The Magazine of the Collingwood Children’s Farm
FARM YARNS Winter 2015
farmland
Since 1838
We would like to acknowledge generous support from the following organisations:
Ph: 9681 8121
The Collingwood Children’s Farm are proud to acknowledge the Wurundjeri of the Kulin Federation as the traditional owners of the Abbotsford Precinct Heritage Farmlands, the land we respect, care for and farm on behalf of all Victorians. The Farm thanks all Wurundjeri Elders past and present, for their guardianship of these lands.
Farm Patron - Mrs Elizabeth Chernov, Government House
2014-15 Committee of Management Cheryl Cameron
Jennifer Black
Netta McArthur
Helen Semmler
Kirsty Williamson
Catalina Sinclair
Jessica Gillespe
Lily O’Neill
Richard Ginsburg
Jane Ogilvie
Lachlan Turner
Cr Misha Coleman
Alex Walker (Farm Manager) Farm Yarns is a quarterly publication from the Collingwood Children’s Farm (CCF). The CCF, a not-for-profit, educational small-holding city farm was established in 1979 as a “country experience for city folk”. The Farm is sited on the Abbotsford Precinct Heritage Farmlands, the oldest continually farmed land in Victoria (since 1835). The CCF is guided by a Committee of Management, elected annually. Front Cover photo - Children and adults basking in the quiet glow of the Winter Solstice Bonfire. (image Josh Beale) Rear Cover photo - Brandy the pony and Young Farmer Molly working as one. Communication and trust in action. (image Olivia Knowles)
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Farm Manager
Alex Walker
Managers Report Along with many other farmers and rural communities across country Victoria, the Farm staff and I are celebrating the good Winter rains. They have quickly transformed the APHF paddocks from brown into luminous bright green and put quite a bit of muchneeded water in all the storage tanks. The livestock are I’m sure enjoying the tasty new growth to graze on (maybe not so much the cold weather, but you can’t have it all). One key reasons for this prompt paddock recovery is the time allowed for the farmlands to rest and recover as part of our ongoing Integrated Paddock Management Program. Being “conventionally” (eg non-indigenous) farmed for over 175 years means the APHF paddocks can be susceptible to soil compaction and exhaustion. And when any farm soils get
Inset: Splishy splashy Winter fun … just waiting for the children!
out of balance, that’s when you can see issues such as erosion and non-beneficial weed
childhood. Yes, they get dirty (immediately)
infestations. In Australia we have the oldest
and cold (eventually) however squeals of
and most fragile soils on the planet, so as
delight and happy memories surely outweigh
farmers we have a responsibility to take care of
a temporary inconvenience. So don’t forget
them. I would like to thank Bridget (our
when you visit the Farm over Winter dress for
Landcare Coordinator) for a job well done and
the weather, bring gumboots, a change of
the Farm staff for their efforts to nurture these
clothes and sense of fun and adventure.
heritage farmlands so successfully. Everything is in full swing for our annual Decent rains also means plenty of opportunity
Winter Solstice Bonfire celebration. Of course
to have some extra and unexpected fun at the
along with the massive (to be expected)
Farm. How? Well, I think puddles and young
bonfire, all your favourite activities will be
kids go hand-in-hand; because along with
taking place—storytelling in the Lambing
such important things as spinning around
Shed,
until
climbing trees and making
firetwirlers, drummers, lantern sculptures,
cubbies, jumping in puddles is one of those
tasty foodstalls and mulled wine. It’s a night
timeless activities that are an integral part of
not be missed and all funds raised go towards
dizzy,
the
FARMLAND SINCE 1838
children’s
lantern
parade,
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Inset, top (left to right): Culminating in the huge bonfire, CCF solstice celebrations (images Josh Beale)
supporting the Farm across the year. As has
happened ... although some of the animals
proven successful in previous years we will be
(especially the guinea pigs) appear to have
repeating the “no glowsticks” rule. Tickets are
developed a taste for romantic wedding music.
limited and only available online through www.trybooking.com. There won’t be tickets for
Our Farm Members already know a secret that
sale on the night so don’t miss out!
