Simeon Ash (Hanscamp) - Spoke and Spade
Who are you ?
If by “who are you” you’d like to know what’s my name… it’s Simeon Ash (Hanscamp). If you’d like a historical social lens, I am a white educated male in my late 20’s who carries a backpack of undeserved invisible privilege. My Dutch grandparents arrived by boat and we still reuse teabags. Otherwise, generally I am optimistic, critically engaged, empathic to social justice, perfectionistic, competitive, motivated & yet lazy in a world of 21st century opulence. Or I come up as an INFP on the Myers Briggs test.
Where and what do you farm ?
I run a 800m2 urban farm 10km from the CBD in Heidelberg, Victoria across three properties. I grow about 12 types of crops; a mix of common greens, roots, herbs and summer fruiting veggies.
How did you start your farming journey / what led you to it?
I started a compost and was fascinated with the process! Then my first active decision was a 14-day Permaculture Design Certificate entirely outside my existing networks. Permaculture opened up the idea of making a living off the land. The books and conversations that followed led me to see small scale organic farming as part of a solution to problematic environmental concerns and a form of meaningful work. So I did a farm internship for 2 months and got hooked.
[longer answer additional] After three years plotting, a stack of videos, podcasts, an online farm course and visiting several other market garden set ups, I took a risk and dove straight into it with about 80 farm days up my suburban sleeves. Before planting, I studied a Cert IV in New Small Business through the New Enterprise Incentive Scheme (NEIS) that gave a context to think through the business and financial plan. I then dug up the yard at my rental property, started selling CSA boxes six months later and now have three suburban blocks within ten (electric bike) minutes of each other producing quick turn-around, high-profit crops.
Is it what you expected ?
I was harvesting yesterday and it was chilly, but sun was coming through a grand old oak tree and I was thinking… I’m outside, it’s beautiful and this is pretty great … I’m listening to tunes and I just bunched $120 worth of turnips and this is what I do for work. I suppose, in many ways, its better than what I hoped for.
The first year was pretty hard but I expected that. Since then, the things I didn’t expect to be difficult have been the most - like selling produce, rather than growing it, and juggling being a good farmer with other life priorities. I’ve settled for smaller farm goals than when I started to manage time constraints during this season - I didn’t expect that.
Biggest learning curve so far ?
My start-up has had many flaws. I’ve continued to make many mistakes, partly because starting to farm without any background in business or primary production is a challenge. The fear of mistakes can delay you to start but on the other hand, the learning has been so incredible. Starting without knowing what I was really doing has consequences, but the opportunity to learn skills… have full responsibility for those skills and gain confidence outweigh those factors for me. I have to keep learning, and apply that learning in new and different situations, else the farm will fail to be my job. Interning and working on other farms was fantastic, but I just couldn’t wait – I wanted it to be entirely “on me” and to learn through doing it myself, so I jumped into my own agricultural experience - it was the biggest learning curve which has been a tad overwhelming at a couple times!
Who / what / why inspired you to get farming?
I had a mate, who probably knew I had what it was to be a farmer before I did. He persuaded me to intern on a farm with him for two months. At 22, two months seemed like a big deal, but it turned out to be some of the best. At the time, I was wrestling with a way to try to make a difference, maintain my own sense of hopefulness and act on climate change. Farming was a pragmatic answer to this desire and fit with my personality and interests: I could be involved in community, health justice, local economy and be outside in nature directing my work day.
What is your biggest milestone so far ?
Finally seeing myself as a real farmer - despite the juxtaposition between my farm and the pioneering, conventional farm norm.
What is the dream ?
A new generation of small scale farmers that can address real issues, enjoy meaningful work and help create good health and connection with community. I'm excited about the potential that agriculture has as a platform to regenerate land, reduce contributions to global warming, and respect biodiversity. With new small scale tools, access to excellent knowledge and more customers who care about where their food comes from, I imagine countless urban farms, market gardens and broad acre/livestock farms showcasing regenerative ag models. I'm hopeful about our future.