The solar dryer was a major farm geek magnet
(review by Steve Burgess)
On Sunday afternoon I joined a motley busload of farmers, gardeners and small business people for the drive down the Mary Valley to Obi Obi to visit the mixed farming and food processing property run by Alexina Johnson and her family. In doing so, we wisely avoided the intense storm rain that hit our home properties and spent a couple of hours in good company, being shown through the Johnson’s mixed farming business that integrates the production of boutique olive oil and teas, farm forestry, livestock and market gardening.
One piece of infrastructure that had people asking detailed questions and taking careful notes was the solar drying shed used to dry the tea blends produced on farm. Many people could see that this was an achievable design to adapt to their own properties, possibly useful for drying fruits or curing root vegetables in damp weather. The Johnsons have invested in a lot of well-planned farm infrastructure, and many questions were asked about the business side of the farm.
The main message that came across to me was how the many small business operations on the farm were integrated to give a resilient mix of income streams. Dexter cattle and alpacas grazed under the trees, providing income from fleece, woven and spun crafts and the sale of animals, while keeping grass and weeds down under the trees. The trees provide olives for oil production, leaf for tea production, some table olives, and timber. The oil processing and bottling plant is used for processing olives from the plantation in addition to those from other growers. The drying and tea packing equipment is used to produce blended tea from traditional tea bushes on the farm, olive leaves and other local fruits and spices. The 50 acre Gympie messmate farm forestry operation provides habitat for local wildlife, while also providing a superannuation investment. The newly established market garden provides food for the family and friends, at the same time as providing organic produce for a family-run cafe business in town. Many farm micro-businesses working in synergy with each other means that if seasons and markets are not right for some operations, there are other parts of the farm business that carry the whole enterprise through to better times.
Afternoon tea and a chat on the verandah – a great way to make contact with other growers.
Many thanks to Elaine for organizing this trip. These monthly farm visits seem to be creating a lot of useful connections between people who would have otherwise been “going it alone” on their own farms without realizing how many other like-minded people there are in the Mary Valley and surrounds with ideas and actions to share with each other.