I would like more visitors to take advantage of. Especially if you live locally! Due to the age
The busiest Wedding Season ever at the Farm
and style of most housing stock in Abbotsford,
has just concluded. It has been amazing to host
Collingwood and Richmond, many properties
such a variety of loved-up couples on their
have very limited outdoor space or no
special day, all with their own unique way of
backyards for children to play in. So imagine
expressing how important that day is to their
having the capacity to access unlimited visits
family and friends. Over the past few months’
to the Farm and enjoy its open spaces as your
weekends the Barn has been constantly
“backyard”. That’s what a Farm Membership
switched from “working farm” to “wedding
provides the opportunity to create. So if you
venue” in the afternoon and then turned back
would like extend your living space in a way
for the following morning. All as if nothing
that benefits both you and your children,
COLLINGWOOD CHILDREN’S FARM
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please consider becoming a Member. It doesn’t
volunteers. The lavenders, olive trees and
take long to join, and you’ll start saving money
grapefruits are all looking very smart and
if you already visit regularly. And you can also
happy with plenty of mulch and compost to
form a membership by sharing with a friend or
promote growth and suppress weeds.
neighbour. Full and concession prices are available at Farm Reception, along with
It is very exciting to note our first “formal”
membership information.
visit by a European Federation of City Farms
Below: Farm Membership, your gateway to the best and most unique backyard in Melbourne
(EFCF) membership staff member. Bridget, from the Swansea Community Farm (SCF) in Wales enjoyed a tour with Julia whom she met (along with our Bridget) when she attended the 2014 EFCF Conference in Wales. Bridget accepted our open invitation for all EFCF members to visit the Farm for free when in Australia. You can find out more about the SCF at www.swanseacommunityfarm.org.uk. We very much look forward to more EFCF members visiting in the future. Phillip Johnson Landscapes are continuing their efforts on the Landscape Masterplan. You
Regular visitors and Farmers Market attendees
may have noticed their staff completing
will notice a change to the top of the Stables
measurement and elevation works across the
Paddock. Even though the largest paddock on
Farm over the past few months.
the Farm, due to intensive demand it is the one that shows use by humans and animals the most. We are now implementing a plan to stabilise and improve the paddock’s soil structure. In just a short period of time, the change has been remarkable (see pages 19 to 20). This trial may be extended to other areas of the Stables Paddock (and if you are wondering what all the holes are, we are using an aerator as another tool to improve the soil). The front entry to the Farm is looking particularly good with excellent work being done by the Farm Staff and corporate
Inset: Sheree and Ryan’s recent Farm wedding, complete with kombi-lovewagon (image Marianne McCarthy)
FARMLAND SINCE 1838
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COLLINGWOOD CHILDREN’S FARM
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Team Leaders
Bridget Bainbridge/ Nick Karavokiros
It’s been busy, as usual (as it always is on a
don’t have the exact joining dates so aren’t
Farm). Autumn has come and gone and we are
certain, but given she should have been due
now settling into Winter; with icy winds, hail
almost a month ago and isn’t really looking
and rain this week it’s a good sign that it will
like she’s in calf, we’re not liking our chances.
be a much-needed proper one.
Daphne however is due to calve sometime around the end of July, so we hopefully will
Thank heavens the rain has arrived! The Farm
have a calf then. Finna, our long horned
has looked so parched over the last few
Ayrshire beauty, is due to go off to be joined
months and our pasture so ... nonexistent in
the moment a calf is born (to someone else).
lots of places. In terms of maintaining healthy paddock
and
livestock
management,
something has to give. Given the limited
Inset: Biddy possibly wondering why we are watching her with great expectations … no pressure Biddy!
amount of heritage farmland available to us (and as many country farmers have had to do in years past) the first step is to de-stock. We have sold quite a few animals to reduce numbers - some Anglo-Nubian Goats to a few breeders’ homes, leaving us now with a nucleus of eight breeding does to be bred in alternate years. We have also cut down to five Shropshire ewes and six English Leicester ewes, although the now “extra” ewes have not yet left the Farm for their new homes. The Indian Runner duck flock has been rehomed, as they are (although beautiful and
The horses and ponies are back in full work
elegant) too nervy and flighty for daily life at
again, with RDA starting up again with their
the Farm. Instead we have received a breeding
new coach Kate Vincent. Also, Mega the Waler
flock of Swedish Blue Ducks (see page 24 for a
has rejoined the team after her long Summer
complete article), who are temperamentally
vacation which always makes a lot of people
much better suited to us and can happily free-
happy, she is such a favourite at the Farm. She
range. Additionally we have sold many of our
arrived back on (the very wet) ANZAC day to
Chinese Grey goose ganders who have gone
help fly the Waler breed flag on that day, and
off to graze orchard grass together.
will stay with us until the end of Term Three.
