Regenerative share farming & conservation : Nanadhong, Cathedral Ranges - VIC
Seeking value-aligned agroecological farmers, regenerative agriculturists, or permaculturalists that want to create a land-sharing agreement with a community of environmental activists who are already living on the property & are planning to go forward with bushland restoration projects and First Nations land back initiatives.
We are living on a stunning 100 acre farm that backs directly onto Nanadhong/Cathedral Ranges State Park and is adjacent to other properties with Trust For Nature Covenants projecting existing bushland restoration work. We plan to extend the bush regeneration work to connect wildlife corridors across a large area.
The property has river frontage, a huge dam, and is teeming with wildlife – this place is absolute paradise. We want to create a thriving community of people addressing the climate crisis and practicing different radical solutions by land sharing. There is so much clear, arable, currently disused farmland here, so there's lots of potential for all different kinds of share farming projects in addition to bush regen. Preferably they would be ecological or low impact/smaller scale projects, but we're open to all kinds of creative proposals.
We would need your farming operation/s to run independently and autonomously, as the exisiting community is at capacity with the environmental projects we're already running, but we are hoping the right people will share our communal "camp kitchen" and be welcomed into the resilient community infrastructure we are hoping to build together. If you're considering living onsite, you would be absolutely welcome, but you would need an independent caravan, at least in the short-term while more infrastructure is built.
We are in the process of purchasing this property as part of a new land trust, so there is potential for a long-term land-sharing arrangement for the right people. You would likely have to pay an agreed amount of rent to cover landowner costs, like the exisiting tenants who already live here, but the specifics of all of this is negotiable with the right people and we will make an effort to make it manageable and viable for all.
If you're keen to run your farming business while helping create and sustain a thriving commons that provides food security, housing security, and community resilience in the face of decades of climate upheaval, as well as habitat for wildlife and land back for Traditional Owners, please get in touch. Finding appropriate pathways to return land to the custodianship of its rightful owners the Taungurung people is very important to us, so we would need people to be fully onboard with that intention.
Land Details
Property location (State, Region, Locality) : Victoria, Cathedral Ranges, Taggerty
Total land size (Acres) : 100 acres
Non Arable / Arable Area : Most of the land is arable
Opportunities to expand : Sky is the limit for value aligned people that place importance on the other goals of bush regeneration and land back initiatives
Zoning : Agricultural
Current uses: Small existing orchard and veggie garden with some existing infrastructure, can be expanded by you potentially. Two horses in one specific paddock. No farming initiatives operating as of yet. Some bush regeneration started down by the river.
Current practices: Community organising, workshops and skill-sharing. No farming enterprises yet.
State of the surface of the cultivatable area : Negotiable, there are multiple areas possible for cultivation. All seem good quality to the untrained eye. Please come inspect.
Description and historical use of land available for farming : Cows grazed previously, but not for many years. It was an emu farm historically (for a short time) so there are huge emu/deer fences in parts of the property.
Description of road access : Easy 2WD, two driveways.
Electricity access : Yes, connected and accessible.
Mobile phone signal : Average
Short-term goal or vision for land
Community building, regenerative agriculture projects, skill-sharing, bush regeneration.
Long-term goal or vision for land
Land back initiatives have been entered into with Taungurung people. A good portion of the land has been regenerated to bushland and connected to the state park. Small residences/tiny houses have been built for established community. The gardens and agriculture are thriving, sustaining the community and providing enough for the broader community. Potentially Community Supported Agriculture initiatives running and enough produce for mutual aid.
Known environmental hazards : Fire danger area, but we can be prepared.
Current residents living on property : 10 environmental activists keen on bush regeneration
Housing and/or onsite living opportunities : Own caravan required, but communal kitchen accessible and can be used.
Availability of farm buildings : A large machinery shed and workshop that can be shared with existing community plus a large awning area. Large hay shed as well. Electricity connected.
Is the land fenced : Yes
Availability of farm machinery and tools : We can absolutely share the tools we have. Quad bike available. However we don't have a tractor or big machinery at this stage.
Water Source(s)
Rain
Dam
River : water licence at the river
Is there restricted access of visitors? : No but there is a necessary caution
Preferred agriculture production
Vegetables, light livestock if animals treated well (goats, chickens etc.), orchards, ecological agroforestry – open to a lot of different proposals.
Preferred farming practice
As long as it's ecologically sound and considers the long-term health of the land and surrounding ecosystem, we're open to a chat.
Soil Details : Seems very good to the untrained eye. Happy for you to come and test it.
Arrangement
Details regarding preferred land sharing arrangement
Preferred arrangement : Lease for cash, lease to own (land sharing long-term), partnership, profit share. Negotiable.
Do you require references from the land seeker(s)? : Yes
Agreement duration preferred : Negotiable. Ideally longer-term.
