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Newsletter from the Collingwood Childrens Farm. Summer 2011.
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Summer
2011
Summer
2011
FARM YARNS
Farm Yarns is a quarterly publication from the Collingwood Children’s Farm (CCF). The CCF, a not-for-profit,
educational small-holding city farm was established in 1979 as a “country experience for city folk”. The Farm is sited
on the Abbotsford Precinct Heritage Farmlands, the oldest continually farmed land in Victoria (since 1838).
The CCF is guided by a Committee of Management, elected annually.
The Collingwood Children’s Farm are proud to acknowledge the Wurundjeri of the Kulin Federation
as the traditional owners of the Abbotsford Precinct Heritage Farmlands, the land
we respect, care for and farm on behalf of all Victorians. The Farm thanks
all Wurundjeri Elders past and present, for their guardianship of these lands.
We would like to acknowledge generous
support from the following organisations:
2011-12 Committee of Management
Cheryl Cameron (Treas.) Mikyla Hart Netta McArthur (Pres.) Helen Semmler (Sec.)
Lachlan Fitch Pip Hay Lily O’Neill Greg Sparks (V.Pres.)
Eleanor Fletcher Jane Ogilvie Richard Ginsburg Cr Amanda Stone
Alex Walker (Farm Manager)
Farm Patron - Mrs Elizabeth Chernov, Government House
Cover photo - The Farm’s vintage horse-drawn seeder (image by Andrew Phillips)
FARMLAND SINCE 1838
Farm ManagerFarm ManagerFarm Manager Alex WalkerAlex WalkerAlex Walker
3333
been many positive successes to recognise and
appreciate.
With an increasing awareness that biomass
going into landfill creates not only climate-
changing methane but represents a wasted re-
source, we are also launching an exciting com-
posting program in conjunction with the City
of Yarra and Cultivating Community. Details
for participation can be found on page 11.
On 17 October we hosted the Victorian launch
of the 2012 Australian Year of the Farmer. As
farmers with an almost 175-year heritage and
guardians of the Abbotsford Precinct Heritage
Farmlands, we are thrilled to be able to pro-
vide a Victorian base for some of next year’s
events and to celebrate your Farm at a national
level. Year of the Farmer happenings will be
held throughout the year, so we will keep eve-
ryone informed as to what is occurring.
Have a great holiday everyone!
Below: 2012 Year of the Farmer launch day in the Barn
Managers Report
Christmas is fast approaching and so I would
firstly like to take the opportunity to wish eve-
ryone a happy and restful time with family
and friends. Don’t forget the Farm will be
open on Christmas Day for everyone’s enjoy-
ment (plus someone needs to milk the cow,
feed the animals and make sure the sheep
don’t fight over their presents!).
I would like to thank all our members and visi-
tors for their patience as we continue to under-
stand and develop the capacity for our new
Reception to enhance your visit at the Farm.
We have had a lot of positive feedback, which
is appreciated. Our staff also deserve a big
thank you for a great year’s work, especially
for keeping the Farm as normal as possible
during the past 12 months of our Building Pro-
gram.
In November we celebrated with her family
and friends the life of one of our special “farm
family”, Coyla Hegarty. For those who never
had the opportunity to meet her, Coyla was
one of life’s “straight shooters”, who would
call the spade a spade. She was a passionate
supporter, volunteer, Committee Treasurer
and fighter for the Farm for many years.
Coyla’s spirit and contribution to the Farm is
now commemorated by the naming of our
new Farm entry as “Coyla’s Gate”.
In continuing our important work supporting
positive outcomes for the long-term disadvan-
taged, there is a new JOBCO program com-
mencing at the Farm, with eight workers per
week learning a variety of skills. A warm wel-
come to you all!
Our 2010-2011 Annual General Report is also
available online for everyone to gain an over-
view of the Farm’s last 12 months. There have
Farm NewsFarm NewsFarm News Bridget BainbridgeBridget BainbridgeBridget Bainbridge
I don’t think I’m allowed, in terms of polite-
ness, to begin this without first commenting on
the crazy weather. It’s wet and humid, so the
grass is growing very fast. It feels like Sydney!
The Young Farmers have built and been racing
their billy cart. Once finished, it was
“launched” with a day of dressing up - and
some of the kid’s costumes were hilarious and
wildly imaginative.
