Market garden development opportunity - Narara Ecovillage, NSW
Overview
Opportunity type: Seeking a farmer to develop a market garden business on the land of Narara Ecovillage. Central Coast NSW, Narara.
Land size: 100 acres. Market Garden size up for discussion. Livestock an option down the track.
Vision for the land: To grow and sell organic, possibly biodynamic produce to our local community, and beyond, then later teach and demonstrate food growing practices and provide information for research projects.
Accomodation: Open to discussion
Current status of the land: Some propogation houses and small veggie garden. Residential ecovillage.
Details
State of the cultivatable area: Various flat areas and surfaces. On the edge of a floodplain and improvements to be discussed with the farmer.
Opportunities to expand: Yes, as the business grows
Zoning: C3
Current practices: Organic, Biodynamic, regenerative, permaculture. Small, volunteering organic food production.
Known environmental hazards: Initial area is above the 1 in 100 year flood line.
Electricity: Ecovillage has excess solar power with battery storage
Mobile phone signal: Poor
Road access: Bitumen and earth-based roads
Description and historical use of land available for farming: Before our intentional community development, the land was previously owned by the NSW Govt Horticultural Institute, with orchards, greenhouses, 45ML dam and other infrastructure
Infrastructure: Some propagation houses, a farm bot, nursery, sheds.
Farm Machinery & tools: N/A.
Water source: Rain, Dam, Town. Water access licence to use 45ML dam water.
Visitor access: Our goal is to allow our farmer to get on with producing food and for a small ecovillage team to manage any visitors. The farmer is welcome to have their visitors.
Preferred production systems & practice organic, possibly biodynamic. Initially diversified vegetable production, chickens and potentially other food options later.
Soil details: On the edge of a floodplain and improvements to be discussed with the farmer.
Preferred arrangement: This would be the farmer's own business and any land lease will be discussed. Five to ten years duration preferred.
Mentorship: Willing to mentor candidate.
Other: There are 120 people living on the property, with another 40 homes to be built over the next few years. We would like the finer detail to be discussed and agreed with the successful farmer/market gardener applicants.
Expressions of interest
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