Our cows - well it seems that Biddy our old
This year there will be two horses and one
milking cow may have slipped her calf. We
pony staying back for Term Three while the
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years. But it will take some time! We are also aiming to improve the overall quality of the Stables Paddock grasses by aerating (if you wonder what all the holes in the ground are). Above all those, some of our fantastic water management achievements in the last few months have been:
Getting the plumbing done so that now the tanks at the bottom of the hill (around the Stables) are now hooked up so that water can be pumped from them up to the
Above: ANZAC Day Waler Horse display (image Angela Tiede)
Workshop tanks (which doesn’t sound like others go on holiday. Tumby, Mega and Tyson
much but will save hours and hours of
will stay at the Farm to do pony rides, and
work each Summer)
more importantly, get fed and take their daily
Plumbing the Orchard tanks and the tanks
medicine (Tyson) while the others go off on
in the Barn Paddock, so they can now be
holidays to various parts of the world. Their
filled by flipping a switch (we can’t tell you
holiday diets will
how exciting this is)
support
their
proper
nutritional needs; some will munch on really good grass (the old horses), others with less rich, more fibrous grass (ponies and donkey). Bridget has also started replanting pasture in the Stables Paddock - many of you will have noticed the top of the paddock has a small fence around it and is growing Winter-active grasses madly. As this Farm Yarns is being typed the sheep are in there giving it its first “mowing”, designed to get the plants to spread sideways and increase their root systems to make them more robust to wear (from us) and grazing (from the livestock). In Spring she will plant Summer-active grasses in amongst the Winter grasses, and with a bit of luck we will have fairly good year-round cover on that patch throughout the coming
Inset: Bridget Boo-peep? (image Sam Imbrogno)
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All this work means that this year for the first time we managed to water the Orchards almost entirely by rainwater. We had only ten days when we needed to use mains water to keep going. This not only means we have improved our efficiency by leaps and bounds but will save the Farm money that can be used for other purposes. The Young Farmers had an unexpected lesson in fence repair and maintenance when a large Poplar in French Meadows came crashing down onto the fenceline. Everyone pitched in to make the fence safe and sturdy for our animals. We’re sure they appreciated the change of tasks from some
Above, inset: Happy pig mum Mabeline and snuggling piglet bundle
of the usual ones such as poo pickup! gutters without telling us. That meant we kept A bit of accident prevention has taken place
losing precious rain from going into the tanks.
around the ends of the Stables, in the form of
With repair the opportunity has also been
two very solid bollards. For whatever reason
taken to add gutter-guard to the Stables which
some stallholders from the Farmers Market
will maximise rain capture efficiency.
couldn’t see the end of the large building that is the Stables and kept on damaging the
Mabeline, one of our Berkshire sows, delivered a healthy litter of five male piglets a little over
Below: Boss cat sporting a 1960’s kaftan look (image Anita Stec)
six weeks ago. They have grown rapidly and delight all visitors in their hectic exploring everywhere and discovery of new things. Especially if they can then eat what they’ve found! They will spend a few months longer at the Farm then be re-homed within the Rare Breeds Trust network. With Winter comes a solstice, and with that comes a bonfire and lanterns (lots and lots and lots of them!). So now I (Bridget) must stop typing and go and see how the lantern making is going. See you there!
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5
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FARM PHOTOS 1-2 Spinners & Weavers Guild at the May Farmers Market Day 3 Trench works in the Laneway during replacement of the back waterlines 4 Young Farmers enjoying their horseriding lesson with Olivia 5 The bollard to end all bollards!
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Plant News
Toni Phillips
Inset: Lamb’s Tongue (Stachys byzantine) covered in Winter morning frost (image Toni Phillips)
Winter in the garden is the time for reflecting,
blackberries and raspberries are much easier to
planning,
handle unless of course you have a goat to
pruning
and
planting.
