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I co c cost costed o st ste ed dw what ha h at we we w would o ul ou ld d need ne e ed dt to o co c convert onv nve er rt a la l large arg rg e fa f farm ar rm m shed sh he ed into in nt to oap pro professional rof ro ofe fessio ss s si io o na al gr g greengrocers ree eeng ng roce ro oc ce e rs rs s sho shop ho p wi hop ho w with ith th a la l large a arg rge rg ge cool co c o ol o room roo oo m and an a n d launched laun la unch che ed d a crowd-funding c ro cr crow ow wdd fu fu nd ndin ng ap appeal pp pe eal al o on n th t the he pozible pozi po z bl ble e we w webs website. ebs bsi it te e.. .

Synchronicity Farm

Josh J osh A Allen llen reminds r you of a welld isciplined puppy. Boundless disciplined e nergy, f eve energy, feverishly working a way a tt ha important bone, away at that u nabashed friendly, turning unabashedly d eep p ools of eyes to you, deep pools b ewildered not everyone sees bewildered t he world world as a he does. the

just want to make it easy for people to buy locally-grown, organic fruit and vegetables and inspire them to live a more sustainable life, Josh Allen said. While his deadline for his Synchronicity Farm to achieve this is ticking away day-by-day, he is holding onto the dream. Five years ago, Josh abandoned his former city life as a venture capitalist, in-ight advertiser and publishing salesman for a tree change in Nana Glen. Taking gradual steps, he and wife Tomoko rst completed studies in permaculture from the sub-culture gurus Bill Mollison and Geoff Lawton. Mum told us about the farm next-door-but-one to her at Nana Glen with good soil and river frontage, and we bought it, Josh Allen said. In pursuing an ecologically-sustainable dream, he could do worse than follow his mothers lead. Adrienne Langman, his mother and now-neighbour, is the author of Choosing Eden, a book describing the creation of Eden Forest Permaculture Sanctuary and dangers presented by the peak oil crisis. Mum is amazing. She left the city long before us and together with her husband, Larry Langman, they have inspired us to make an enormous life change with our family, Josh said. Both she and Larry have been generous in sharing their enormous knowledge and passion for sustainable living with the Orara Valley community, which has made them and us so welcome.

A young family and promises to his wife meant Josh did not altogether abandon corporate life when they moved to the valley themselves. His day job is a regional transaction banking specialist with NAB in Coffs Harbour, helping business owners to maximise cash ow through social media payments and technical innovations. Since moving to Nana Glen, he and Tomoko rst planted a permaculture forest, to live off the produce of their own land, and then a market garden to share the bounty with others. A community pizza oven and an aquaculture pond are nearing completion, all while raising three young children: Jasper, Akira and newborn Coco. We over-engineered the poultry housing a little and could have afforded to build a commercial kitchen instead, Josh said, grimacing as he gestures towards an elaborate hexagonal building with separated runs for turkeys, ducks, guinea fowl, chickens, bantams, allowing for rotational free-ranging. Completing the livestock on Synchronicity Farm are a handful of sheep, an orgy of guinea pigs and some cattle on agistment. Josh found time to harvest crops, collect neighbours surplus and spend two long days selling fresh produce at Nana Glen General Store and Harbourside Markets each weekend. Synchronicity Farm market stall has grown from a table of heirloom, organic vegetables into one of the largest fresh produce market stalls in the district,

thanks to a strong network of Orara Valley farmers and a loyal client base. My customers are constantly asking me, how can I buy this sort of produce the rest of the week, he said. Lots told me they were willing to drive to the farm, but we normally pick up the produce from the farmers the night before the markets, as we dont have a cool room. I started thinking, what if we had a farm-gate store and also offered online ordering and deliveries to gyms or health food stores in town a couple of times a week. Would this make it easier for my customers to buy locally grown produce and start a food hub to learn about organic farming? I costed what we would need to convert a large farm shed into a professional greengrocers shop with a large cool room and launched a crowdfunding appeal on the Pozible website. All Pozible projects are based on pledges of support honoured if the $30,000 target is met by the deadline of October 24. While the gap between pledges and target has wounded his puppy passions, Josh plans to recruit all supporters and offer to honour his promised rewards in return for their continued commitment. Rewards for crowd-funding investors vary from T-shirts to fresh fruit and vegetables, most of greater value than the original investment and repaid when Synchronicity Farm opens the doors on the planned farm-gate store in early 2014.

e Josh found tim s, op cr t es rv to ha rs ou hb ig collect ne d surplus and spen ng lli se two long days Nana fresh produce at and e or St al er Glen G en ts ke ar M de si ur Harbo . each weekend

d Community support has both humbled and inspired him. Within days of the crowd-funding launch, a Grafton TAFE teacher had contacted me, offering to set building the cool room as an assessment task for students if I could supply the materials, which is incredible. An angel from our community in Nana Glen delivered a home-cooked meal one night to my family, and I became inspired to start up long table lunches for people on low incomes, using farm produce.

Another neighbour has loaned a refrigerated truck for six months, further proof the community is ready for Joshs idealist puppy dreams of a gourmet food hub and educational facility in Nana Glen. We will build this through community support from people who share our passions for sustainable food, and we are determined to help growers large and small to be recognised for the food they produce. The plug: Visit www.pozible.com/synchronicityfarm to pledge your support or telephone Josh Allen on 0411 846 000.

76 coffs coast focus.

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