Field Day - Honeyeater Farm and discussion with Safe Food QLD

Socials : @honeyeater.farm

Date : Sunday 11 August, 9am - 3pm

Country: event will be held on Gubbi Gubbi / Kabi Kabi Country

Cost: Free for YFC members, non-members by donation

Details: Come and join the SEQ Young Farmers Connect network for a field day on Sunday 11th August. This field day will at Honeyeater Farm on the Sunshine Coast and include a tour by farmers Lachlan and Riley Hughes, a discuss with Safe Food QLD about the changes to leafy vegetable standards across the state, and a potluck-style lunch to finish the day.

Honeyeater Farm is an 11-hectare (27 acre) property hosting a 2000m² (0.5 acre) market garden on undulating land in Woombye, in the foothills of the Blackall Range on the Sunshine Coast. The Hughes family have lived and worked on Honeyeater Farm for three generations. This started in the 1950s as a pineapple farm, then a strawberry and avocado farm in the 1980s. In the late 1990s, conventional farming on the land ceased and the land was left to regenerate. In 2021, the land began its transition to an organic market garden.

Today Honeyeater Farm is managed by brothers Lachlan and Riley Hughes, with help from their family and friends. These farmers value providing fresh, organic and seasonal produce to their local community using regenerative practices that promote soil fertility and health, plant nutrition and restores the natural ecosystem of the farm. You can read more at https://www.honeyeater.farm/

Safe Food Queensland have also been invited to discuss to upcoming changes to standards around the growing, processing and sale of leafy green vegetables across the state. As a response to crop contamination in leafy veg, these changes will include a whole range of vegetables, such as baby leaves, lettuces, leafy herbs, Asian leafy greens, microgreens, spring onions and cabbage. Whilst the conditions of these standards are yet to be determined, they may considerably impact the operations of small growers.

This event will be an interactive discussion with Safe Food QLD representatives to better understand how these standards may impact small growers and ensure farmers perspectives and concerns are taken into consideration!

This will be a great opportunity to meet and network with other farmers and allies in the South-East Queensland region! Hope to see you there 😊

Who’s welcome: All are welcome! This includes new, young, aspiring farmers, seasoned farmers, to agricurious allies! This event is family friendly – children are welcome but must be strictly supervised for safety. Please wear good shoes and sun protection and remember we will be visiting a working farm – consider you own safety at all times.

Food: The farm tour will be followed by a potluck lunch. Please bring along a plate to share. This is a PLASTIC FREE event, so please bring along your own water bottle/cup, plate, cutlery and mug.

RSVP: before 9th August (Booking for this event is essential).

Carpooling: If you are travelling from Brisbane/Meanjin there is an option to carpool to the event.

Please contact Grace at seqld@youngfarmersconnect.com

Event Overview:

09:00am – 9:30am: Acknowledgement of Country and Introductions

9:30am – 11:00am: Honeyeater Farm tour by Lachlan and Riley

11:15am – 12:45pm: Safe Food Queensland discussion

1:00pm – 3:00pm: Potluck feast and final remarks