Wrap up of Season Two of the Farming Together podcast

Farming Together

Karly Nimmo

10:07 AM (25 minutes ago)

to me

And now we wrap up season two of Farming Together.

In the first season we explored collaborative farming. The messy human stories, the process at arriving at a collaborative model, and the ways they’ve made it work.

If you have any interest in starting collaborative farming – whether it be forming a new group or

taking an existing one to the next level – head back into the back catalogue to the first season of Farming Together, where you’ll find find some great tips , raw truths and inspiration.

One particular episode of season one struck a chord with many of you. We chatted with Katie and Hugh Finlay of Harcourt Organic Farming Co-operative. Katie and Hugh realised that as they aged they couldn’t physically continue with all the farm work required, Katie and Hugh formed a co-operative that would not only ensure the farm’s continued productivity, it would also help mentor the next generation of farmers and offer them greater lease security.

In response to this episode, the farming together team received an influx of questions and feedback in relation to succession planning for farmers, and the different way share farming could be a solution.

In the first episode we had a conversation with young farmers Sas Allardice (one half of Gung Hoe Growers) and micro dairy farmer Tess Sellars, both members of the Harcourt Organic Farming Co-op. Two young farmers keen to dig in, but with little capital, Sas and Tess knew they had to think outside the square when it came to accessing land and equipment. We hear how they made it work for them -- legally and financially – and the hard work, strong values, and sense of humour that helped them along the way.

Episode two saw us chat with Andie White, who enlisted the help of Sam Marwood of Cultivate Farms. Andie was among a growing number of landless farmers who could prove they were productive farmers but couldn’t quite get a foothold in the property market. She talks about how she made it happen with Cultivate Farms, which matches retiring farmers with aspiring farmers and investors.

In episode three we heard from Cheryl Smith from medicinal herb farm Solum Farm and young hemp farmer Hannah Navara. Together they have forged a unique sharefarm model in which labour exchange, accommodation and equipment are all factored in to a unique mutually beneficial arrangement. The farmers connected through Young Famers Connect, a not-for-profit organisation that supports pathways for young farmers. We also speak to its co-founder and Principal co-ordinator Joel Orchard about the need for greater resources and support to achieve fairer outcomes for emerging farmers.

And episode four saw us chat with Gordon Williams, owner of Eastlake Farm about creating a win-win leasing agreement between generations. Gordon tells us about his lease agreement which gives him an income and a say in how the farm is run while giving his leasees a mentor. who knows the land and can provide hard won knowledge and decades of experience.

In episode five, Amanda speaks to Victorian dairy farmer Stuart Crosthwaite about the delicate situation of sharing a farm with your family. He talks about how the right succession planning strategy has given him the freedom to invest and grow the farm -- and importantly ensure his parents are well looked after.

And in our last ep of this season, Amanda explores a share farming model which is radically different.Food system change-makers Kirsten Larsen and Serenity Hill reveal their ground-breakingnew collaborative farming model and succession plan designed to improve ecological function, support a diverse range of small-scale businesses, and ensure security of tenure for emerging farmers. These inspirational farmers in North Eastern Victoria have established put the family farm in a trust and created an agreement which over 80 years shifts the equity of their family’s farm into a not-for-profit – conditional on improving ecological conditions of the land.

We hope you’ve enjoyed this season of Farming Together and it’s raised some interesting ideas and concepts that have inspired you. Until we meet again, thanks for listening to the farming together podcast.