The origins of the Food Forest at The Farm
“It happened by accident really”.
Bunya Halasz had been planting and growing perennials for many years (plants with a lifespan of more than 1 year) when Evan Anderson invited him to create some perennial lines within his working market garden at The Farm.
The opportunity to collaborate within this established garden was complementary to the vision of both growers; for Bunya, planting lines between Evan’s vegetables meant that his bananas, cassava, mulberries and taro would benefit from the microbial diversity within Evan’s vegetable garden; while Evan’s veggies would in turn benefit from the shelter and increased biodiversity provided by introduction of the perennials.
Affectionately naming Evan “an impulsive garden starter”, Bunya recalled Evan’s talent for creating successful gardens from scratch, effective cover cropping, and growing “what can only be described as incredible vegetables”.
Bunya was joined by Flavia Assuncao, of Living Agroecology, and with their combined input the garden truly flourished.
“Flavia has been a key driver of the project from the early days”, Bunya shares.
As time went on, Bunya and Flavia began inviting students from Byron Bay’s Community College to volunteer as part of their education.
“It seemed like an incredible learning opportunity, a chance to integrate learning through the site. It tied in well with the values at The Farm, naturally leaning towards education and giving back to the community”.
Although it started as a one-day-a-week arrangement, the dynamic nature of the garden began requiring an increasing amount of both Bunya and Flavia's time, soon growing to become their primary focus.
Around the same time, Evan felt the familiar calling to start something anew – resulting in Bunya and Flavia taking primary stewardship of the plots through their permaculture business, Growing Roots Permaculture.
“I was never expecting to be here so much, but I’m so grateful for how it has worked out this way”, says Bunya.
“The opportunity it has created for us to work with the other farmers and growers here at The Farm, all of us working together in our complementary niches as we learn from each other. Not to mention the sharing of facilities and resources, the cool room, the packing shed, the ease of production.
It’s a great venue for our courses with all the facilities here, and we feel like The Farm has become this community interface - it’s a place where people can come together and learn in a real environment, with their hands in the soil - it’s our living classroom”.
Bunya talks of Flavia’s contribution as being essential to the operation. “Flavia drives the harvesting, distribution, and relationships within our local community. It’s incredible really, the way she educates and encourages people to try locally grown, seasonal produce. She’s the one getting our produce out into the community”.
Through running a series of workshops and courses throughout the year, Bunya and Flavia provide hands-on, immersive learning experiences for aspiring growers interested in syntropic gardening, food forestry, agroecology and permaculture.
Bunya also offers his time as a mentor for the Northern Rivers Farmers Incubator Program; in it’s first year, participants Grace and Rob have been tasked with stewardship of a half-acre market garden at The Farm.
“It’s really incredible what they’ve done so far”, Bunya shares. “They’re already at the Mullumbimby Markets, they’ve learned so much and they’re constantly adapting to the effects of our unique subtropical climate here in the Northern Rivers. It’s a joy to see them and their vegetables grow”.
Bunya & Flavia's Food Forest celebrates it's sixth year this Spring, and a new series of workshops and courses are being released.
To stay up to date with the latest Growing Roots Permaculture courses, follow @thefarmatbyonbay on Instagram.