Nature
cleverly provides us with the appropriate
prune them for you.
nutrition our bodies require for each season. For example, now citrus fruits and leafy greens
Strawberries planted now will produce sweet
are abundant to combat winter ailments.
fruit sooner than you think. Shrubs and bulbs for Spring and Summer colour, and flowers to
TIME TO PLANT
attract lots of pollinators to your garden.
Winter is the optimal time to plant deciduous fruit trees. While the trees are dormant there is
Of course there are many vegetables to plant!
little disturbance to the roots. Many fruit and
Leafy greens are easiest to grow now as they
nut trees can be planted now.
need quite a bit of water; so consider all sorts of
Lettuces:
coriander,
endive,
rocket,
It is also the time to plant berries, while the
raddichio, sorrel, spinach, silver beet, parsley.
canes are short and easy to handle. Thornless
Also European Brassicas: cabbages, brussel
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sprouts, cauliflower and kale should all be in
that reason (and because it is a small tree) it is
by now, but sometimes you can get away with
suitable for suburban gardens that want fruit
planting advanced seedlings. All the Asian
all year round.
Brassicas: mibuna mizuna, pak choi and bok choy can be successively planted. These are
This fruit, like astringent persimmons, must be
much
and
“bletted” (allowed to ripen and soften) and left
produce far more over time per space than
until virtually over-ripe before it is eaten raw
single-crop
can
or used in cooking. Bletting can occur
continually harvest them (just like non-
naturally after the fruit has been left on the
heading lettuce).
tree for a few frosts. Alternately the fruit can
tastier
Broadbeans,
(personally plants,
peas
speaking)
because
and
root
you
vegetables:
potatoes, parsnips and radishes (especially
Inset: Medlar fruit bletted and ready to eat or use for cooking (image Toni Phillips)
daikon, Swedes and turnips) will thrive now as should leeks, spring onions, salad and regular onions. Garlic is supposed to be in by the Winter solstice, so plant it soon. FRUIT PROFILE—MEDLAR The
medlar
(Mespilus
germanica)
fruit
originates from Azerbaijan and Iran and has been cultivated since at least 3,000 BC. It is an unusual looking brown fruit that belongs to
be picked while still firm and placed on racks
the same family as roses and apples. It was
and left in the sun daily. If you are very
very popular before refrigeration as there was
organised and have predictable sunshine or
not much fruit that ripened in Winter, so for
you can store it carefully in layers, turning and checking it occasionally. This method, while effective can attract vinegar flies (and can take up to four weeks) so plan ahead. It is thought they were introduced to Europe by the Romans from the Middle East. They have also been recorded in history due to their unusual
ripening—in
Elizabethan
and
Jacobean times there was much reference in literature regarding “the fruit that is rotten before it is ripe”. They are also depicted in the famous Inset: Our medlar trees ready for harvest (image Toni Phillips)
15th Century tapestry “The Unicorn is Found”.
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1¼ cups plain flour ¼ teaspoon salt & allspice ½ teaspoon each of bicarb soda, baking powder, nutmeg & cinnamon ¾ cup finely chopped pecans ½ cup chopped raisins Cream butter and sugar, add egg and medlar pulp, mixing well. Sift dry ingredients and stir into creamed mixture. Add the nuts and raisins. Place teaspoons on greased baking tray and bake at 160OC for 12 to 15 minutes. Cool Above: The inside of the Medlar goes from white to brown when ripe (image Toni Phillips)
on wire tray before consuming.
