Coming from so far behind other Australian cities, it’s encouraging that we could see recommendations for up to 3 City Farm sites emerge out of the current consultation processes.

City of Sydney Council is unanimously in favour of establishing a City Farm in the Sydney Local Government Area.

The Council appointed Clouston & Associates to conduct a feasibility study to result in recommendations for the most suitable site and model for a City Farm in Sydney.

At the conclusion of the third community consultation on Wednesday August 25^th, the front running site option seems to be Sydney Park, as the first stage in an ‘articulated model’ that would include a site behind the Powerhouse Museum almost concurrently. With the possibility of the Crescent Lands starting as a satellite site within 5 years, and adjascent land in the Harold Park redevelopment also possibly being included within ten years.

The high degree of enthusiasm and commitment from the Powerhouse Museum would make Sydney’s first city farm unique in it’s capacity to include highly sophisticated training, exhibitions and online resources to promote sustainable living.

Clouston’s is due to deliver it’s final report to Council in November – the presentation will be open to the public. For more details or to participate consult  http://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/Residents/ParksAndLeisure/CommunityGardens/CityFarmFeasabilityStudy.asp

Leichhardt Council’s Callan Park master planning process run by McGregor Coxall, is showing an extremely high degree of support for proposals to create a City Farm on the site.

An online ‘collaborative map’ triggered enormous community engagement in favour of a City Farm on the site, with comments like this:

“.. a unique opportunity to build a city farm modelled on other great examples such as CERES in Melbourne. Research shows people value the environment by their exposure to the natural world during their childhood. It is essential to offer such spaces in metropolitan cities. Spaces where people learn about growing food, can connect with animals and build community. A city farm could also be an important vehicle for community education on sustainability and inner city food security which will become increasingly important in years to come. It too can provide a wonderful space for community gatherings and celebrations that acknowledge the traditional and current custodians of the land.”

McGregor Coxall will wrap up the consultation process by the end of the year.

To view the online consultation process, visit

http://callanparkyourplan.com.au

Carolin Wenzel, Communications Director, Sydney City Farm

We are a not-for-profit Incorporated Association. Our goal is to generate support for the creation of a city farm and sustainable living centre in Sydney. The organisation belongs to all its members in the community and we will hold our third AGM in October.

City of Sydney City Farm Feasibility Study Workshop 3

Wednesday 25^th August, 6pm – 8.30pm

at Redfern Town Hall

More details…

Callan Park Master Planning Workshop 3

Saturday 28^th August, 10.30am – 1.30

at the Callan Park Recreation Hall (building B504 bottom of Wharf Rd)

Committee members and supporters of the Sydney City Farm have been attending all the previous workshops and it would be great for that to continue through this process of community consultation.

Thanks to all our supporters who have been coming and also to those who have filled in the online surveys!

Please continue. It’s not necessary for you to have attended previous workshops to come along to these next ones, so we encourage newcomers to join us.

BUT, if you can’t come, take a little time to do the online surveys. Click on the links below.

For Callan Park…

For The City of Sydney Feasability Study…

Better still, join some of the city farm committee at the meeting.

The following letter is from Anne Walker at City of Sydney…

Thank you all so much for coming along to our last workshop, we are now
promoting the next one on Tuesday 10 August from 6-8.30pm which I hope
you can all attend.

The City of Sydney is conducting a City Farm Feasibility Study to
investigate potential sites for a city farm, research best practice and
consult with the community about what a city farm in central Sydney
should look like. Attached is an invitation to our next community
workshop on Tuesday 10 August from 6pm to 8.30pm. This second workshop
will provide a brief summary of the project so far and work towards
establishing a management structure for a City Farm for Sydney. It would
be great to have your input into this Study, please RSVP to
james@p4ps.com.au by Friday 6 August.

If you can’t attend but would still like to provide input into the
Feasibility Study please complete our online survey, available to
download from the City’s website

http://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/Residents/ParksAndLeisure/CommunityGa

rdens/CityFarmFeasabilityStudy.asp

Apologies for any cross postings.

Kind regards,

Annie

Annie Walker
Community Gardens and Volunteering Coordinator
City of Sydney
Ph: 9265 9786
Fax: 9265 9660
anwalker@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au
www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/communitygardens

Join us here , and don’t forget to invite your friends to join the group as well.

The Vision

To create a green sanctuary to showcase an eco-friendly future in the heart of Sydney.

