Merry May, Farm Friends!
As always, we've got plenty of news from around the Farm for you.
Composting is back, baby! We've got some exciting new job openings, awesome events, fantastic workshops, goodbyes, hellos, and more.
As your friendly Promotions and Admin Coordinator, I'd love to see and share your posts on social media from around the Farm. Feel free to tag us on Instagram @northeystreetcityfarm so I don't miss your gorgeous photos and videos!
Thank you for supporting and being a part of Northey Street City Farm. Enjoy the read!
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From the Management Committee |
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Disaster-resilience is a key part of permaculture design. And over Northey Street City Farm’s 30-year history, we’ve managed to survive five major floods!
While this has certainly tested our resolve, each time we've bounced back, and we’ll continue to do so. However, the past few years’ events have had unprecedented impacts on the Farm.
Having just (pardon the pun) weathered the COVID storm, at the start of 2022 the Farm was hit by the most devastating flooding to date.
We received incredible support from the community and dug deep into our reserves to get back to trading within weeks. However, our finances have taken an enduring hit.
We’re surviving, but not thriving.
A key role for us as the Farm's Management Committee is to guide the Farm towards a prosperous future (aligned with the Farm's values).
A recent internal review of the Farm tested our operating model and options going forward. Some of the outcomes of this review include adopting a more streamlined organisational structure, recalibrating strategic priorities, and identifying new fundraising opportunities.
Perhaps the most significant decision taken by the Farm has been the choice to continue operating at the current Northey Street site for the foreseeable future.
We want to position Northey Street as a model for climate-resilience. This requires investing in new ideas, new infrastructure, and new capabilities to continue to successfully navigate current and emerging challenges.
Our current financial position significantly constrains our ability to embark on such initiatives. As a result, we’re currently focussed on finding ways to improve the financial health of the Farm.
Northey Street is a space for community and, as such, we rely on your continued support to operate effectively.
So please keep shopping and socialising at the Sunday markets and nursery! And tell all your friends and family to come along too! And why not check out our amazing array of educational courses – we have something for everyone!
Finally, if you're keen on being part of our philanthropy program, please don't hesitate to get it touch via (07) 3857 8775 or info@nscf.org.au.
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Farewell Adnan & Welcome Jake! |
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Farewell, Adnan!
Beloved stalwart, expert Finance Coordinator, and occasional barista, Adnan, will be leaving Northey Street City Farm.
Adnan is currently our longest-serving staff member, and this is a massive loss for the organisation.
We will not only miss his technical skills, experience, and diligence, but his kindness and contribution to the overall morale at the Farm.
Adnan has become a close friend of many in the Farm community. He is one of the most down-to-earth and pleasant people you'll ever meet.
Adnan will be moving on to a new job in the Disability Sector with an exciting pathway for career development.
Adnan has faced challenges in his life that many of us could not begin to imagine. We're really proud of Adnan and glad that he's taken up this rewarding opportunity.
While Adnan has been considering a change for some time now, it's going to take a lot of getting used to!
Adnan's final day will be Monday 15 May, but he's kindly volunteered to assist with handover duties during the weeks that follow.
Thank you, Adnan, for your service, and all the best for the future.
Simon - Enterprise & Support Manager
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Welcome, Jake!
Hi Everyone,
I’m so excited to take this role of Market Coordinator with such a rich history and where I personally, have many wonderful memories.
I grew up visiting Northey Street with my family, I’ve also been a regular busker here in my younger years and later went on to work for a short time at some of the stalls. I have had a long involvement with marketeering, small business and community-based organising in Brisbane and feel I have lots of experiences that will help me positively contribute to this incredible community.
I have always been passionate about permaculture and sustainable food production and am so happy to be actively working in this space.
I can’t wait to meet you all and hopefully learn so much from you!
Cheers,
Jake
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NSCF Compost Hub
To celebrate International Compost Awareness Week (May 7th-13th), we'd like to invite our community to start bringing their food scraps back to the farm. The more we compost, the less waste there is that goes to landfill and the more we can turn "waste" into a valuable resource to build our soil!
You can find the NSCF compost hub on Edmund Street in Windsor - just look out for the black compost bins, which you can empty your scraps into.