The first Chook Expo was held at the Farm
and it was a great success. Designed to give
practical information to first-time chicken
keepers, and an understanding about rare
breeds. Plenty of interested people attended
and everyone learnt a lot from the wonderful
Megg Miller and our staff member (and
chicken expert) Nick. Many thanks to both of
them for giving up their weekend and provid-
ing this educational experience for new poul-
try owners.
We have two new calves! Their names are
Kasey and Hope. They are both Ayreshires
(like our milking cow Heather) and have been
kindly lent to us by Mike and Rhonda Perry
who are in the Ayreshire Cattle Club. We hope
to be able to host two “exchange calves” every
six months from the Perrys - two at the start of
their calving season and two at the end. The
Farm will then raise these hosted calves on our
cow’s milk, and return them to the Perry’s to
join their milking herd.
We have also lent Mike our last Ayreshire calf
to be born on the Farm, Saturday, who when
she is a little older will be joining his herd of
milkers. Eventually when Heather retires, Sat-
urday will return to us to become our new
milking cow.
We shore our sheep on November Family Day.
Brian Harker came down all the way from
Benalla with his wife, Helen, and between
them they shore all the sheep. I was relieved to
find none were too skinny, but a bit taken
aback by the girth of some of them. Since being
shorn they have been sorted into groups of
“fat”, “skinny” and lambs - and put on appro-
priate pasture. It’s been a good year, and al-
ready I’m going to have to put some of the
COLLINGWOOD CHILDREN’S FARM
4444
Below: Two new calves, too cute!
Above: Ewe talkin’ to me?
FARMLAND SINCE 1838
4444
skinnies in with the fats, and possibly start a
new group: insanely obese sheep.
The Pig Yards are looking magnificent thanks
to the work of the Sophia Mundi Steiner
School Year 8’s and 9’s. This group come here
weekly and so far have managed to build and
finish two new “fields” for the pigs and
planted them out. Currently we are working
on putting in irrigation, so we can pipe water
to each field as needed.
This will ensure our pigs have access to good
grazing for as much of the year as possible. We
are also building a small portable chookhouse
that can be moved from field to field, so that
when the pigs have finished their destruction,
the chickens can scratch it over so it’s a little
easier to plant again for the next grazing re-
growth cycle.
We also have a new team of workers down at
the Farm who just started this week. The
Green Team are a group of young people who
will be working and training on the Farm, get-
ting themselves TAFE qualifications and some
on-ground work experience all at the same
time. While they are doing this, we are hoping
they will revolutionise parts of the riverbank
too! They are already off to a great start with
weeding, and building some massive tree
guards.
There a million tiny successes that happen at
the Farm every day—thank you to everyone
who generously contributes and supports the
Farm so that these miracles can continue to
occur for everyone to enjoy.
Below: Goats posing in the Barn Paddock
(image courtesy Kate Dwyer)
COLLINGWOOD CHILDREN’S FARM
6666
PHOTOS (1-5)
Young Farmers having a fun day
on their Team Cow Racing (TCR)
billycart. Look out Mark Webber!
Photos courtesy Andrew Phillips
1
3
2
4
5
FARMLAND SINCE 1838
7777
Garden TidingsGarden TidingsGarden Tidings Toni PhillipsToni PhillipsToni Phillips
PLANT NEWS SPRING 2011
Thank you all the growing volunteers - what
you see is what you get! The beauty of the
Farm is all due to the beautiful people that
make the gardens and growing landscapes. A
huge thank you to all the volunteers: Gary,
Joy, Monica, Graeme, Josh, Jen, Aneka, Megan,
Steve, Tom, Kyoung, the two John’s, Colin,
Terry, Chai, Jacqui, Phillipa, Mark, Caro, Ra-
chel, Tanya, Theresa, Linda Annie , Kristy and
(whew!) all the groups, schools and Farm pro-
gram participants. All these hard-working
people put a lot of energy into the garden;
weeding, carting it off to the appropriate ani-
mals or compost piles, propagating, planting,
pruning, mulching, watering and of course
harvesting. Thanks also to all the poultry, pigs,
goats, sheep, horses, donkey and cows for eat-
ing their veggies (otherwise known as weeds).
Below: Gary “Gazza” making sure all the
plants are watered
COLLINGWOOD CHILDREN’S FARM
8888
You can have your Roses and eat them too
Roses in Melbourne are great in November so
maybe that is why the first Tuesday is the day
chosen for the Melbourne Cup. The public
holiday is also a great day off to stop and smell
the roses, a good example of how horse waste
can be recycled as compost!
