Maureen Clifford - Scribbly Bark Poetry

We have gone for a bit of culture in today's show - "The Farmer" a poem dedicated to farmers everywhere.

As well as being a poet extraordinaire, Maureen is also the Editor of The Australian Times Poetry Magazine (Issue 7 out now). If you are a lover of poetry it is well worth a look (and it is free).

Valli Little - Love to Cook

Reknown chef and Editor of delicious magazine Valli Little chose Harvest Launceston to launch the latest book from the delicious. kitchens Love to Cook.

Valli and her team whipped up a never ending supply of the oatmeal hotcakes featured on the cover and then, after a forage around the market, Valli hosted a cooking demonstration of one of the recipes from Love to Cook featuring the local ingredients found at the market.

Love to Cook is available at ABC Shops, all good book stores or online.

Elgaar Farm

It was no surprise when Valli Little chose 2013 Delicious Produce Award winners Elgaar Farms as the source for her dairy for her recipe at her recent cooking demonstration at Harvest Launceston.

Elgaar's organic dairy products (milk, cream, cheese, butter, yogurt) are produced to the highest standards when considering the welfare of the animals, the care of the land and also in broader environmental standards.

Check out their website for the list of both local and interstate stockists or call them on 03 6368 1126.

Tasmanian Natural Garlic

Green Spring Garlic was one of the ingredients featured by Valli Little in her recent visit to Harvest Launceston.While it looks a bit gourmet, you can use it in the same way as leeks. If you need some recipe ideas, the is one on the TNG Facebook page or a quick google will get you on  your way. Green Spring Garlic is the perfect antidote while we wait for the new garlic season just around the corner in December!

Tasmanian Natural Garlic was a very worthy finalist in this year's Delicious Produce Awards and is at Harvest each week or contact on 03 6392 2210 or 0408 922 601 them for more information

NRM North - Small Farm Living

Farmers with small land holdings can have different issues to their larger neighbors and NRM North is out to help where they can with a wide range of workshops (keep an eye out for the 2014 calendar), an online resource centre and the soon to be launched Property Planning Workbook with the accompany assistance. There is also some financial assistance available for specific projects.

Sign up for their newsletter to keep in the loop.

Contact Kate Thorn for more information on 6333 7786, kthorn@nrmnorth.org.au or via the website.

Bellopy Farmers Market

The biggest local organic market in NSW Bellopy is less than a year old and wouldn't be in existence without the driving passion of Susan Weil.

Get regular updates by liking the Bellopy Facebook page.

Young Dairy Network - Tasmania

Formed as part of a national network YDN is for the under 40's involved in the dairy industry - directly or indirectly - and provides the chance to socialise, network and develop business and educational opportunities. There are currently three branches in Tasmania, one for the North-West, North and North East.

Check out their website, Facebook page or contact Alison directly on 6430 4525 or email.

The Cherry Shed

Prominent on your drive through LaTrobe is local business The Cherry Shed. Beautiful food, creamy icecream, an extensive range of giftware, unsurpassed service, a play area for the children, artwork and even some educational dioramas (okay who can find the lost dog) The Cherry Shed is a great stop over, or destination in itself, for people of all ages and stages.

Meeting rooms and function hosting complements the range of facilities available.

Give them a call on 6426 2411 or order any of their products online.

Rural Youth - Young Farmer

The Young Farmer of the Year is a prestigious award given to the winner of a series of competitions covering a wide knowledge base of rural life. The tasks could be practical or theory based and cover everything from finance, machinery, animal management, cropping welding to even home economics.

The award comes with a $10,000 prize package.

This years winner Tori Perival dropped by for a visit to the show

For more information contact Rural Youth on 6331 6154 or drop by the website.

Sheffield Berry Gardens

Is there anything more summer than berries - and Sheffield Berry Gardens have the advantage of being local and being grown spray free wherever possible.

