MCU14/0028 Vision Statement

    5.   Concept

In an effort to ensure the future sustainability and economic viability of our small primary production business located at Black
Mountain, Queensland, we need to diversify and alter the way that our 60 hectares is currently farmed. With the changing face
of consumer needs and their desire to consume local food that is free from chemicals, grown humanely and ethically, while
actively caring for the environment and future generations, the traditional farming methods are no longer financially viable.
Melsted Park needs to evolve into a property that meets all of these demands.

    Local food: One of our philosophies is to keep it local, so our aim is to sell as much of our produce either directly to
    consumers, at the proposed Cooroy farmers market, or wholesale to local businesses. Currently the closest farmers market
    is in Noosaville and this is already well supported, by both vendors and consumers. We plan to apply this philosophy to the
    farms needs too, by us sourcing as many of our supplies and manufacturers locally, where possible, and where this is not
    possible to purchase Australian made products.

    Chemical free: By utilising a number of existing farming principles and practices including bio-dynamics, permaculture, and
    biological agriculture we will be focusing on a “living soil”, achieving a more productive balance, ensuring sustainability and
    profitability. “Poor soil nutrition is poor animal and poor human nutrition.” (World Health Organisation report) What is best
    for us is best for the environment.

          Put simply both Permaculture and Biodynamics seek to create sustainable patterns of living and growing food
          based on systems or ethics that deal with how humans treat the earth and each other. Both are a sound
          choice for good clean food from happy farmers and animals, healthy soil, and the natural environment. It’s no
          wonder that so many young farmers these days are opting to produce food in this way and so many
          consumers are seeking this out at the local farmers market.

          Cory Whitney “The Ecologist”

    Part of our motivation for this is –a recent US study, based on 1400 school children, found that every child (both city and
    country children) had unacceptable levels of all 13 commonly used farm chemicals. Also our eldest child was diagnosed with
    Burkitts Lymphoma in 2012 and we plan on providing our children with the best chance possible to have a healthy
    productive life and we believe by providing them with chemical free food is part of this. Being able to provide this
    opportunity to the greater community is a privilege and exciting opportunity to be part of improving all round well-being.

    Grown humanely and ethically: We plan is to utilise animals to build soil fertility and wellness, reducing the need for
    machinery. In doing so we can allow plants and animals their individuality by providing them with a habitat that allows them
    to express their physiological distinctiveness - cows graze on fresh pasture, chickens can forage, pigs can wallow and
    burrow, mimicking their natural patterns.

    Actively caring for environment and future generations: Melsted Park has begun Stage 1 of it’s environmental plan, which is
    the fencing off of the creeks, to protect local flora and fauna. Stage 2 of this plan is to provide off creek watering for all of
    the animals to reduce erosion and contamination of the water. Stage 3 will be working with Landcare to regenerate the
    vegetation within the creek fencing and reducing introduced species. Stage 4 is to replant areas around the fence
    line/footpath with native species, removing any introduced species. Stage 5 (pipe dream) is to have a botanical walk
    through this area for educational purposes.
          Alongside of this our farm practices will support the environment with the use of appropriate biological solutions and
    meeting the needs of our soil specifically, capitalising on the most advanced soil testing technology. The monitoring of soil
    life has found a decline in the key creatures in the soil, including earthworms, protozoa, and many organisms responsible for
    nutrient delivery. At Melsted Park our goal is to regenerate the soil so that earth worms return. Traditional agriculture is the
    single biggest contributor to greenhouse gases, this can be reduced by building humus in the soil. Humus is the key to
    Melsted Park being a productive and sustainable enterprise, it improves mineral retention, promotes plant growth, and
    improves drought resistance as it holds 80% of it’s weight in water.

    Diversification: Meeting market demands ensures that income continues to come in. Diversification reduces financial risk,
    for example in current drought times the price of heifer calves is 30c/kg, compared to $1.40 in average times. By improving
    soil and pasture Melsted Park will be able to retain these cattle for an extended period to ensure that they are not sold at a

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