Our compost team will be restarting as of Thursday June 1st, from 9am. Contact Emma at edufarm.mgr@nscf.com if you would like to volunteer with this group and experience the magic of making compost!
Help moving a piano for the farm
One of the members of our community has kindly offered to donate his small upright piano to replace the one we lost in the flood. We need to move it from Chermside to the farm. If there is anyone with moving experience, a vehicle and lots of muscles, please get in touch with us at info@nscf.org.au.
Garden stories in a time of pandemic (digital storytelling workshop)
Wednesday May 31st
Do you have any special stories in relation to your garden during the COVID-19 pandemic? Would you like to share your stories?
This is a project aimed to explore the pandemic gardening experience and help document your experience for history!
Please register for this free workshop on the 31st of May (1:30pm to 3:00pm ) at Northey Street City Farm. The workshop will be facilitated by Dr Mimi Tsai, the Award-winning landscape architect and John Oxley Library Fellow. Register here.
If you cannot attend and would like to contribute, please leave your photos and stories about gardening during the COVID-19 pandemic in our Facebook group - Garden stories in a time of pandemic. These contributions will be part of Mimi's Fellowship project.
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Finance Coordinator
Northey Street City Farm is looking for a new Finance Coordinator!
Our beloved Finance Coordinator, Adnan, is moving on and we're looking for someone to fill his shoes.
Check out the position description on our website here or via Ethical Jobs.
We can't wait to meet you!
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Casual Youth Educators
Are you passionate about sustainability and permaculture? Would you like to join our team of casual educators who run tours and other educational programs at Northey Street City Farm?
Shifts are irregular and suit people with flexible schedules.
Find out more at Jobs @ NSCF - Northey Street City Farm
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Winter Solstice Festival 2023
The weather is cooling and the nights are getting longer. The Winter Solstice Festival preparations are in full-swing and we are only a few moments away from sharing our stellar line-up of performances, presentations and activities to keep you entertained, stimulated and having a great ol' time.
Early Bird Ticket Sales End 21 May!
Make sure you secure your Early Bird tickets while they're still cheep! 🐤
We've introduced a range of ticket options so take a look and find the ones which suit you. Our Pay-It-Forward tickets are available to ensure everyone can attend. Please get in touch with us if you'd like a sponsored ticket.
Volunteer at the Winter Solstice Festival
Volunteers are the backbone of our organisation, and each year contribute their time and energy to putting together the Winter Solstice Festival - our biggest fundraising event of the year.
Applications are now open to volunteer at the Winter Solstice Festival. There is a role available for everyone with an interest in helping out.
Volunteering is a great way to meet the Farm community, make friends, gain new experiences and learn/share skills. Volunteers are given free entry to the festival and a meal.
Register as a volunteer here!
Please note, in our last E-News, we gave the wrong email address for volunteering. The correct email is events.volunteers@nscf.org.au. We apologise for any confusion and would still love to hear from you.
Inclusivity
This Winter Solstice we’re focused on creating the most inclusive and welcoming community we can, so we’ll do our absolute best to meet your requirements.
If you have a support worker you’d like to attend with, any additional requirements, or would like more information about site accessibility and festival inclusivity please don’t hesitate to get in touch! Email our Events Coordinator, Kai, at events@nscf.org.au
We can’t wait to see you there!
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veg-table #2
Start counting your sleeps, veg-table is back on Thursday 18th May, 6:30pm - 9:30pm.
A big thank you to everyone who made it to our first night last month! It was very heart-warming to see so many familiar faces (and many new faces!) at our inaugural event. We've been charmed by your company and can't wait to see you all again. Thanks in particular to Tristan and Ian for cooking up a delicious feast for all of us!
Mark your calendars for the third Thursday of every month; this is a night to celebrate our Farm community with a vegetarian meal prepared by volunteers, performances from local artists and a chance to meet your fellow Farmie to boot.
Bring your friends, family and neighbours! Entry is $10 per person, which includes dinner. All funds raised go towards supporting the Farm.
Volunteer for free entry/food and happy, fuzzy feelings.
If you are interested in performing, or to join our events team, please email Kai at events@nscf.org.au
veg-table is an event in preparation for the Winter Solstice Festival.
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Pedal Party Bike Convoy
We are very excited to be bringing a new tradition to the festival this year - the Pedal Party Bike Convoy!
