A Blank Canvas: Carrara Markets Site
Gold Coast Permaculture is to expand its 270 Ferry Road site. A recent visit to 270 by Denis Lee, the Manager of the Carrara Markets, has set the scene for Gold Coast Permaculture to adopt some 4,000 square metres of land at the Market’s site and begin the development of another Urban Farming demonstration site; a composting site; and, an area of community garden.
Community Gardeners Jodi (left) and Stacey (right) and Family plus Pond
This is an amazing development for an organisation whose operation at 270 was established just 15 months ago. The 270 site is now producing delightfully delicious and delectable organically grown vegetables in approximately 500 square metres of actual garden. It is only nine months since the community garden was established there and some 20 plus gardeners now happily grow food in the centre of a major industrial and urban area. We have reached somewhat of a wall in terms of the area available to farm at this site and so the offer from Carrara Markets has come at a most opportune time.
Farming At Carrara
270 Urban Farm
Farming at Carrara Markets will give Gold Coast Permaculture a much more permanent home base and provide the security that is needed when running a not-for-profit organisation. All too often, the lack of permanence can impact seriously on the ability to effectively recruit and maintain interest. It will provide Gold Coast Permaculture with a much better educational facility having the use of a large shed that was originally a heliport. Our workshop programme will be extended and have exposure to the thousands of people who visit the Carrara Markets every weekend. It will be an enormous plus for demonstrating urban farming and livestock raising practices and present the public with examples of what they can do themselves in their own back yard.
Composting 
- Herb King Dan Watering the New Compost Windrow
Composting is planned to be a major part of the new site with a hard pan area available right behind the new Woolworths supermarket. It is hoped that contact with Woolworths will see a green waste stream into the site and discussions are underway with the Gold Coast City Council for recycling bins to be installed at the Carrara Markets and a possible educational facility for schools and other organsiations. Further, discussions with the Carrara Markets Management indicate a willingness to assist in developing an overall markets-wide recycling programme. So, in addition to Nobby’s Beach coffee shops Canvas, Little Beans and Barchino’s providing used coffee grounds as ‘outside’ suppliers, it is anticipated that there will be a largish supply of grounds and other green waste going into the compost heap from within the markets and surrounding retail outlets. The staff at these three coffee shops have been wonderful in taking the time and trouble to empty their coffee grounds into a specially provided bin. This is extra work for them and their cooperation and assistance on what is a great contribution to Gold Coast Permaculture is greatly appreciated. All readers/visitors to our site are encouraged to support them if you are in the area. Horse manure from various riding schools and pony clubs is a critical part of any composting recipe. We will continue to access this material and we acknowledge and thank Arundel Riding for the Disabled, Southport Pony Club and Wanless for their cooperation and assistance with this input.
Carrara Markets Contributes
Aquatic Weed Used in Garden Construction
Carrara Markets Management is to provide a huge amount of assistance to Gold Coast Permaculture in achieving our composting goals particularly in the area of mechanical assistance for the turning of compost. The Gold Coast City Council is also making its contribution both to Gold Coast Permaculture and the environment. It is poignant now that the carbon pricing scheme has been introduced, that Council is diverting aquatic weed away from landfill, where it produces a large volume of greenhouse gases, to Gold Coast Permaculture for the purpose of composting and use in our garden beds. This is good for the whole city in that landfill space is saved and Federal Government greenhouse levies are avoided. It is great for the planet as well as highly nutritious material is recycled for productive use with greenhouse gases being substantially reduced.
Herbs
Dan With Punnets of His Herbs
A herb nursery will be established at the site. Currently Gold Coast Permaculture volunteer Daniel Smith has a small area of medicinal and culinary herbs available at 270 but this will be expanded at Carrara Markets. Dan is being mentored in the development of a micro-business within the organisation. This is seen as a method of expanding the organisation’s capacity to serve the community as well as providing training to individuals who can gain experience and knowledge for establishing a better future for themselves.
Bees
Luscious 270 Honey From The Home-Made Extractor
Bees are going to be a feature of life at the Carrara Markets for Gold Coast Permaculture. Our ‘resident’ carpenter, Graeme Rollo has been volunteering his time one to two days a week to manufacture bee hives for the purpose of expanding honey production. Gold Coast Permaculture now has a total of 10 Warre hives, two horizontal top bar hives and three Langstroth hives that will go into production at the Carrara site. Currently there are only enough bees for four hives producing our luscious honey but, pest control company Surekil has entered into a cooperative arrangement with Gold Coast Permaculture to notify our bee keeping staff when they have a call out for bee swarm eradication. This not only saves the bees, but increases the numbers for pollination across the Gold Coast and also, available to Gold Coast Permaculture. We are not in the business of supporting the use of chemicals but are extremely grateful to Surekil for entering into this very mutually beneficial agreement. It is a great contribution to the environment.
Livestock
270 Ducks
Ducks and chooks are an absolute necessity in an urban farming environment. Not only do the ducks and chooks lay eggs, they produce the most wonderful compostable manure and are, particularly the ducks, just totally efficient and productive insect pest controllers. The ducks lay the most beautiful tasting eggs and are highly recommended for both baking and ‘good ole eggs on toast’. A more orange and rich yoke is yet to be seen or tasted. Our resident chook specialist Peter Cutajar and chook whisperer John Sierakowski will continue to nurture the birds at Carrara. A pig/s and perhaps goat may be also introduced to the site depending upon time and labour available.
Concluding remarks require a huge thank you to Kate from Bumbles Café who, being a loyal and faithful customer of 270, provided the introduction to the Management of Carrara Markets and encouraged them to come and visit us. This led to the situation where Gold Coast Permaculture was invited to farm at the Carrara Markets. Thank you so much Kate!
No-Dig Garden Teaching Bed May 2012 Workshop
Gold Coast Permaculture looks forward to seeing you all at the Carrara Markets in the not distant future. It is anticipated that development of the site will begin by mid July and producing the first crop of vegetables by the end October 2012. Workshops will be taking place during the development phase especially in the area of composting, seed raising and no-dig gardening so keep an eye out for posts on this.
Finally, a huge thank you Terry Morris and his Carrara Markets organisation for sponsoring Gold Coast Permaculture and putting organically grown bio-intensive food out there in front of the public.