The pulp from ripe medlars can be used to make jams, jellies, paste (like quince) and in cakes or on pancakes, etc. MEDLAR JELLY This has a lovely golden-brown hue and is a good accompaniment to main courses as well as a spread. The fruit must of course be bletted before use. Remove calyxes and seeds and place the pulp in a pan with a sliced lemon and two sticks of cinnamon for every five cups of medlar pulp. Cover with water and cook until the mix is soft and integrated (approximately half an hour). Strain the pulp through muslin cloth. Measure the remaining liquid and add equal amounts of sugar. Return to heat and continue to cook until set. Pour into sterilised jars and seal. SPICED MEDLAR COOKIES ½ cup butter ½ cup sugar 1 egg ½ cup medlar pulp
Inset, above: Medlars in history and the present. Detail from “The Unicorn is Found” tapestry (image www.wrytig.com) and our recent Farm harvest (image Toni Phillips)
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Community Garden News
Toni Phillips
The Garden Plots now have their own
and Angelo are the only original remaining
committee, mostly consisting of plot members:
garden plotters today. Con (now in his 90’s) is
living proof that “gardeners go for longer”,
Helen
Semmler
as
Committee
of
Management Representative
probably because of the healthy food, exercise
Danella Connors, who has done much for
and of course community. His plot is always
the Farm and instigated the Community
very productive, concentrating on seasonal
Gardens Google group
vegetables that he likes to eat. The one thing
Marion Crooke, who has championed the
though that Con loves the most about the
Farm and Community Gardens for quite a
Farm and the Garden Plots “is to see the
few years now
happy children”.
Newish plotter Renee Churches
President of the Committee of Management, Richard Ginsberg
This group will work with Farm Management and hopefully the Garden Plots will be further recognised as a valued and integral part of the Farm, and not just another separate entity like the café. There are a few vacant plots at the moment and the waiting list is currently closed; this should only be temporary until the new landscape plan is available. PLOTTERS NEW AND OLD One of our newer and younger plotters is Dawn Churches who with her family Renee and Andrew. Dawn often comes to the Working Bees and of course to their plot. She likes picking the flowers and collecting seeds, and best of all is eating the veggies that she grows, especially carrots. Founding Garden Plotter Con Galanopoulos was one of the original Abbotsford residents and
Greek
Social
Club
members
who
approached the Childrens Farm when it began in 1979 to have some space to grow food and support community. Con, together with Bill
Inset, above: Garden Plotters old and new. Relative newbies Renee (left) and Dawn (right). Con (above) has great plant and life wisdom to share. (images Toni Phillips)
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WINTER IN THE GARDEN PLOTS 1 Stunning purple symmetry 2 Cauliflower looking tasty and ready to go into the steamer or wok 3 A forest of salad greens—yum! 4 How a plot can look beautiful and be productive at the same time 5 A cacophony of cauliflower leaves (all images Toni Phillips)
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2
5
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A positive rural message One of the most alarming statistics that consistently
affects
rural
Australian
communities is the prevalence of higher-thanaverage
mental
health
issues
Andrew Phillips
encourage people to support one another
To create links between people and their local support services
(especially
depression) when compared with the national
And so in its support of these worthwhile
average. Farmers and their families can often
goals, the Farm was proud to host the Beyond
be put under intense stress by many factors
Blue Bus and its National Roadshow crew on
beyond their control—such things as drought,
Monday 6th of April. Plenty of active fun for
crop failure and falling commodity prices. Plus
visiting children was provided by a bouncy
with running a farm there’s always work to be
castle, games and face painter. For parents
done—usually it’s a 24-7, 365-days-a-week
there was a chance to sit and enjoy a free BBQ
ongoing demand. There’s not many weekends
while the kids jumped, played and sat
off to relax when you’re a farmer!
patiently for a face painting.
Perhaps one of the biggest social barriers to
And along with the serious business of having
improving rural mental health is the outdated
fun, there was the opportunity for a friendly
idea that (especially for men) you “just don’t
and relaxed chat with the Roadshow crew
talk about things, and everything will be
about what was happening. Complementing
okay”. The good news is that decades of study
the ability to talk, share and listen, Beyond
and improved understanding of how to
Blue have also produced a wide variety of
maintain positive mental health have moved
useful resource materials for those who may
us on from accepting this unhelpful attitude.
be experiencing depression and/or to support
But how to begin talking? And who to?
their immediate carers and colleagues. For those people who felt these could be of
Luckily a major mental health initiative has
assistance there was the availability to freely
been created in the form of the Beyond Blue
take information packs.
