Simon Haslam
A new initiative called The Gathering that showcases successful local businesses recently commenced, with The Farm founders Tom and Emma Lane speaking about their inspirations and experience in starting up a business in the Shire.
Events will be running every month for the next year, says co-founder Lisa Laing.
The Lanes told the audience it had not been easy over the last two years to persist with their dream of establishing a showcase working farm at the gateway to Byron.
Tom, a well-known fashion businessman and Emma, with a background in nutrition, health and marketing, started a small farm after moving from Sydney to Byron with their family. They told the story of their three-year-old daughter who went missing, only to be found soon after a panicked search contentedly picking and eating beans.
That farm experience, and others that were so positive for their children, inspired the Lanes to let others have the firsthand experience of seeing how food is grown, to not only encourage a love of fresh produce, but also to provide ‘seed’ inspiration for ‘a change towards a healthier, more harmonious existence with our land, our animals and our communities’.
The Farm land comprises 86 acres, of which five acres are developed, was purchased in 2013 and at the time of its 2015 opening Mr Lane praised Council’s economic development team for smoothing the process of setting up the iconic business.
‘The world needs to grow 70 per cent more food by 2050, but that will all be grown by huge corporations unless we make farming more attractive to young people’, he said.
To that end, The Farm provides land, equipment and seedlings to local small businesses and schools.
* Full story at www.echo.net.au.
* The Gathering invites local Byron Bay entrepreneurs to talk each month.
On April 19 at Combi, Victorial Beattie, founder of lifestyle brand The Beach People, will present.
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