Rivers Road Organic Farms

Block 7 for Sale

noreply@blogger.com (Sam Statham) — Mon, 07 May 2012 12:27:00 +0000

BLOCK 7, RIVERS ROAD ORGANIC FARMS

This 8.42 hectare bare block has uniform red clays, mostly free draining, and direct access to power. It is irrigated with a shared 3.6ML/ha river/bore licence. It is one of twelve farm blocks within a unique, successful Community Title organic farm development, has been fully soil surveyed and is surrounded by wide lanes for vehicles and stock, and native tree windbreaks. Block 7 comes with an associated 0.5 hectare house block with building approval, underground phone, power and water connected.

There is no limitation on your farming activities except that you maintain organic certification. As part of a group of certified organic growers there is greater potential to achieve your goals through cooperation, as outlined in the Management Statement:

"The objective of this Neighbourhood Scheme is to facilitate the creation of viable intensive organic agricultural developments by promoting co-operation and self-reliance among the proprietors of Lots in the Neighbourhood Plan"

$190,000 or Near Offer
Contact: Herb and Jenny Gardner
herb@gadnersground.com.au
Tel. 02 63443135

RROF interviewed on Radio National

noreply@blogger.com (Sam Statham) — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 03:21:00 +0000

Herb and Sam recently had the privilege of explaining to Joel Werner of ABC Radio National about what we are doing at Rivers Road Organic Farms.

To listen go to the Off Track webpage.

2011 Harvest Kalavista Olives

noreply@blogger.com (Stephen) — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 00:51:00 +0000

The olive harvest is over for another year. Our plump, ripe kalamata olives are pickling happily. The trees have made a sigh of relief as the weight has been lifted.

Organic Community Title

noreply@blogger.com (Sam Statham) — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 01:58:00 +0000

"The objective of this Neighbourhood Scheme is to facilitate the creation of viable intensive organic agricultural developments by promoting co-operation and self-reliance among the proprietors of Lots in the Neighbourhood Plan." By-Law 1, Neighbourhood Management Statement, Rivers Road Organic Farms, DP 285610.
The above objective can only be changed by unanimous decision by all members of this neighbourhood plan, and therefore is an effective organic covenant.
This unusual application of organic certification formed the basis for Cowra Council approval of the Development Application in 1998. The Council was at the time accutely aware of the risks of rural subdivision in areas of prime agricultural land. They referred to a NSW shire council which had been sued by a resident of a subdivided block adjacent to cotton farms, because of the chemical drift.

The use of an organic covenant within a community title subdivision effectively took this risk away, as it passes the decision making authority to an independent third party - an accredited certification body working to an internationally recognised standard for non-toxic, clean agriculture.
The next question was the minimum allowed size for the blocks. This was a function of a simple question - what size can generate a basic (minimum) family income. It was decided that 8 hectares was such a size, when on the rich Canowindra red clay, with the availability of reliable water.The final sizes of the 12 farm blocks range from 7.75 to 14 hectares, plus a 20 hectare commons, which includes the lanways and biodiversity belts of trees between the farm blocks, as well as the irrigation system. [The irrigation system is maintained by the group, but the energy costs and usage charges are born by the users, depending on their usage, as all blocks have their own water meters.]
Cowra Council still imposed a rule the design of the development so that resdential development would not take place all over the place, but rather in one part of the subdivision. The idea is that the integrity of the agricultural land needed to be protected. The resulting "village" in the middle of the farm has now become an asset to the community. The ten 0.5 hectare (60m x 80m) house blocks are like an "eco village" with four strawbale houses and familes who are great friends and organic farming collegues. Many, but not all, of the house blocks adjoin the farm blocks.
More building is being planned, but the type of ongoing development is now directed by an evolving Landscape and Architectural Standard, created by the existing members. The main thrust of the current Standard is that future buildings should continue in the theme of earth building materials. Also, a Noise and Odour Standard has been created and continues to evolve, and its main thrust is that the development is primarily agricultural, and therefore the keeping of animals and the use of tractors and machinery, are permitted.
At present, the majority of the neighbourhood plan has been developed to organic viticulture, olive growing, and vegetable growing by the members. There is a substantial amount of informal cooperation between the members, but no formal joint ventures or partnerships. The members have come from diverse backgrounds and bring unique skills, and investment, to Canowindra and all are developing successful and sustainable businesses.
We beleive that Rivers Road ORganic Farms is a working example of the application of Community Title for the development of prime agricultural land for the co-existence of residential, environmental, and agricultural production values. Indeed, the last AGM had no issues on the agenda, other than the compulsory issues of budget, insurances, executive committee elections, etc. This in itself is the sign of a healthy community. We thank Cowra Council for its vision and hope that other people will find the structure to be of interest.

Margie and Wooly - Rosnay Organic Grazing

noreply@blogger.com (Sam Statham) — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 01:54:00 +0000

Rosnay Organic Grazingis a unique business run by RROF members Andrew Wooldridge and Margie Crowther. They basically manage the sustainable, low stress grazing system across the whole property and market the resulting meat themselves through a "Chop Club". If you are interested in receiving their organic meat, locally butchered and delivered fresh or frozen in a box, please email rogpp@bigpond.com

Greg Kocanda

noreply@blogger.com (Sam Statham) — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 01:52:00 +0000

Block 11 veggies will put hairs on your chest

The Gardners

noreply@blogger.com (Sam Statham) — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 01:44:00 +0000

Herb and Jenny Gardner produce delicious wines under their label "Gardners Ground". To find our more about them, visit their website www.gardnersground.com.au or try their wines at Taste Canowindra www.tastecanowindra.com.au

The Stathams at Rosnay

noreply@blogger.com (Sam Statham) — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 00:22:00 +0000

The Statham family, Richard and Florence and their son Sam, grows olives, grapes and figs an the property. Find out more about their busines at www.rosnay.com.au

RROF in Brief

noreply@blogger.com (Sam Statham) — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 15:03:00 +0000

On the banks of the Belubula River, near Canowindra, the rich soils and reliable water are shared in a unique model of rural development - Community Title under organic certification.

Community Title may be compared with Strata Title of high rise apartments who share common facilities such as elevators. In Community Title freehold landowners form a Neighbourhood Association which owns shared facilities such as water distribution, buffer zones, native revegetation and roadways.

The total area of RROF is 140 hectares, divided into 12 farm blocks and ten residential blocks.

Situated on a ridge in the middle of the farms, all houses are constructed using ecological design and earth materials.