About the directory
Cardinia Farm & Food Directory is a FREE community driven platform created to facilitate and support the development of local food enterprises that grow, produce, process or sell products from the Cardinia Shire.
Where did the idea for the directory come from?
The Community Food Strategy (endorsed by Cardinia Shire Council in December 2018) planted the seed for the Cardinia Farm & Food Directory, a volunteer initiative run by members of the Cardinia Food Movement.
Local Cardinia Shire residents echoed a ripe desire to buy local produce but they needed a map-based Food Directory to find it!
Cardinia Farm & Food Directory believes local food helps to build strong, healthy and resilient communities at the same time as developing a strong locally-focused food economy.
What form will the directory be in?
The directory will be an online website with a map interface and a corresponding database of food businesses. The online resource will aim to publish an annual paper booklet.
Meet our dedicated team of volunteers
David
My family have been farming in the Officer area since the early 1930s when the original farm was purchased. After European settlement the area was originally leasehold land and was part of the Great Swamp on its north west edge. Our farm was purchased under the Closer Settlement scheme and run both for dairying and grazing over the years.
I became involved in the Cardinia Food Movement because Cardinia Shire has so many natural assets for the production of a diverse range of produce.
Cardinia Shire with its proximity to Australia’s most liveable city and its diversity of soils and climate; from the sandy loam soils of Lang Lang to the volcanic soils of Gembrook; from the moderate costal climate to the cool, elevated areas of the Shire. These natural advantages present a wonderful opportunity to promote a diverse locally grown range of healthy produce to a community that rely too much on fast food and often do not know or value what is on their doorstep.
Lucy
Lucy lives in Emerald with her young family amongst the wonderful ‘hills’ community of Cardinia Shire.
Working as a horticulturist, Lucy is passionate about supporting education and connecting communities through growing food.
Being involved in the working group for the Cardinia Farm and Food Directory has allowed for an extended appreciation of how diverse and expansive Cardinia Shire is, but most importantly, the amazing farmers, producers and businesses on our doorstep who share such goodness through food.
Max
My interest in place-based community-led food businesses has taken me all around the world - from working in bakeries + patisseries in France, to co-founding and supporting co-operative urban market farms and food banks in Montreal, Canada, and to volunteering on farms in Haiti and Senegal.
These days I live and work in Pakenham, in Melbourne’s south-eastern suburbs, where I am juggling my involvement in a few very fun and interesting projects, like the Pakenham Community Garden, the Cardinia Food Movement, Thriving Foods Farm and this amazing working group for the Cardinia Farm and Food Directory.
Megan
Growing up in Maryknoll, I value building connections and improving our resiliency as a community. These beliefs were only amplified when I studied a Masters of Environment, completing studies in sustainable food systems, and recognising the important position we are all in to support our local food bowl.
Volunteering with Cardinia Farm & Food is an opportunity to encourage more local people to enjoy delicious and nourishing foods that are produced right here! I hope residents eating locally, meet our incredible farmers, gain a deeper appreciation of our farmland and protect our local environment.
Nick
Coming soon…
Sue
I have been one of the volunteers of the Cardinia Food Network for over 2 years now. I am also a member of the Koo Wee Rup CWA and the Cardinia VFF.
My husband, Tony and I, have 50 grass fed limousin breeders and grow certified organic blueberries and garlic.
I became involved in the work being done to develop the Cardinia Food Strategy and from then became involved in the Farm and Food Directory amongst other CFN initiatives.
My interest has grown as I was, and still am, concerned about the eating habits of Cardinia residents and the accessibility to local, in season, fresh food. Providing local residents with information about where to buy fresh, local and in season produce is what the Farm and Food Directory is all about.
Tony
I am Tony Morgan and I own and operate Orchard End Farm with my wife Sue. I have had a passion for beef cattle since my early teens and have always had some sort of breeding herd over my life time. I am currently the Vice President of the Cardinia VFF.
Our objective is to leave the land in a better state for future generations and to make it as productive as possible while we have custody.
I became involved in the CFN to help promote the important place of agriculture in our region and the Farm and Food Directory is our channel to accomplish this.