Quartz Valley Agroforestry share farm

Quartz Valley Agroforestry

Listing description

Seeking passionate, communicative, and self-driven agroecological farmers

Quartz Valley Agroforestry is set on 18acres in Yandoit, halfway between Daylesford and Castlemaine. We are currently planting out a silvopasture system (saltbush, tagasaste, poplars, willows etc) and developing a rotationally grazed quail meat bird CSA. The property has a mudbrick cottage with a large communal space, two cabins, a very tiny tiny house, a tipi, and there is a yurt on the way.

We are expanding accommodation so that more people can steward the land together. A dam captures the run off in the middle of the west-east sloping valley, cut through with quartz reefs, and home to old grey box trees and echidnas. We are seeking multiple people to assist with tree planting, farm management and building improvements through a work exchange model. This would look something like 8hours of work/week plus feeding, watering and moving of farm animals (roughly 1hr every day).

Preference will be given to those with experience and skills in agroecology, carpentry and community living. The quail enterprise involves moving the birds in pens across pasture between planted tree lines with a weekly trip to the abattoir. It is in its infancy with the weekly abattoir trips to begin at the beginning of August '21. Be in contact for more info!

Land Details

Property location : Yandoit, Central Victoria

Total land size (Acres) : 18

Non Arable / Arable Area : 10 arable although some quite sloped.

Opportunities to expand : grazing possible next door. if the enterprise is successful then expanding production to other properties.

Zoning : Agricultural

Current uses: grazing, market gardens, orchards etc : Silvopastural quail meat bird

Current practices: regenerative, syntropic, silvopastural,

State of the surface of the cultivatable area : 15cm top soil in the middle of the valley.

Description and historical use of land available for farming : hobby farm, clear felling, gold mining, degradation

Description of road access : dirt roads

Electricity access : off grid soalr

Mobile phone signal : Excellent

Short-term goal or vision for land

establish the quail meat birds as a regenerative and profitable cash flow enterprise. plant out the silvopasture. grow herbs for supply to local apothecary.

Long-term goal or vision for land

massively increase fertility, biomass, fodder, biodiversity. expand and improve the accommodation and infrastructure onboard sharefarmers or those with their own enterprise. implement a temperate climate syntropic agroforestry plot

Known environmental hazards - flooding, high winds, other : some flooding in winter. sometimes high winds. strong frosts.

Current residents living on property : 3

Housing and/or onsite living opportunities : one tiny house (bedroom loft, limited electrical power, no water), two cabins (one requires a wood burner installation), bell tent (not suitable for winter), yurt on the way

Availability of farm buildings : Carport with farm equipment - looking to build a farm shed.

Is the land fenced? : Some parts of perimeter fence requiring repair.

Availability of farm machinery and tools : Hand tools, mower,

Water Source : Rain , Dam

Water rights to these sources : unrestricted

Is there restricted access of visitors? Communicate ahead of time

Preferred agriculture production : diversified, stacked, holistic

Preferred farming practice : regenerative. interest in BD, syntropic approaches.

Soil Details

Heavy clay loam. Minimal top soil.

Arrangement - Details regarding preferred land sharing arrangement

Preferred arrangement : short term: work exchange or lease for cash/trade | long term: looking for the right person to develop into a co-owner in the farm enterprise in the role of farm manager

Would you be willing to mentor or advise the entering farmer(s)? : Yes

Do you require references from the land seeker(s)? : Yes

Agreement duration preferred : preference is long term, minimum 6 months, trial period to begin.

Your farm online media :

Website : on the way

Facebook page : on the way

Instagram account : www.instagram.com/quartzvalley.agroforestry

Address / position location. Please provide a searchable location for Google map reference.

49 Molloys Lane Yandoit