Grab your streamers and sparkles, and join other riders in cycling to the festival in style! Pedal Party cyclists will be joined by the team at Carnaval Republic who will provide the tunes to keep you moving! Whether you're a veteran cyclist or complete beginner, this ride is for you. We will have a team of experienced cyclists looking after you and helping you to stay safe on the roads.
Choosing to use active travel to get to the festival reduces parking congestion, saves on fossil fuels and enables you to access half-price tickets!*
Purchase your Pedal Party tickets here, or choose an active travel ticket if you're coming by public transport, walking, riding or canoe!
*Full price individual tickets only
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Bulk Buying Groups
If you're looking for a way to support local farmers and access fresh, mostly organic produce through the week, consider joining a food cooperative!
Food cooperatives are communities of individuals who come together to purchase food in bulk directly from farmers and distributors. By pooling their resources and buying power, they are able to access high-quality, affordable food that is both good for health and for the environment.
There are different formats for each one, but joining is easy and anyone can participate!
Find out more here
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Finally! After our prolonged summer, there’s a crispness in the air, a lingering coolness resting on my skin! Is winter finally on its way? Not only did the month of April bring autumn, but it also brought us here at the nursery… a HUGE donation from an organisation named Plantfulness, a NEW citrus range and an exciting influx of awesome NEW volunteers!
The month started with some great volunteers coming on board. They’ve been helping us keep the place looking tidy, propagating some plants, and assisting with deliveries. Making mine, Lizzie, and Roberta’s job so much easier! A special shout out to them!
Some other exciting news is we received an incredible donation from Plantfulness, an organisation whose goal is to promote physical and mental wellbeing in the community through participation in gardening and nature. They do this by supporting charities and community programs! And that is how we became lucky enough to be supplied some incredible tools and equipment for in the nursery and around the farm. Pretty nourishing stuff! We’re eternally grateful! Below are some images from the unboxing day.
And of course, our new range of citrus! With autumn upon us it’s the perfect time here in the sub-tropics to get your new citrus tree in the ground. When planting it’s great to pop in some compost or Rocky Points ActivGrow to give your plant a boost at the beginning of its life. See list below for our new range.
- Orange ‘Washington Navel’
- Orange ‘Cara Cara’ dwarf
- Orange ‘Arnold Blood’
- Orange ‘Seedless Valencia’
- Lime ‘Tahitian’
- Lemon ‘Seedless Eureka’ dwarf
- Finger Lime yellow
- Finger Lime ‘Red Champagne’
- Pummelo ‘Thai Gold’
- Grapefruit ‘Rio Red’
- Mandarin ‘Emperor’ dwarf
- Mandarin ‘Fremont’ dwarf
- Kumquat ‘Nagami’ dwarf
- Kumquat ‘Calamondin’ dwarf
It’s safe to say we are looking forward to what May will bring!
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FEATURED WORKSHOP
Slow Clothing as Antidote to Fast Fashion
with Jane Milburn
Saturday 20 May 2023, 9 am to 4 pm
Can you believe Australians spend over $5 billion a year on textiles, while around 6000kg of textiles and leather are sent to landfill every 10 minutes!? In an environmental AND economic crisis, we can't keep consuming this way.
The good news is, there are ways we can combat this! In this amazing workshop, Jane Milburn of Textile Beat is bringing the Fashion Revolution to Northey Street City Farm.
During this session, Jane will share slow clothing philosophy and actions for reducing our material footprint. You'll also learn the basics of mending. Bring a few garments from your wardrobe that you love but aren’t wearing and you'll have the opportunity to discuss revival possibilities and upcycle the item/s using hand-stitch methods!
You'll be taking back the power to control your own wardrobe. We can't wait to see what you create!
Tickets available here.
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Tickets available through Eventbrite here.
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Callout for Scrap Paper
The Youth Education team need some scrap paper for education activities and printing! If you have some scrap paper (A4 - A3 size) you can donate please drop it off at the Office or contact Cris at youthedn@nscf.org.au.
Earth Kids
The Term 2 Homeschool Program is currently running funtil the 14th June – now as an expanded 8-week program. We have a new page on the website about the program here.
A very limited number of single session tickets are available, so you can still sign up!