Sydney City Farm aims to inspire people to make significant changes towards living a more sustainable and healthy lifestyle. It will focus on the universal pleasures of growing, harvesting, preparing and eating food, The farm will be a beautiful place that informs it’s visitors directly and by example – it will be lively, welcoming, inclusive and engaging.

At its heart will be an organic café with indoor and outdoor seating. Surrounding the café will be the farm itself – acres of organic and permaculture gardens, fruit trees, nut orchards and small animals such as ducks and chooks – all providing the produce that is prepared and savoured at the café. The children will delight in seeing the small animals at the farm while at the same time learning how food is grown and prepared.

Sydney City Farm will be run by the community for the community. With the support of professional management and staff, participants will be able to engage at the level best suited to their needs and lifestyle – as little or as much as they like. A diverse range of community groups will feel welcomed and contribute to the warm and inclusive City Farm community.

For those more attuned to a hands-on approach, a vital part of the farm will be its environmental education programs. These will provide information on how to grow food sustainably and showcase the latest in water-saving techniques and climate-friendly renewable technologies. Ultimately it will be by these small, individual efforts, that we aim to make changes on a global level.

As it grows and matures, Sydney City Farm will be able to host community cultural events and festivals, markets and fairs, and play a role connecting farmers and growers with householders. It will support community groups who want to run training and recycling programs, like bicycle repair workshops. It will also initiate social ventures like collecting food waste from city restaurants, cafes and households to create compost – educating people about minimising food wasteage as well as diverting organic waste from landfill.

The activities and impacts of Sydney City Farm can be centred on one large site or be spread over multiple smaller sites. Various aspects could be replicated in other parts of Sydney.

The Sydney City Farm vision is a seed that will naturally germinate, sprout and grow with the support and engagement of Sydney-siders. It will draw on the groundswell of enthusiasm for community gardens and growers markets, and network with like-minded groups and organizations.

It is modelled on city farm projects in New York, London and Melbourne.

Ceres, Melbourne

Collingwood Childrens’ Farm, Melbourne

Hackney City Farm, UK

Organisation

Sydney City Farm is a not-for-profit Incorporated Association, whose purpose currently is to generate support for the creation of a city farm and sustainable living centre in Sydney. The organisation belongs to all its members in the community and any income generated is required to be reinvested in our ongoing work for the community.

Members elect a Board of Management who represent them in the ongoing management of the project. A third of the Board is elected at each annual general meeting.

Sydney City Farm also has supporters, who provide financial support and stay informed of its achievements.

Sydney City Farm is not associated with any other group and is wholly devoted to the creation of a working urban farm garden and centre for sustainable urban living.

Over the next few months we’ve organised stalls at organic markets and festivals to spread the word about city farm.

Volunteers needed: Help spread the word at market stalls

It’s a perfect time to get even more involved and help out. We’re looking for people to volunteer a morning or afternoon to help man the City Farm stall.

If you would like to help, please call Liesje on 0425 200 355 or write us an email at sydneycityfarm@gmail.com

The dates for stalls are:

May
23       Primo Italiano Festival – Stanley Street, Leichaardt

June
5          SMH Growers Market, Pyrmont (TBC)
19        Everleigh Markets, Newtown

July
3          SMH Growers Market (TBC)
17        Everleigh Markets

August
7          SMH Growers Market (TBC)
21        Everleigh Markets

September
18        Everleigh Markets

It’s a surprisingly easy day and you meet lots of nice people. At the stall we will explain the concept and how people can get more involved. We’ll also be selling seedlings and t.shirts to make it more fun.

Let us know if you can help out on any of these days by emailing sydneycityfarm@gmail.com.

If you can’t make it, do the next best thing and mention the city farm concept to a friend. Join our facebook group,  and invite some friends to join the discussion about what they want at the Sydney City Farm.

Thank you for your ongoing support,
Elsa and the City Farm team.

So tell us: What does your City Farm look like? How does it run? What events do you have? And what do you want to grow?

Write your comments as a response to this blog and we will make sure they get considered in any proposal for the City Farm.

