farm yarns summer 2011

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Summer 2011 Summer 2011 FARM YARNS

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Newsletter from the Collingwood Childrens Farm. Summer 2011.

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Page 1: Farm Yarns Summer 2011

Summer

2011

Summer

2011

FARM YARNS

Page 2: Farm Yarns Summer 2011

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)

Page 3: Farm Yarns Summer 2011

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

Page 4: Farm Yarns Summer 2011

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?

Page 5: Farm Yarns Summer 2011

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)

Page 6: Farm Yarns Summer 2011

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

Page 7: Farm Yarns Summer 2011

FARMLAND SINCE 1838

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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

Page 8: Farm Yarns Summer 2011

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

Page 9: Farm Yarns Summer 2011

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

Page 10: Farm Yarns Summer 2011

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

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Page 11: Farm Yarns Summer 2011

(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

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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

Page 12: Farm Yarns Summer 2011

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

Page 13: Farm Yarns Summer 2011

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!

Page 14: Farm Yarns Summer 2011

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!

Page 15: Farm Yarns Summer 2011

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