Bushfire Appeal Update || ORICoop

A year on we continue our support for these farmers and other farmers in their time of need.

Carolyn Suggate

A year on from when ORICoop launched the bushfire appeal, we would like to honour all the recipients of the appeal. And the many donors that have offered their support in their time of need, and beyond.

We are calling out to communities, businesses and farmers to continue to support bushfire affected organic farmers. You or your business can register to volunteer for the upcoming ‘Organic Farm Blitz’, with a farm close to you. You can also contact us to coordinate an event, make seed pods, plant &/or grow seedlings or build native animal boxes. And we will ensure they get to your nearest bushfire affected farmers!

Affected Regions included:

• Bega Valley

• East Gippsland

• Braidwood

• Mid-North Coast NSW

Breakdown of $379,518 raised (and mostly distributed) bushfire appeal funds includes:

• $89,000 cash raised

• $28,907 donated organic inputs

• $72,000 donated organic fodder

• $14,611 freight subsidy (fodder)

• $105,000 donated professional time

• $45,000 donated volunteer coordination

• $25,000 BCCM bushfire funds grant.

We want to give a huge shout out to the many supporters of the Organic Farmers Bushfires Appeal that have offered their support towards the ongoing recovery of these farmers.

• Dr Bronner – including their most recent appeal over January/February 2021

• CERES – offering significant financial and physical support

• BCCM – Bushfire Appeal grant funds to extend the appeal to June 2021

• AgriSolutions – for Gerhards ongoing farm support and advisory

• Organic Advisory Services – for Greg’s ongoing farm support and advisory

• Nutri-Soil – for generous organic input donations

• Vitec – for generous organic input donations

• Omnia – for generous organic input donations

• Australian Kelp – for generous organic input donations

• Converte Plant Food – for generous organic input donations

• Bio-Tech Organics – for on-farm support and advisory

• EAL – for generous at-cost soil tests for all farmers included in Appeal

• 15 Trees – for their donations of trees and ongoing support into the next year

• Southern Cross Certified, for reduced certification for bushfire affected farmers

• Elmore Compost – for donation of organic compost

• Peats Soil –for donation of organic compost

• Benalla Mushroom Compost – for donation of organic compost

• Organic Market & CAFE in South Australia for their fundraising efforts

• Dunn & Walton in Western Australia dedicating coffee sales to bushfire appeal

• Gung-Hoe Growers for their champion fundraising efforts

• Next Rural – for their support in transition and succession discussions

• Sheia from Life Force Farm – for her business reset coaching

• Organic Angels – for their ongoing donations

• Eva Perroni – for her heartfelt storytelling capacity for these farmers

• Jade Miles – for hosting our zoom connect meets for our farmers

• And …. our Bushfire Committee (Antony, Hugh, Christine & Carolyn) that have steered this ship through the seas!

Where to from here?

We are calling for sponsors interested to support Organic Farm Blitz projects for each of these farmers. Any donations can be tax deductible, thanks to the generous support from Australian Mutuals Foundation (select bushfire appeal)

Your business can get involved by:

• Sending a team to a farm for a team building weekend (teams of 3 – 20 welcome)

• Donating/sponsoring the food required for each weekend (organic of course)

• Sponsor an Organic Farm Blitz in your area (Sponsorship can be tax deductible)

Show your support by:

• Registering for our volunteer crew for our next Farm Blitz in your area

• Gather some friends to arrange your own fundraiser and donating to this cause

• Sharing details of the Organic Farmers Bushfire Appeal

• Sponsoring one of the Organic Farm Blitz events

• Purchasing trees to be planted over the next 12 months

• Suggesting to family and friends to pledge support instead of gifts

• Suggesting to local businesses to make on ongoing pledge

• Offsetting your carbon footprint directly with these farms via the Eco-Credit