Cupid once bribed Harpocrates, the God of
Silence to keep the secrets of Venus intact, re-
sulting in roses becoming the symbol of si-
lence. The symbol of the rose was then used to
adorn ceilings and conversations held under
such ceilings were known to be “sub-rosa” and
people were obliged by their honour not to
divulge anything heard there.
In language of flowers the rose signifies love.
Rose petals are strewn in (often wedding) pro-
cessions, on nuptial beds, in baths, on tables
and dishes of delicious foods. They are also
used in jams, sauces and jellies (eg Turkish De-
light) or in making rosewater (a key ingredient
in the Indian desert Gulab Jamun).
Medicinally, rose hips (the fruit of a rose) are
very high in easily absorbed Vitamin C. Rose
hips have four times the amount of Vitamin C
compared to blackberries and 20 times that of
oranges! Rose hip tea is one of the most well
known herbal teas, it is great for respiratory
problems and can strengthen the immune sys-
tem. It also has valuable positive effects on the
function of our cardiovascular system; in par-
ticular it aids lowering cholesterol levels in
blood.
Early Summer In the veggie garden
Time to plant nearly everything; root vegeta-
bles: beetroot, carrots, celeriac, potatoes, radish
and swedes can all be directly planted into the
garden or containers. Leafy greens: amaranth,
celery, coriander, endive, parsley, lettuce, sil-
ver beet, chives, spring onions, shallots and
leeks can all be planted as seedlings or di-
rectly. Remember that lettuce and coriander
bolt very quickly if they dry out, and can be
easier to maintain them in partly-shaded areas
and spots that you access easily so you don’t
forget to water them.
European brassicas (brussell sprouts, cab-
bages) and Chinese cabbage can all be planted
out now in full sun. Plant an area that is not
prime gardening space, as you won’t you need
to access them for harvest for months. Asian
Brassicas (mizuna, mibuna, mitsuba, bok choy,
choi sum) are great as salad greens and are
best when harvested often - and so very suit-
able for small gardens and containers if you
live in a flat or apartment. You can also plant
vegetables such as beans, capsicum, chilli,
corn, cucumber, eggplant, pumpkin, squash,
tomato and zucchini - all require full sun.
Above: Magda (like most goats) loves taking time
to stop and eat the roses
PHOTOS
1 Chicken Expo chats
2 Hope and Kasey tuck
into their bottles!
3 Joe the Pony hoping
for a snack
4 Ewe 501 resting after
being shorn ... need a
pillow 501?
1
3
4
FARMLAND SINCE 1838
9999
2
Sage advice from a “retired farmer”
Response to our first Farm Discovery story
was very positive, so it’s exciting to continue
our new series with an article by a former
Farm Volunteer, Alan Attwood. Alan was a
regular Friday afternoon volunteer for a cou-
ple of years before leaving become Editor of
“The Big Issue” in late 2006. He has also had a
long and successful journalism career, includ-
ing at The Age as its New York correspondent.
“The Big Issue” magazine aims to provide an
innovative, dignified business enterprise for
individuals to support themselves by purchas-
ing it for re-sale and then keeping the profits.
It exemplifies the positive “hand up, not hand-
out” approach to social engagement for the
homeless. Vendors are found throughout Mel-
bourne and Issue 394 is available now, please
support your local vendor by purchasing it.
Farm Discovery Discovery Discovery --- Your StoryYour StoryYour Story
Above: Alan Atwood, Editor The Big Issue
Twelve Things I Learned at the Farm 1 Weeding can get tedious (sorry Toni).
Especially if you are not weeding your own garden.
2 It is not always a good idea to combine work-life with farm-work. I realised this when taking a Very Important Call in a paddock. There was a long pause before the prospective employer asked: “Why can I hear sheep?”
3 It is a good idea to change clothes, in-cluding boots, after stomping around in odoriferous fields. And preferably before heading off to sit in enclosed spaces with people who may frown, look worried and start sniffing suspiciously.
4 When assuming a custodial role with a farm visitor (Hello Paul!) it is inevitable that one may become an accomplice in (minor) crime: “Have you been knocking off coffee again?” “No, Alan, no, no. Not me.” “But there’s a great big coffee-ring all around your mouth.” “Really? Is there?” “Here. Stand still while I try to wipe it off … and, no, I won’t tell anyone.” (Hello Julia!)