Bus. Travelling throughout Australian rural centres and cities as part of its 12-month National Roadshow, the bus will be travelling over 50,000 kilometres to support some of the serious goals of Beyond Blue:
To help people to listen to, talk about and
If you need to access or refer someone to Beyond Blue support and resources, contact:
www.beyoundblue.org.au Facebook/beyondblue Twitter.com/beyondblue www.mindhealthconnect.org.au
1300 22 4636
take action on their mental health
To encourage people to join in and support its vision of an Australian community that takes action on depression and anxiety
To encourage people to have conversations about mental health, reduce stigma and
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BEYOND BLUE BUS VISIT 1 Plentiful and helpful resource materials, freely available for everyone 2 Too much Bouncy Castle fun! 3 Positive mental health begins with a first step (in this case a bus step) 4 Face painting in full swing 5 A rainbow can bring a smile to any face
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Night creatures
Andrew Phillips
It’s amazing what you can see if you just
Most importantly for us humans, microbats do
look ... or is it? Well perhaps not when what
not carry the Hendra virus.
you might just catch a glimpse of is a small and rapidly moving object in the air. And one
The most common roosting sites for microbats
that you only see come out at dusk or in the
are in tree hollows or sometimes under tree
dark of the evening. I’m of course talking
bark (that is still attached to the trunk).
about microbats, which make up a critical part
Unfortunately many microbat species have
of the endemic fauna that the Farm is home to.
suffered from habitat loss due to old tree removal and logging. In the absence of their
There are 21 species of microbats found in
natural choice, they may sometimes take roost
Victoria, and the Farm probably hosts around
under house eaves, ceiling cavities, folded
four common varieties:
pool/beach umbrellas or Inset: Lesser Long-Eared microbat (image Michael Pennay)
the Lesser Long-Eared, White-Stripped Freetail, Gould’s
Wattled
wherever they can find a safe place to sleep free
and
from predators. Please
Chocolate Wattled bat.
remember all Victorian
With wingspans up to
bat species are fully
25cm,
protected
microbats
are
under
the
insectavores that eat a
Wildlife Act (1975) and
wide variety of insects
should not be harmed in
using echolocation. It’s
any way.
estimated they can eat over
1,000
mosquito-
Through it’s extensive
sized insects in an hour.
long-term
native
Most are usually caught
revegetation
“on the wing” but some
the Farm is proud to
species dive to take bugs
provide
a
tree
program home
for
and grubs off the ground. Whichever way they
these lovely creatures. So take a walk along the
dine, they are great pest exterminators!
bicycle path at dusk and you might just be lucky enough to observe the flitter-flatter of
Microbats are gentle and shy creatures but
tiny wings dancing in the evening twilight.
may bite if threatened or are injured, so always wear gloves if doing a bat rescue (and
Reference sources
remember they have very fragile bones). Only
www.bats.org.au
three species are known to host Australian Bat
www.ausbats.org.au
Lyssavirus, however infection is extremely rare
www.rbg.vic.gov.au
(only two known cases) as direct saliva contact
Survey of Microbats Royal Botanical Gardens 2011
is required for any potential transmission.
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Paddock management 101 Caring for land that has been conventionally
also hold soil together; so if there is dramatic
farmed (eg by non-indigenous methods such
vegetation loss, topsoil (the good stuff) will
as firestick farming) for over 175 years comes
simply blow away and erosion commence.
with its challenges. Like to how to balance effective ongoing animal and human use with
These positive thing is that these issues can be
the
successfully
need
to
rest
and
regenerate
soil
reversed,
and
using
natural
microbiology in a way that is sustainable.
techniques that don’t involve unsustainable
Because it’s not just what you see on the top of
and expensive synthetic petrochemical inputs
the soil that is important; underneath there is a
(such as superphosphate). Here at the Farm we
constant and complex interchange between
use our animals (manure) and our own
plants, animals, microbes and the earth itself.
organic (compost and mulch) inputs. Our first
There are two main soil issues our unique heritage farmland paddocks present on a regular basis. The first is soil exhaustion; literally the earth is depleted of the trace minerals necessary to support both plant and microbe function. Unhealthy plants then produce unhealthy (low-nutrition) fodder for grazing animals. The other is soil compaction; this limits the ingress of water, soluble minerals and oxygen. It also increases waterspeed runoff which can lead to erosion. If untreated both these factors begin to impact soils in various negative ways. For example, with
reduced
plant
vigour,
“weakened”
paddocks can have sparse ground-cover and this allows for invasive weeds to take hold (eg Cape
Weed
opportunist
(Arctotheca introduced
calendula), plant
an
which
particularly likes to move into open spaces.