Saturday Dec 5, 2009 Cane Room, Callan Park, Rozelle

ATTENDANCE
19 non—voting members
21 Financial voting members including
Committee:
President Andrew Jackson
Secretary Elsa Evers
Treasurer Liesje Clement
Commitee Member Anthony Sheedy (Trustee)
Committee Member Carolin Wenzel
Committee Member Carolyn Matthews

Proxies
Vice President Rod Simpson

Apologies
Committee Member Brandon Saul (Trustee)
Committee Member Michael Beaumont
Sky De Jersey

11:00 Members arrive

11:20 Chair welcomes members

Hello, on behalf of Sydney City Farm I’d like to extend a warm welcome and thank you for attending our second Annual General Meeting.

My name is Anthony Sheedy and it’s my pleasure to serve as both a Committee Member and a Trustee of Sydney City Farm.

I would like to acknowledge that we are here today on the land of the Gadigal people, of the Eora nation – who are the Traditional Custodians of this land. We pay respect to elders past and present and extend that respect to any Aboriginal people present today.

At this AGM we will hear reports on developments of the organization through the year, including our audited financial statement.
We have given notice that we need to vote on a Special Resolution to make necessary amendments to our constitution.
We will elect some new committee members, and all our office bearers for 2010.
And we’re delighted to have with us a special guest speaker, Alex Graham, who will talk to us about the Australian Conservation Foundation’s Green Home program.

So the first item on our Agenda is to confirm the minutes of last year’s AGM
- you should all have a copy, or be able to see one.

11.13 Confirm minutes of last AGM

Mover Anthony Sheedy

Seconder Andrew Jackson

11.16 Introduce President Andrew Jackson

We’ve had some great developments for Sydney City Farm in 2009 and I’d now like to welcome our current President, Andrew Jackson to tell us all about them.

11.17 Andrew gives President’s Report – significant developments of previous year

- Involve membership more with Public Meetings
- Set up subcommittees – Seedling Project, Investigating finding another site,

Led to meetings with City of Sydney council – Council voted unanimously to investigate suitable sites and models. Keen for it to continue to be a community organization. We are keen for a form of partnership with council.
The closest we’ve been to the farm starting to become a reality,
The org is really about to change from lobbying focus, to deciding what we’re going to do there.
- Not giving up on Callan Park, ultimate vision is for a network of Sydney farms, or one City Farm spread over several sites.

Realising the City Farm is more important than ever. Right now while Australia’s and world leaders are trying to come to agreement on changes that need to be made to deal with climate change, the groundswell of community concern and action on reducing our ecological footprint needs support.

11.27 Chair introduces Treasurer Liesje Clement

Our finances have been audited and I’d like to now hand over to our current Treasurer, Liesje Clement, to take us through the financial statement – which you should also have a copy of.

11.28 Liesje presents audited statement (Appendix 1. See below)

Accept President’s and Treasurer’s reports
Moved Anthony Sheedy
Seconded Andrew Jackson

11.30 SPECIAL RESOLUTION (Appendix 2. See below)

Now we have a very important procedural matter. When we went through our constitution we noticed that it needed to be updated, especially so that we could expand the number of committee members to increase our effectiveness. We’d like to acknowledge the pro-bono help of legal firm Wolfe & Associates in preparing the Special Resolution.

In checking the rules of Association, we discovered that we need 75% of eligible voting members present, plus any proxies to pass this resolution. This is why we were very particular when you arrived to make sure that people had renewed their membership if they wanted to be a voting member.

For the purpose of voting on this resolution I’d like to now ask your cooperation – can anyone who is sitting at the front who is not a financial member please move towards the back, and anyone who is a financial member who arrived later, please come forward.

You might like to read your hand out while Committee member Carolin Wenzel reads it out.

11.35 Motion to accept Special Resolution: (requires 75% of voting members present)
Mover Jeanette Cudmore

Seconder Liesje Clement

Motion carried unanimously

11.40 Announce resignations and vacancies

Resignations
Michael Beaumont – from committee

4 Offices bearers – resigning some to stand for re-election
- Pres –Andrew Jackson
- Vice Pres – Rod Simpson trustee
- Treasurer – Liesje Clement
- Secretary- Elsa Evers

Announce nominations for committee members & office bearers
Now that we have passed the resolution we would like to expand our number of committee members and we have the following nominations:

David Gilligan
Sky de Jersey
Carla Thackrah

Rest of Committee
Anthony Sheedy – Trustee
Brandon Saul – Trustee
Carolin Wenzel
Sky de Jersey
Carla Thackrah

“In accordance with the rules of association – these 11 committee members are considered to be elected

We also have the following nominations for office bearers
Pres – Andrew Jackson
Vice- Pres – Carolyn Armstrong – qualified horticulturalist, Both Andrew and Carolyn have served the committee well in their negotiations with City of Sydney Council, Leichhardt Council, Friends of Callan Park and the Callan Park NGOs precinct.
Secretary – Liesje Clement – Keeps all our organisational matters up to date, and generally takes care of everything
Treasurer – David Gilligan – who is an accountant

As the number of nominations for office bearers equals the number of vacancies to be filled, the people nominated are taken to be elected.

