The first breaths of morning on the farm

Talofa lava, Sister Rasela serving you up a feast of fresh and wild lingo, blended to a smooth consistency with reggae beats and peaces to put us all on island time … just in case you’re not already there.

Blessed i feel, not to have been away from this succulent Shire of ours, but to have returned to it with a sense of belonging and an enormous appetite. If you have ever driven into Byron from the North, you might well have noticed that not far from the border there is a two way tunnel that plows through the hillside from which i always feel i emerge into another world … the world of plenty. Plenty of friends, plenty of music, plenty of love, and plenty of good, wholesome, nutritious, home grown … FOOOOOD !!

One of the farmers in this region who is responsible for the production of this kind of fantastic food is gentleman and farmer extraordinaire – Robin Wolf.

Robin was brought up on a farm in Tasmania and spent his whole childhood as his Dad’s sidekick, learning what he didn’t know he was at the time, but which has gone on to serve him well on his own farm and in the techniques that he chooses to use.

Robin now uses similar methods on his certified organic farm, that his father used all those years ago until the introduction of commercial and conventional methods arrived, which included pesticides and chemicals, in the belief that this was the way forward in farming. For a while they followed these methods on their farm in the South, enabling Robin to experience different options to farming throughout his life. One realisation that occured over time, was that plants need to grow strong and be able to fight for themselves in order to be healthy and more immune resistant, much the same as our bodies work when we are eating correctly and are able to fight off disease and build a strong immune system. So it was an easy choice for Robin in years to come when he had to reconsider the running of his own farm here in Tyagrah.

The conversion from conventional to organic farming seemed a natural progression when in 2008 a ferocious hailstorm attacked the whole of the Shire. The stonefruit orchid, along with all it’s protective netting, was completely wiped out. At that time the farm relied heavily on conventional stone fruit production. Having lost all of the fruit and trees and without the thousands of dollars it would have taken to reinstall the netting, the farm had to wonder … where to from here ?

They had already started farming and growing organically on a small portion of the land, after various  health issues and allergies in the family meant that they were exploring alternative routes to healing and wellbeing.  Coupled with the knowledge that the conventional market was already saturated with farmed fruits and vegetables on a large scale, they decided to expand the naturally grown side of life and began to undertake the lengthy and expensive conversion to Organic farming, and with it a more sustainable and ethically productive life.

One of the highlights of my time in Byron has been working on the farm as a volunteer. The joy i felt after getting my hands dirty, weeding, planting, sprinkling fertilizers and chatting to other volunteers, as well as the peaceful vibe that permeates the farm, is soul filling. The volunteering starts at 7.30am, breaks for ‘smoko’ at around 10.30am with Robin putting on tea and toast before we all head back out on the ranch and finish up for 1pm. When it’s all good and done you are presented with a beautiful box of vegetables and farm greens for your effort and well earned appetite.

If you think you can’t afford to eat organic … BULLS#*T … put in 4 hours of love and get a box loving nutrition in return. One good deed deserves another and the barter system of sharing what you have is pleasantly alive and kicking in the Shire.

This is hugely fulfilling and a wonderfully satisfying experience. It may be that you wish to learn where some of your food comes from, how it’s grown, are interested in learning about organic farming practices, feel the urge to input your time and energy into the farming community, want to get dirt under your fingernails, mud between your toes or all of the above. Get on down to Tyagrah sometime and get amongst it.

Robin can also be found at the New Brighton and Byron farmers markets on and around his bustling stall Fresh and Wild. He is only too happy to chat about volunteering positions, his fresh vibrant produce or simply just have a good old chin wag with one of his many energetic and appreciative customers. Just look for the stall with the longest cue of happy, healthy looking people … that’s where he’ll be.

Here are some details if you wish to contact the farmer direct –

70 Kennedy Lane, Tyagrah, Northern NSW 2481

Tel: 0427 847 485

www.organics-fresh-and-wild.com

organicsfw@internode.on.net

Thanks for lending us your ears and thankyou to Robin for sharing a part of his story with us. Another special member of our extra special community.

I’ll post the island vibe tunes i played through out the show a little later. Until then, keep your belly’s happy and filled with love.

Until next time. Alofa xxx