Inset, above: Ask questions, get advice, get it right! (images Sam Imbrogno)
This can then lead to a downward spiral— reduced plant vigour means less root systems
step was to fence off an area of the paddock
being driven into soils. The action of plants
from use and apply these natural inputs to a
(and animals such as worms) is critical in
reasonable depth of 10cm+. A little bit of extra
keeping soils friable (easily crumbled). Plants
watering (and rain) and voila!
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1
20 April 2015
2
20 April 2015
3
20 April 2015
4
23 May 2015
5
23 May 2015
6
23 May 2015
PADDOCK MANAGEMENT 101 1-3 Fenced and prepared, this section of the Stables Paddock is ready for some much needed R&R 4-5 A little over four weeks later, what a difference 6 Healthy grasses ready for their first grazing, itself another part of the regeneration process
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Kid’s Corner! Here’s a fun game! Can you guess which farm animals are pictured in the photos below? It’s easy when you can see the whole animal, but can you work out who is who? And there’s a non-animal in here to make it even harder ...
?
?
?
?
2
? ?
? 3
?
7
4
?
?
1
?
5
?
?
6
FARMLAND SINCE 1838
?
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.
Answers Horse Goat Chicken Pig Guinea Pig Cow Tractor!
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Wildlife Victoria visit Australia is home to some of the most unique
Victoria display and fundraising table at our
wildlife on the planet. Our native animals have
May Family Day. This not only created a high
evolved in isolation for millennia; developing
level of awareness amongst visitors but
unique behaviours, breeding, diet and habitat
generated some much needed funds. If you
requirements. With the arrival of European
would like to find out more about the work
settlement and over 200 years of subsequent
done by Wildlife Victoria, or perhaps donate
nationwide habitat destruction and continuing
just visit: www.wildlifevictoria.org.au.
negative human impact, native animals have suffered greatly. Australia has the dubious distinction of witnessing the highest extinction rate of its mammals compared to any other country in the world. Our sprawling city suburbs continue to remove
shrinking
wildlife
habitat,
and
roadways place native animals in constant
ON CALL TO HELP 13 000 94535
danger when they attempt crossing. Domestic and feral cats kill or maim an estimated
Below: Plenty of cute (toy) animals at the Wildlife Victoria stand!
60 million native animals every evening. One consequence of this is a large amount of injured animals who require expert care and attention to have any chance of recovery. However well-meaning, unless someone is a native animal specialist then outside help is always required. Here at the Farm we are often handed lizards, possums or small native birds in need of care. We know the best people to contact are Wildlife Victoria, our State’s largest dedicated wildlife rescue organisation. There is a 1300 number to call for immediate advice and to book
collection
volunteer.
A
by
a
dedicated
not-for-profit
rescue
organisation,
Wildlife Victoria receives no recurrent funding and its activities are maintained by donations, bequests and a large volunteer base. We were therefore delighted to support a Wildlife
COLLINGWOOD CHILDREN’S FARM
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2 3 5 WILDLIFE VICTORIA VISIT 1 “Eyes open for wildlife”, an especially important message when driving 2 Wombat trying out an animal recovery pouch—is it comfy enough? 3 Lizard and Possum checking out which organisation would look after them best 4 An almost too-real toy echidna … or is it? 5 Ninja Koala to the animal rescue!
FARMLAND SINCE 1838
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Duck everyone!
Andrew Phillips
If our deep-seated love of ABBA is anything to
Europe they are found in North America,
go by, as Australians we simply love all things
Ireland and (of course!) Australia.
Swedish. We’ve wholeheartedly embraced meatballs (which does get a bit messy if you embrace them too hard) as well as Volvos (the older ones have plenty of daggy-cool chic). And don’t forget the sauna. Or the Swedish Chef from the Muppets (mork! mork!). Inset: Georg (in front) with Anni-Frid strolling along
Above: Okay, everyone off to Eurovision 2016!