The program is a wonderful way for children to learn from the natural world. Each term we have a different focus, with the Term 2 focus being on trees, plants and the element of fire.
Tickets are available here.
The Winter Earth Kids School Holiday Program is running from Tuesday 27 June to Wednesday 29 June. These programs often sell out, so get in early to avoid disappointment! Tickets are available here.
Parent volunteer places are available, with discounted tickets for their children. Part-scholarship places are also available for parents holding Health Care Cards. Contact Emma at edufarm.mgr@nscf.com if you are interested in these options.
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We
are taking bookings for tours and school visits for 2023. As bookings
are not paid for until after each visit, there is no financial
commitment to make a tentative booking.
For more information and bookings for school visits, click HERE
For more information and bookings for group tours, click HERE
We run free farm tours on Tuesday mornings for groups of 4 to 8 by arrangement only. This is a great way to learn more about Northey Street City Farm. Please contact edufarm.mgr@nscf.org.au if you would like to arrange a guided tour.
We also have a free farm tour for individuals on the first Tuesday of each month. Please arrive by 9:30 am under the sign at Chai Cafe to meet your tour guide.
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As many of you know, Bob's away working as artist-in-residence in Texas! We're so proud of Bob and can't wait to hear his stories upon his return. He's been performing at and attending some awesome arts festivals and events over in the States, so be sure to ask him all about it when he's back.
Despite missing his presence greatly, Earth Arts playgroup continues to be as popular as ever! While Bob's away, we've got some amazing volunteers who've put their hand up to help keep Earth Arts running on Tuesdays and Fridays from 9:30am, and Sundays during the Northey Street Organic Farmers Market.
Earth Arts is a free play group and art experience that provides outdoor learning through creative play with earth, air, fire and water, while encouraging cultural diversity and inclusion.
A volunteer will be present to demonstrate and provide support, but parents or carers must be present and responsible for children at all times.
Donations are accepted, but not compulsory & children of all ages are welcome.
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City Farm Nursery
For all your nursery needs
Opening hours:
Tuesday to Saturday
8:30am - 12:30pm
Sunday (including Easter Sunday): 6:30am - 12:30pm
Closed Mondays
You can find out more about the nursery here.
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Pay-It-Forward Plant Program
The Native Plant Donation Program invites you to buy a native plant which we will forward onto First Nations communities to re-generate land. This way, you can help heal Country and support communities’ knowledge of and connection to native plant food and medicine.
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Northey Street Organic Farmers Market
Where your money goes directly to a local organic farmer or small ethical business
Sundays (including Easter Sunday)
6am to 11am Northey Street City Farm 54 Northey St.,Windsor, Brisbane
You can find out more about the market here.
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SITE HIRE
You can hire our unique site for weddings, parties, book launches and small events.
Contact the Enterprise & Support at: Manager enterprise.mgr@nscf.org.au for prices and availability.
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FARM MEMBERSHIP
Did you know you can get a 10% discount at our Nursery by becoming a member of our Farm? We love to see people supporting the Farm by becoming members. You can become a member via our website, at the Nursery, or by contacting the Office on 07 3857 8775 or at info@nscf.org.au.
FARM DONATIONS
The Farm does not rely on government funding for its operations. We operate as a social enterprise running the City Farm Nursery, Sunday Organic Farmers Market, and Permaculture Education. We appreciate the financial support of our community, if you are able please donate by visiting our website.
We also have an Australian First Nations Scholarship Fund and if you wish to donate to this please donate HERE and then contact finance@nscf.org.au to confirm this is where you would like your donation to go.
As a not for profit charity, all donations over $2 to our Environment Fund are tax-deductible.
Pay-It-Forward plant program. Donate any amount to this program to add to the collection of native plants we will donate to First Nations groups on your behalf.
VOLUNTEERS
You can get involved with our vibrant Farm community by becoming a volunteer. Volunteer areas include farming, nursery, construction, and kitchen. We also occasionally need people with professional or trade skills (even off-site help, if you can’t get to the farm): building, electrical, plumbing, welding, accounting, legal, to name a few.
Expressions of interest can be sent to: info@nscf.org.au
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We've migrated to MailerLite for our E-News. Please let us know if you received this in error or if you see any problems!
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