Australian Farmers: Telling Our Story Angie Asimus

Most of us rely on our local farmers for our food but others rely on them for their livelihoods. On an urban 11 acre farm just outside Port Kembla in NSW young people and refugees are being offered work and mentorship. The produce is sold to the local community through fruit and vegetable boxes, and to local cafes and restaurants. Under the guidance of Farm Manager Emily Henderson, the property produces more than 40 seasonal fruits, vegetables and herbs all year round as well as free-range pork, lamb, honey and eggs. To learn more about this social enterprise, Emily Henderson joins me today to discuss:
Emily’s favourite place on the farm when it is quiet and still. How she came to be involved with Green Connect Farm and growing up on a farm. Emily is now the manager and explains the concept behind this little farm, with a big conscience. Green Connect helps people with barriers to employment by showing them skills they can use for future employment. They offer work to those who really need it including unemployed youth and resettled refugees. The variety of food they produce – from fruits and vegetables to pigs and honey. Although they are not yet officially labelled organic, they are using permaculture methods to manage the farm. The land itself has its challenges – everything from weeds, fencing to finding cars in garden beds! An average day in the life of a Green Connect Farm Manager. The most common misconceptions about what Emily does on the farm. The most unexpected thing to happen in her time on the land. Green Connect Farm’s ultimate dream for the Future. We hope to see you back on the road soon, to learn more about how Australia grows on the next episode of Australian Farmers with Angie Asimus.
Links:
Angie Asimus
Connect with @angieasimus on Instagram
Partnered with Australian Farmers 
Follow @australianfarmers on Instagram 
 
Green Connect Farm
 
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We so often hear farmers say dairy or wool has been in their blood for generations. However, in the case of hemp, producers are having to start from scratch. When Maxine Shea was diagnosed with a rare pituitary brain tumour, she desperately wanted hemp for treatment. Accessing it though was not easy, so she and her partner Mike starting growing it themselves. Now they run The Hemp Collective out of the NSW Byron Bay region. It hasn’t been easy, not just learning how to harvest the product, but also external challenges from COVID, to floods, to fire. Despite all that, they are so passionate about this product and correcting some of the misinformation. To help us learn more about this emerging industry, Maxine joins me today to discuss
Located in the beautiful Byron Bay region, Maxine shares her favourite location. Maxine entered the hemp industry with no experience, borne out of a very challenging time in her own life. After being diagnosed with a rare pituitary brain tumour, she found hemp seed oil was a natural treatment but, discovered it was difficult to access. To break down this barrier, Maxine established The Hemp Collective as natural approach for health. She breaks down the differences between hemp and cannabis saying, think of them as cousins – similar DNA but not the same.’ The wide range of hemp applications as it produces flower, seed and fibre. The hemp growing industry climate in Australia and some of the unique challenges they face. Managing the lack of public education and confusion around what the product actually is and, how Maxine wishes to change this. How this wonderful powerful plant has changed Maxine’s life personally. Although the industry is challenging, Maxine shares the joy she receives from educating the public and sharing the health benefits. The largest misconceptions around the industry. Maxine created a Hemp Education course to support others on their journey. The most unexpected thing to happen since starting The Hemp Collective Maxine’s ultimate dream for the future of hemp in Australia.  
We hope to see you back on the road soon, to learn more about how Australia grows on the next episode of Australian Farmers with Angie Asimus.
 
Links:
Angie Asimus
Connect with @angieasimus on Instagram
Partnered with Australian Farmers 
Follow @australianfarmers on Instagram 
 
Hemp Collective
Follow @hempcollectivebyron on Instagram
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Life is busy for most of us but spare a thought for this couple from Sunnyside Tasmania. They run a successful dairy whilst raising nine children. Given that work load, it would  have been easier not to completely overhaul the business from a conventional dairy to a large-scale organic operation, that has also radically progressed to once a day milking. Why do it? Well, they bought a block of land with all sorts of problems that lead to some health issues with the cows, The solution ended up being an accidental transition to organic production. To learn more about Mark and Roslyn Lambert’s unintentional business transformation, Mark is today’s guest and we discuss:
Mark’s favourite place on their farm in beautiful Tasmania. Mark grew up on the farm and in fact left school to milk the cows on the dairy farm. The farm at the beginning, had poor soil health which led to a range of health problems for his cows. Seeking professional advice for health issues, Mark realised the solutions were focussed on managing the issue rather than preventing it in the first place. Finally, Mark’s investigations lead him back to soil health and the numerous steps he has taken to solve the soil pH levels and healthy balance. Loosing 50 head of cattle triggered Mark to dive even deeper into the role the land plays on his cows, and their health. The ‘fruit-salad pasture’ where cows self-medicate and eat what they need. Making the shift to once-a-day milking and the impact this has had for Mark, and the dairy cows. This was a 10 year process to transform the land and, why Mark explains this as ‘Accidentally Organic.’ Thinking outside the box and the first hand transformation Mark’s dairy farmer family has seen. The challenge is what Mark loves most about working and living on the land. The most common misconception about farming Mark’s ultimate dream for the future.  
We hope to see you back on the road soon, to learn more about how Australia grows on the next episode of Australian Farmers with Angie Asimus.
 