COLLINGWOOD CHILDREN’S FARM
10101010
(from page 10) 5 Not everyone is always as excited about
farm events as you may expect. A text message reporting I AM MILKING A COW!!! can elicit the response: Huh?????
6 In the interest of complete honesty (Hello Nick!) I should add: I was milking the cow very badly.
7 Sometimes, shovelling shit can be strangely soothing. Who would have thought a hunt for cowpats could be so therapeutic?
8 When the suspicion arises that an un-abashed enthusiasm for seasonal bon-fires may denote latent pyromania (Hello Andrew!) it is best to keep this thought to yourself.
9 Some of the other volunteers can be cute. But don’t tell my wife (Hello Kerry!) I said so.
10 It may be time to get out a bit more when geese agreeing to go inside their house of an evening, as requested, gives you a power trip. They know who’s boss…
11 Goats really do eat anything. 12 Friday afternoons will never be the
same. Alan Attwood, retired farmer
FARMLAND SINCE 1838
11111111
Community Composting Initiative
Collingwood Children’s Farm has entered into a partner-
ship with Yarra City Council and Cultivating Commu-
nity to establish a Community Composting Centre onsite
to assist in diverting waste from landfill.
Working with our existing systems we’ll be enhancing
our composting facilities and space to compost up to one
tonne of food waste per week. The worm farm and com-
post piles will be redesigned and re-built early in 2012 to
accommodate this.
The Compost Centre will be specifically made available
for local cafes and some residents to compost their food
waste. Each resident will need to apply to become part of
this project in early 2012.
To view the site designs and provide feedback for the
compost systems contact Pete Huff from Cultivating
Community at: [email protected] (or tele-
phone 9429 3084).
In addition to the Compost Centre, this same partnership
is recruiting 100 residents living in or close to Abbotsford
to compost their food waste at home. Going by the name
of Compost Crew this program will provide subsidised
compost systems, free workshops and educational re-
sources.
For more information, come to our information session
on the 19 November, 12:00pm-2:00pm, Gahan Reserve,
Abbotsford (Melways Ref. 2C J9). To apply for the Com-
post Crew program visit: www.yarracity.vic.gov.au/compost
-crew or contact Hannah Moloney from Cultivating Com-
munity at: [email protected] (or tele-
phone 9429 3084).
Above: Fire-twirler, 2011 Winter Solstice Bonfire
Farmland HistoryFarmland HistoryFarmland History Andrew PhillipsAndrew PhillipsAndrew Phillips
The history of the local farmland (Pt. 3)
On a Summer’s day in January 1876, the Sis-
ters of the Good Shepherd nervously awaited
the arrival of a visitor to the Abbotsford Con-
vent. Nervous because they didn’t know what
to expect from their guest. The visitor was
John Stanley James, otherwise known as “The
Vagabond”, writing under this pseudonym for
the Melbourne Argus.
James had recently written a series of inflam-
matory and scandalous articles on the condi-
tion of Melbourne lodging-houses and medical
institutions. The Sisters would have been con-
cerned that their works at the Convent may
have been reported upon in a similar fashion,
so had taken the precautionary step of inviting
John Stanley James for a formal visit.
John Stanley James was a journalist, railway
worker and self-professed spy (during the
Franco-Prussian War). Today we might con-
sider John Stanley James as a bit of a showman
and raconteur, highly capable of self-
promotion and with a tendency to embellish in
order to achieve a grander outcome than the
truth might reveal. James’ Argus articles were
eventually re-published (with a degree of com-
mercial success) as “The Vagabond Papers” in
late 1877.
During his visit, James was shown (along with
the Laundry and Magdalen Asylum) the or-
chards, ornamental and vegetable gardens,
fields, piggery, cowhouse and manure depot.
Whatever their initial misgivings, the Sisters
need not have been worried. James reported
positively on the Convent and its activities,
praising the work of the nuns and the condi-
tions provided for the female residents and
children. The farming activities of the Abbots-
ford Convent were detailed as follows:
“Out of this there is the farm-yard, where we
find, in the stalls, a dozen patient kine, being
milked by a Sister ... who has charge of this de-
partment. In the styes (sic) we see some fine
black Berkshire pigs; and a brown retriever,
which welcomes us. Near here are the cottages
of the gardeners ... three gardeners ... have all
been in the Convent service for some years.
