming family. For all eaters and growers, whether urban, regional or rural dweller, food which is accessible, clean, nourishing and delicious, is a right not a privilege. Food which is grown with the building of the soil, with the rights of the workers of the land in mind, with the ethical treatment of the animal in mind, and with the wellbeing of the farmers in mind – these are the things we must continue to fight for. CSAs are a powerful expression of a solidarity economy. It is stepping up and saying to a farmer, “I commit to you for this season, you go and farm, I promise to take what you grow”. As a farmer myself with a CSA, it is an empowering feeling. We need to normalise this. There’s a desire for connection between farmer and eater out there. We need to shorten the supply chain, environmentally, for the health of small regional and rural towns, it is the only way forward. CSAs can do that. Along with Amelia Bright, I am also a Co-founder of the Prom Coast Food Collective, a direct sales model for small-scale producers in South Gippsland. In 2017, we were the ‘Belief’ category winners in the Weekly Times Shine Awards, which highlights the contribution and achievements of women across rural and regional Australia. I am also a mentor to a co-op in Queensland, and a sounding board to many a farmer. There can be no true food sovereignty without family farms and small-scale producers. We need to reclaim the narratives of normalcy around buying direct from the farmer. It is seen by too many as odd, or a once-off feelgood transaction. Let’s make it normal again! A decline in confidence in the kitchen, a persistent uncomfortable reliance on supermarkets due to convenience, a price model that disrespects every aspect of the growing of the food, and a lack of awareness of just what it takes and what it costs, environmentally and ethically, for an item of produce to go from tractor to trolley. Enough. We can do this better. Email: [email protected] Mobile: 0404 490 035 Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sally-ruljancich-4a348014/ |