Market Garden & share farm opportunity

Introduction :

We're lucky to have this 30 acre piece of land just outside of Beechworth, VIC and were looking to share and work with like minded people to create a vibrant small scale farming hub. There are currently two small Market Gardens operating on the property and at this stage we're particularly looking for other Market gardeners to join in and create a Collective. We have a love of creating beautiful soil and generally use regenerative and organic growing methods (not certified organic). We also want to see the local food system thrive. Check out our website for further details on our methods and thinking. We have a walking tractor, wash/pack station, cool room and various market garden tools and equipment available for use to help get people started.

Opportunities exist for other small scale farming enterprises to compliment the Market Gardens including but not limited to;

Poultry; pasture raised and integrated into the market garden systems
Cut Flowers
Berries
Citrus, Stonefruit, apples etc.
Compost production
Marketing and sales on behalf of the collective
Education program & School groups
Any other ideas that float your boat

Each enterprise would operate as a separate business, however share in recourses and knowledge (e.g. tools and equipment, time, marketing, management software, markets, deliveries etc.) If your interested in getting involved we'd love to hear from you.

Land Details

Property location : Victoria, North East Victoria, Murmungee

Total land size (Acres) : 30 acres

5 acres market garden available / 10 acres other small scale farming / 15 acres existing bush or for regeneration.

Opportunities to expand : We would like to make the best use of the arable land available as possible and like the intensive farming concept.

Zoning : Farming

Current uses: Sheep Grazing, Market Gardens, 50 Olive trees.

Current practices : Regenerative

State of the surface of the cultivatable area : Pasture. Sloping areas and some hilly.

Description and historical use of land available for farming : The property is at the edge of a state Forrest and is generally undulating with a gully running through the middle. Land has historically been used for cattle and sheep grazing.

Description of road access : Gravel road access to current market garden sites. Additional larger sites yet to be developed would require some gravel road construction.

Electricity access : Not currently available to majority of the property.

Mobile phone signal : Average

Short-term goal or vision for land : There are currently two small Market Gardens operating on the property and in the short term we're particularly looking for other Market gardeners to join in and create a Collective.

Long-term goal or vision for land : In the longer term were looking to share and work with like minded people to create a vibrant small scale farming hub. Opportunities exist for other small scale farming enterprises to compliment the Market Gardens including but not limited to; - Poultry; pasture raised and integrated into the market garden systems - Cut Flowers - Berries - Citrus, Stonefruit, apples etc. - Compost production - Marketing and sales on behalf of the collective - Education program & School groups - Any other ideas that float your boat Each enterprise would operate as a separate business, however share in recourses and knowledge (e.g. tools and equipment, time, marketing, management software, markets, deliveries etc.)

Known environmental hazards : High winds at times in the warmer months.

Current residents living on property : Yes there is currently Bernie & Felicity and two children living on the property.

Housing and/or onsite living opportunities : None.

Availability of farm buildings : Wash/pack station and cool room within shed available for use.

Is the land fenced? : Yes, however some fencing would be required to develop larger Market Garden areas.

Availability of farm machinery and tools : Walking tractor and various market gardening hand tools available for use.

Water Source : Dam, Bore

Is there restricted access of visitors? : No

Preferred agriculture production :

- Market Gardens - Poultry; pasture raised and integrated into the market garden systems - Cut Flowers - Berries - Citrus, Stonefruit, apples etc. - Compost production - Marketing and sales on behalf of the collective - Education program & School groups - Any other ideas that float your boat

Preferred farming practice : Regenerative, Creation of well balanced living soil.

Soil Details : Varies significantly across the property; Up on the higher areas its silty clay with low organic matter and deficient in many nutrients. Down in the gully and lower areas its dark, friable and rich.

Arrangement

Details regarding preferred land sharing arrangement

Preferred arrangement :

For Market Gardeners we are looking at a lease for trade arrangement where specific soil building methods and inputs are used (i.e. compost, cover cropping and mineral blends are added). Any costs associated with Infrastructure would be negotiated as needed. Our preference for other potential enterprises would also be a lease for trade arrangement however depending on the enterprise we would be open to other arrangements such as lease for cash or profit share.

Would you be willing to mentor or advise the entering farmer(s)? : Yes

Do you require references from the land seeker(s)? : No

Agreement duration preferred : No set duration