Links:
Angie Asimus
Connect with @angieasimus on Instagram
Partnered with Australian Farmers 
 
Follow @australianfarmers on Instagram 
Produced by Pretty Podcasts
 

It’s not often you hear of a boy growing up in a peri-urban area with a dream of being a farmer. But if you want something badly enough, you can make it happen. Not only is he now farming for a living – he and his partner have turned conventional agriculture on its head. The Food Farm uses time-tested slow and regenerative farming practices on the NSW Central Coast, just on the outskirts of Sydney. It has given their customers a rare personal connection with the food they eat. Tim Eyes and Hannah Greenshields join us from The Food Farm and we discuss:
Their favourite place on the farm. Tim and Hannah are first-generation farmers and are living proof that is it possible to farm by leasing land, not buying.  Tim shares why he chose to pursue this career path.  After attending Ag College, Tim’s outlook on farming shifted away from conventional methods. A big part of what Tim and Hannah are trying to change is connection we have with our food – the average food basket has travelled over 70 000 kms by the time we pick it up.  Tim says, ‘The amount of vegetarians and vegans that come back to meat once they can trust how it's farmed, and that we cared for that animal, is astonishing.’ They give customers the chance to shake the hand that feeds them and, the regular meat drop-off direct to customer.  The benefits to farming regeneratively and their observations about soil and animal welfare.  So, what do Tim and Hannah love most about life on the land? The most unexpected thing to happen since starting The Food Farm. Common misconceptions about their work.  Their ultimate dream for the future.  
We hope to see you back on the road soon, to learn more about how Australia grows on the next episode of Australian Farmers with Angie Asimus.
 
Links:
Angie Asimus
Connect with @angieasimus on Instagram
Partnered with Australian Farmers 
Follow @australianfarmers on Instagram 
 
The Food Farm
 
 
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If we had to crown a vegetable king in Australia – today’s guest would be a contender. He grows cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage and kale, all the while producing cows, sheep and chickens for pasture-raised eggs. It’s little wonder he’s been recognised in the 2022 Farmer of the Year Awards for Excellence in Diversification. The success of his operation is closely linked to his passion for soil biology and regenerative farming on his family property at Manjimup in Western Australia called Three Ryans. To learn more Jake Ryan joins us as we discuss:
Jake’s favourite place on the family farm. The family farm has always had such a broad scope growing numerous vegetables and producing cows, sheep and chickens for eggs. Jake’s training and the moment he realised he could make a difference on the farm. Dream big, start small and scale quickly – that has been Jake’s approach to this entire project. Diversification is something we hear of often on the land and Jake has come to balance the business while combatting environmental factors. Jake is passionate about Regenerative Farming and explains how it all works. Being the first to use the strip tillage process in Western Australia and, its advantages. Soil biology and health have quickly become a priority in running the farm and the practices Jake uses to adjust his soil. Jake Ryan won the Excellence in Diversity Award in the Farmer of the Year and, what this meant to him and his family. The beginnings of the family farm and the influence of Jake’s father and late grandfather. For generations, the Ryans have been regenerating the land, even unintentionally. The aspects of life on the land Jake loves most. The most unexpected thing to happen to Jake while on the land. Common misconceptions about regenerative farming. Jake’s ultimate dream for the future of the farm. We hope to see you back on the road soon, to learn more about how Australia grows on the next episode of Australian Farmers with Angie Asimus.
 
 
Links:
Angie Asimus
Connect with @angieasimus on Instagram
Partnered with Australian Farmers 
Follow @australianfarmers on Instagram 
 
Follow @three_ryans on Instagram
 
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It’s a little cup of joy for so many of us. Coffee is often part of a daily ritual and an excuse to gather with friends and family. Did you know coffee farmers are growing beans right here in Australia? It’s thanks to some pioneers who set up the industry – including my guest today. The Zentvelds are second generation coffee farmers in Byron Bay and were the first commercial sized coffee farmers in NSW. Partner of Zentveld’s Australian Coffee and President of the Australian Coffee Growers Association, Rebecca Zentveld is today’s guest and we discuss:
The countryside in northern NSW is spectacular in the morning and Rebecca’s favourite moment of the day. She shares the back story of husband John’s family, who really kick-started the local coffee industry back in 1987. The rich volcanic soil in the hills behind Byron Bay which, along with the cool conditions, produce a naturally sweet coffee. Australia is free of domestic pests or diseases that impact production of coffee. Rebecca was one of the first in Australia to set up a coffee roastery in 1993 – which is still doing well 30 years later. The focus on presenting Australian coffee at its very best. Rebecca’s appreciation for coffee started when she was living in Melbourne in her early years which, is where she met husband John. Why she made the shift from an urban setting to living, and loving, life on the land. The work still to be done in promoting Australian-origin coffee to the world as the industry has been recognised by AgriFutures Australia as an ‘emerging industry’. Rebecca wants more people to grow coffee – she says ‘We can’t offer our coffee to everyone – there is such room for growth, and I want to see others grow in Australia.’ Mother-in-law June, who is now 80 years old, planted a 50-acre natural rainforest on their border which, is now an attraction. They no longer have a fence – the rainforest and creek create that natural divider. What does Rebecca love most about the land? Compost! Her favourite aspects of country living. The most unexpected thing to happen to Rebecca. Common misconceptions about her work. Rebecca’s ultimate dream for the future. We hope to see you back on the road soon, to learn more about how Australia grows on the next episode of Australian Farmers with Angie Asimus.
 
 
Links:
Angie Asimus
Connect with @angieasimus on Instagram
Partnered with Australian Farmers 
 
Follow @australianfarmers on Instagram 
Zentveld’s Australian Coffee
Follow @zentveldscoffee on Instagram
 
 
Produced by Pretty Podcasts