Moved Jeanette Cudmore

Seconder Carolin Wenzel

Vote by acclaimation – Unanimous acceptance

11:50 Chair introduces Guest Speaker – Alex Graham, Green Home program

It gives me great pleasure now to introduce Alex Graham, who is the Coordinator of the Banksia Award winning Green Home program run by the Australian Conservation Foundation.

GreenHome helps people help the environment by making simple changes to the way we live. Alex will share some practical tips with us on how we can make changes at home and at work to reduce our ecological footprint. And she will give us her insights into how City Farms support a more sustainable approach to urban living.

11.51 Alex speaks about Green Home program, relevance of City Farms to

reducing the carbon footprint of cities and practical ways to save water and energy

How City Farms can contributre to Sustainable Living
What’s the Vision
- a place that attracts a lot of people – show them active examples of sustainable living
- there all the time, not a one off event
- come because they want to, exciting, things happening, a café
- everything that’s done on City Farm is done because it’s sustainable

Everyone has a different entry point to sustainable living for a lot of people it’s food – 50% or our ecofootprint
We can do a lot to reduce our energy use for heating and cooling
Switching to solar hot water cuts our greenhouse emissions and can hearly halve our electricity bill

to address that
Greenhome is about facilitating local solutions for that community. Facilitators, not necessarily experts– have lots of information available for free,

Produce guides on real changes people can make in the home
Greenhome guide – Sydney specific
http://www.acfonline.org.au/uploads/res/Sydney_web.pdf
Greenhome Guide
http://www.acfonline.org.au/uploads/res/NSWGreenHomeweb.pdf
Incl cleaning, shopping, energy saving, dealing with waste

Challenging to live in a society driven by consumption
So taking fewer flights, reducing amount of animal products we eat makes a massive difference.

12.05 Chair thanks Alex – Liesje gives Alex present

Chair calls for Any other Business or questions for clarifications

Request by SCF member Liz
Sydney Food Fairness Alliance AGM on next week, asking is there anything that SCF wants presented, or support we need
http://sydneyfoodfairness.org.au/alliance-to-act-on-food-security/
Sydney Food Fairness Alliance coordinates the efforts of rural producers, health professionals, community workers and community-based advocates active in developing a socially, economically and environmentally sustainable food system in the Sydney region.

Carolin to draft request and email to Liz

Member suggests SCF vision includes project similar to one in Nth England – a regional food centre
Incl cookery classes, cottage industry for making jam, cheese, bread etc

Tim Jackson from Friends of Sydney Botanical Garden
Brought cuttings of Plectranthus Agentatus

Committee to meet late Jan or early Feb

Date for first Public Meeting
Saturday 20 or 27 February 2010

12.25
There being no further business, I now declare the meeting closed

Thanks to everyone who brought a plate for morning tea. Let’s enjoy chatting over cups of tea and cake.

Appendix 1
Audited Financial Statement

Profit & Loss Statement

July 2008 through June 2009

Income

Donations                                                              $831.00
Activities Income
T-Shirts sold                                              $1,960.00
Membership Income
unwaged members                                      $105.00
Standard members                                   $1,120.00
passionate members                                   $150.00
business members                                         $70.00
other members                                         $6,380.00
Total Income                        $10,616.00

Cost of Sales
T-Shirts manufactured                             $2,893.84
Total Cost of Sales               $2,893.84

Gross Profit                         $7,722.16

Expenses

Supplies
Merchant Fees                                                  $839.34
Hire of premises                                              $244.00
Insurance                                                           $766.71
Late Fees Paid                                                     $21.00
Legal & Accounting                                         $544.00
Promotion & Advertising                                $731.00
Training                                                                $75.00
Website                                                              $280.45
Employment Expenses
Contract Staff                                  $5,139.10
Staff Amenities                                    $38.59
Total Employment Expenses  $5,177.69
Postage & Email                                                $103.71
Printing & Stationary                                      $658.34
Total Expenses                          $9,441.24