Third generation berry growers Brett and Juliet Rosenberg have a range of strawberries, blackberries, blueberries and raspberries that are available fresh or frozen at direct or through farmers markets or as icecream or as a dessert sauce when they are out and about in their specially kitted out van.

Available direct or through a variety of farmers markets of community events given them a ring on 03 6491 2680 to find out where they will be this weekend.

Spreyton Cider Co

Spreyton Cider Co produce a range of five distinctly different ciders.  Even a small taste of each elicits thoughts of food to match (beef and mushrooms was a surprise for me), or places to drink (a porch in summer, just as the sun was going down was a favorite). Feel very welcome to share your own imaginings. There isn't a bad one in the lot but I particularly recommend the Dark for something a little bit different.

A Tasmanian farming family that have diversified twice - once into fresh juices, and now into cider.

Farmer in the Dell

Farmer in Dell is heard on 96.9 MVFM every Friday morning at 7.00 am, repeated Tuesdays at 2.00 pm. Available as a broadcast, webcast or podcast.

Mount View Enterprises

Graham Dent joins us as this week's "Meet the Local". Graham and his family have a mixed farming enterprise at Whitemore as well as being involved in pasture and cereal seed production. Mount View Enterprises also includes a seed cleaning business that is servicing the whole state of Tasmania.

For more information, you can email Graham or call him on 03 6397 3192 or 0408 135 732.

Image from: HowStuffWorks

Three Willows Vineyard

Three Willows Vineyard is a local winery with a great reputation. The cool climate wines are handmade on organic principles. It is well worth a trip to the cellar door either as a destination in itself, or as a stop-over to some of the other scenic delights of the area.

Contact Philip Pares or Lyn Prove on 0438 507 069 for more information.

South East Producers

South East Producers is a  network based around Bega, New South Wales. They are responsible for a number of projects aimed at the sustainability of the farmers, fishers and other food producers of the area including the development of the South East Food Plan. The Plan isn't directly replicable in all areas but is a great read and an excellent starting point for groups wanting to develop something similar for their own areas.

This week we listen to part 2 of our conversation with Project Officer Carolyn Wells. If you would also like to catch up on the first part, just download last week's podcast.

For more information on the Plan head to the website. You can also find information on the Sustaining Our  Towns project, a project not discussed on air but well worth following up here.

Food Day Canada

What do you do when your export beef industry is in crisis? Well if you are Canadian Anita Stewart, you throw a party and invite the whole country to come along. And then you make it an annual event.

That was ten years ago and Food Day Canada has only got bigger. Described as " a chance for all Canadians to join hands in one massive celebration in praise of our farmers and fishers; our chefs and researchers ... and, above all our home cooks" it is the sort of celebration that everyone can be involved in.

Check out the website for more information, ideas and recipes.

CERES Fair Food

CERES (Centre for Education and Research in Environmental Strategies) Fair Food is a Melbourne based foodbox system that supplies organic fruit and vegetable boxes, sourced from around Victoria to residents in and around the city. In addition to supporting local farmers, they also employ disadvantaged workers and the profits used assist CERES with their other projects.

Check out the website for more details.

South East Producers

South East Producers is a  network based around Bega, New South Wales. They are responsible for a number of projects aimed at the sustainability of the farmers, fishers and other food producers of the area including the development of the South East Food Plan. The Plan isn't directly replicable in all areas but is a great read and an excellent starting point for groups wanting to develop something similar for their own areas.

For more information on the Plan head to the website. You can also find information on the Sustaining Our  Towns project, a project not discussed on air but well worth following up here.

Flinders Island Meat

Flinders Island Meat was the winner of the Primary Producer Award in the 2013 ABC Delicious Producer Awards for their milk fed lamb. "The judges were blown away by the milk-fed lamb, its delicate flavor snf texture reflecting on its pristine origins."*

This award is added to their two awards from the 2012 Sydney Royal Fine Food Show, awarded to their  milk-fed lamb and the saltgrass lamb. Obviously James madden and his dad David are doing something very right.