The Reverend Mother and Sister – kindly walk
with me around the pleasant gardens, which
are chiefly devoted to the culture of useful
vegetables. A quantity of lucerne and maize is
also grown for the cattle. Here there are some
fine mulberry trees, the luscious fruit of which
is ... for jam-making purposes ... I have no
doubt capital jam is made in Abbotsford”.
Berkshire Pigs continue to be farmed to this
day on the Abbotsford Precinct Heritage
Farmlands (the APHF), preserving both the
important genetic diversity of our food
sources and honouring the Sister’s 112-year
guardianship and tenure as farmers of the
APHF.
Above: An 1875 picture of “Abbotsford House”, where the
Sisters of the Good Shepherd first stayed in June 1863.
COLLINGWOOD CHILDREN’S FARM
12121212
�
x Lucerne Hay Bale (@$14 p/bale)
$
or
x Lucerne Hay Chaff (@$21 p/bag)
$
Qty Total Name:
Address:
P/Code: State:
Card No.: Exp:
� � � � Cheque enclosed
� � � � Please charge my Visa or Mastercard
DONATION TO THE COLLINGWOOD CHILDREN’S FARM
Purchase a hay-bale for the animals!
As a not-for-profit organisation, the Farm welcomes donations to meet our running costs. And our animals eat a
lot! Please support the Farm by directly purchasing food for the animals (donations over $2 are tax deductable*).
Yes, I would like to support the Farm by purchasing:
� I would like a tax receipt please (note: cheques should be made payable to
Collingwood Children’s Farm, PO Box 80, Abbotsford, 3067)
* - a receipt is required by the Australian Tax Office for donation claims
/
Congratulations Leonie!
FARMLAND SINCE 1838
13131313
Double congratulations to Leonie, one of our
long-term staff, who recently became Mrs
Proudfoot - we wish both Leonie and Graham
all the best for their married future together.
Also, Leonie had one of her fantastic photo-
graphs published in the Autumn 2011
“Practical Pigs” Magazine from the UK. So a
big well done Leonie on both counts!
Animal InformationAnimal InformationAnimal Information Andrew PhillipsAndrew PhillipsAndrew Phillips
Do sheep dream of electric androids?
It’s often thought that sheep are generally stu-
pid and somewhat lacking in intelligence due
to their tendency to make decisions as a group
rather than as individuals.
However, both scientific study and anecdotal
evidence continues to reveal that sheep are ca-
pable of not only recognising and remember-
ing each other (possibly up to 50 individuals),
but familiar humans (and they prefer a happy
human face to an angry one), other animals,
plus are capable of remembering locations and
solving basic maze puzzles!
A ewe can identify her individual lamb(s)
from a flock through having excellent olofac-
tory memory - and reject a lamb if she doesn’t
smell the correct pheromones. So not my child,
no milk! This important bonding process
which leads to a ewe’s “smell memory” takes
up to 24 hours. This is one reason why at the
Farm we give our ewes and their new lambs
quiet time for bonding during the start of each
lambing season.
COLLINGWOOD CHILDREN’S FARM
14141414
References
Dennis, Jake - www.sciencewa.net.au, 30 September 2011
Graham, Sarah - Scientific American, 9 November 2001
Sampson, Alex - Weekly Times, 26 & 28 October 2011
Below, right: Hey, I remember ewe … and ewe!
Where to find us St Heliers Street, Abbotsford
Melways Ref 44 G5
Open every day of the year
Entry: $16 Family
$8 Adult
$4 Child
Collingwood Children’s Farm PO Box 80 Abbotsford 3067
Farm phone: 9417 5806 Email: [email protected] Website: www.farm.org.au
Also enjoy hay rides and
pony rides (when available),
and other farm activities all
for price of standard entry.
Family
Fun Days First Sunday of the month
(no Family Fun Day in January)
PLACE STAMP HERE
The concept of a supported volunteer program is unique to our farm. Originally it was known as the Disability Pro-gram, but we prefer to focus on abilities rather than the lack of them … just like the renamed RDA riding program! You may ask why the program exists and what are the benefits of it to the participants and the farm. In the case of special school students, both in class groups
Farmer’s Market held the second Saturday of every month for beauti-ful fresh, quality produce.
A VFMA accredited market