Operating Profit                       -$1,719.08

Other Income

Other Expenses

Net Surplus / (Deficit)           -$1,719.08

Appendix 2

SPECIAL RESOLUTION

To amend Sydney City Farm Constitution

2. To consider and if thought fit to pass as a special resolution pursuant to clause 37 of the Constitution the following alterations to the Objects and Constitution of the Centre:

Objects:

1. To add a further object (1.h) as follows:
“(1.h) To operate independently from any other group and be wholly devoted to the creation of a working urban farm and centre for sustainable urban living.”

Constitution:

1. To alter Rule 14(1) as follows:

Delete sub-paragraph 14(1)(b) and insert instead:
“(b) a minimum of three and a maximum of seven ordinary members each of whom is to be elected in accordance with Rule 15.”

Insert at the end of Rule 14(1): “A member shall not be entitled to be a committee member unless the member has paid the member’s annual subscription payable for the then current year.”

2. To insert at the end of rule 14(2) the sentence:

“Office bearers hold office as office bearers until the conclusion of the annual general meeting following their election as office bearer and are eligible for re-election as office bearer.”

3. Delete Rule 14(3) and insert instead:

“14(3) At the annual general meeting in every year one third of the committee members, or if their number is not a multiple of three, then the number nearest one third, shall retire from office, the retirement to take effect upon the conclusion of the meeting. A retiring committee member is eligible for re-election.

14(4) The committee members to retire in every year shall be those who have been longest in office since their last election, but as between persons who become committee members on the same day those to retire shall (unless they agree among themselves) be determined by lot.”

4. To re-number Rule 14(4) as Rule 14(5).

5. To insert in sub-paragraph (a) of Rule 15(1) after the words in the second line: “two members of the association” the words “who have paid their annual membership fee for the then current year”.

6. To add at the end of Rule 15(6) a further sentence: “Only members who have paid their annual membership fee for the then current year shall be entitled to vote.”

7. To add new paragraph 17(c):

“17(c) A certificate by the Treasurer as to payment of any monies due by a member including any membership or subscription fees shall in relation to the right of the member to vote, be conclusive evidence.”

8. To amend Rule 32(4) by deleting from the fourth line the words “other than” and inserting instead “including”.

Notice sent to members November 13, 2009
Special Resolution passed at AGM Saturday Deccember 5, 2009-12-15
Passed unanimously by 21 voting members present and all proxies.

Previously, City of Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore had spoken in strong support of Sydney City Farm. Sydney Council have already prepared an interim report outlining the possible sites and models for a city farm after the Sydney City Farm committee had proposed the idea to Council in August this year.
Read it here.

“City Farms provide real, hands-on experiences to teach residents, businesses and schools about sustainable living. City Farms demonstrate the simple ways that everyone can Live Green and give the community access to local organic produce. It’s fantastic that the Sydney City Council is so supportive of having a City Farm where Sydney residents can grow healthy local food and learn about sustainability,” said Sydney City Farm President Andrew Jackson.

“A City Farm modelled on successful urban farms like CERES in Melbourne and Northey Street City Farm in Brisbane is a perfect fit with plans for a Sustainable Sydney by 2030 ,” said Mr Jackson.

The Sydney City Farm non-profit group proposed the idea to Council in August this year. The group was formed to create a vibrant centre of learning and community participation where Sydney residents will be inspired to learn to grow their own food, compost and recycle; as well find out about the latest water and energy saving technologies.

“Like Stephanie Alexander’s Kitchen Garden projects, the City Farm is an idea whose time is well and truly here. Wherever we hold information stalls people are super-keen to get involved,” said Mr Jackson.  “We are sure that when City of Sydney Council identifies a preferred site and begins the consultation process, there will be overwhelming community support for the idea.”

“Ultimately our vision is for a network of City Farms, including our original proposal for a 3 hectare City Farm inside Callan Park,” said Mr Jackson.

Sydney City Farm will hold its Annual General Meeting on Saturday December 5 at 11.00am at the Cane Room in Callan Park (Wharf Rd entrance) map

To find out more, visit www.sydneycityfarm.org
Media contact: Carolin Wenzel  mo: 0417 668 957