Available at many of the premium restaurants around Australia, you can also purchase it to cook at home. Check out the website for more information or call James on 0437 420 834.


* ABC Delicious August 2013 pg 31

Harvest Launceston

Winner of the 2013 ABC Delicious award for Outstanding Farmers Market, Harvest Launceston is a beacon for building community and supporting local farmers.

Harvest Launceston has only been up and running and 18 months but already they have over 2000 visitors each week. Which isn't surprising when you consider the quality of the produce available (all chosen with a very high level of governance), the community atmosphere and the long tables that are just perfect for sitting down at with a freshly made coffee and a snack.

Harvest is on every Saturday morning from 8.30 - 12.30 at the Cimitiere Car Park in Launceston or you can check out their website. Join them this week for Christmas in July, or any week for local, seasonal food.

Davies Grand Central

Davies Grant Central on Wellington Street, Launceston is a fine food providore that has a passion for Tasmanian producers. Davies stocks over 1000 lines of Tasmanian branded products, many of them from smaller, artisan producers. Keep an eye out for their Thursday evening tastings.

Open 24/7 Davies sells groceries, gourmet lines, wines and deli lines. You can even get fuel.

Support the local that supports the locals.

Call 03 6331 9422 or drop in any time

Tongola Goat Products

Winner in the Dairy category of the 2013 ABC Delicious Producer Awards for their "Curdy" cheese, Tongala Goat Products are definitely doing something right.

Tongala are reknown for their quality, ethics and handmade methods applied to their cheese making.

Contact Hans and Esther on 03 6295 1404 or email them tongolacheese@gmail.com for more information.

41 Degrees South

The home of salmon, ginseng and an amazing wetland. Drop in for coffee, meal or just to browse the gift shop. Walk around the grounds and count the birdlife, see if you could spot a platypus or admire the wide range of European trees that mix with the natives.

For more information call (03) 6362 4130 or visit the website.

Truffles Part 2

Today it is part two of our conversation with Tim Terry from Truffles Australis. For recipe ideas, Truffles Australis has a great mashed potato recipe on their site, you can use your favourite search engine to find your own or, to get you started you could check out those on Yumily.

For more information, visit the website or call 03 6363 6194.

Rural Youth Organisation of Tasmania

Rural Youth celebrates its 61st anniversary this year. Current State President Simone Hayers drops by to let is know what Tasmanian Rural Youth is up to.

You can get more information on Rural Youth by going to the website or calling the office 6331 6154. Details about next year's Agfest are here.

Truffles Australis

Tim Terry from Truffles Australis is is one the pioneers of the Australian truffle industry. He joins Pearl in a fascinating two part series looking at all aspects of growing truffles and the Tasmanian truffle industry.

For more information, visit the website or call 03 6363 6194.

White House Bakery

Andrew McFall bakery extraordinaire is our latest "Meet the Local". Andrew, his partner Amanda, and their children run the White House Bakery which is famous locally for it's handmade sourdough bread, pies, and pastries, all baked in a heritage wood oven, using local ingredients wherever possible.

The bakery is open Thursday to Sunday each week and you can also get updates from their Facebook page.

Best's Butchers

Wig Bramich from Deloraine's Best's Butchers is our first "Meet the Local" and what a perfect way to begin. Wig is a passionate local, a passionate family person and a passionate businesswoman. A great conversation!

Alpacas

Ken Manning from Quamby Park Alpaca Farm joins us to promote the upcoming Inaugural Alpaca Expo as well as letting us know all about keeping alpacas either as a protector for other livestock or as breeders.

For more information, call Quamby Park Alpaca Farm on 03 6362 2343

Tasmanian Farmers and Graziers (TFGA)

Jan Davis TFGA CEO is our first guest on Farmer in the Dell.  The TFGA has over 5000 members and is a powerful lobby group for Tasmania's farmers.

Jan discusses the role of the TFGA as well as food and farming in general.

You can visit the TFGA website for more information or call 03 6332 1800.