Their usual plumage generally is a lovely shiny Grey (for which the term “Blue” is used) And now the Farm has its own resident
with white splashing. They are moderate
Swedes ... ducks that is. Regular visitors may
layers (on average 100 per year), giving
have noticed a small but friendly new gaggle
attractive “blue” eggs (like the South American
of four Swedish Blues (in Swedish: Svensk Blå
Araucana). Drakes can get quite heavy,
Anka) hanging around the rear of the Barn.
weighing in at over 3.5kg. They can fly, but
Sadly they don’t appear to know the words to
due to their genetics (being based on the
‘Fernando’ or ‘Dancing Queen’ but they are an
Mallard) rarely do; therefore they make a
inquisitive and lively group who have fitted
perfect backyard duck. So if you see them
into the Farm nicely.
please say “hei hei” (“hello” in Swedish) to Georg(e), Agnetha, Anni-Frid and Annika
Swedish
Blue
ducks
(Anas platyrhynchos
(with only one drake, no Björn or Benny!).
domesticus) were developed as a breed in the early 19th century in what was called Swedish
Reference sources
Pomerania (roughly the Baltic coast areas of
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swedish_Blue
modern-day Germany and Poland). Whilst
http://www.backyardchickens.com/products/blue-
they are a popular domesticated fowl, in
swedish
Sweden today there are only an estimated 148
http://beautyofbirds.com/blueswedishducks
breeding birds left. Outside of mainland
COLLINGWOOD CHILDREN’S FARMLAND SINCE 1838 FARM
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This little piggy went non nom nom More splashy fun in the Laneway Sneak lantern peek! Ponies make the best friends Big moment for Mickey and Thara Zac going all Western on us Lantern artist Annie focusing on the centre of her creative endeavour 8 Front entry fruit trees now looking great with plenty of effort from our corporate volunteers (images 4-6 Olivia Knowles)
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OH&S for Guinea Pigs After several accidents and the unfortunate death of Immi (one of our very-much loved
Julia Smallwood
Below (1-3): New ways of doing things making both guinea pigs and children happy (images Toni Phillips)
guinea pigs), we have decided to make a animal-positive change to how the public and guinea pigs interact. In the past there has been a risk of animals being dropped, or even just accidentally slipping off a small child's lap when cuddles were carried out on the benches
1
in the Barn or in the Guinea Pig Room. During the last school holidays we trialled having cuddles on a mat in the Barn, under staff supervision. It was a great success with the side benefit that even very small children can now get up close them. This new approach is also an opportunity for us to teach the public how to correctly pick up a guinea pig to pass it around the circle, although the animals themselves are beginning to explore the mat area. To the delight of the children they often
2
move from person to person by themselves! The new system will operate on weekends, school holidays and busy days, as well as with the many school groups we have at the Farm. It may be hard on the knees and backs of staff and parents but the guinea pigs are all in very much in favour of the positive changes!
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RIP Immi—A Farm favourite Sadly Immi recently had to be euthanised due to severe spinal damage which occurred when she was either dropped or handled roughly. Despite all our very best care and efforts we could not rehabilitate her. She will be greatly missed by the Farm Staff and her many regular visitors.
COLLINGWOOD CHILDREN’S FARM
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Below, inset: Children, adults and guinea pigs all relaxed in the Barn (image Toni Phillips)
FARMLAND SINCE 1838
FARM YARNS st
Next edition due out 1 day of Spring
Collingwood Children’s Farm PO Box 80 Abbotsford 3067
PLACE STAMP HERE
Farmland since 1838
Farm phone: 9417 5806 Email: reception@farm.org.au Website: www.farm.org.au
Family Fun Days First Sunday of the month (no Family Fun Day in December and January)
Also enjoy hay rides and pony rides (when available), and other farm activities all for price of standard entry.
Farmer’s Market
Where to find us St Heliers Street, Abbotsford Melways Ref 44 G5 Open every day of the year Entry: $18 Family $9 Adult $5 Child
The concept of a supported held the second Saturday of volunteer program is unique to every month for beautiful our farm. Originally it was fresh,as quality produce. Proknown the Disability gram, but we prefer to focus on abilities rather than the lack of them … just like the renamed RDA riding program! You may ask why the program exists and what are the benefits of it to the participants and the farm. In the case of special school students, both in class groups