Conscious Ground is an educational farm just outside of Byron Bay that is growing more than just food. It’s also growing conscious farmers.
‘Our goal is to create a space that focuses on education in regenerative agriculture and growing and developing future farmers,’ says Conscious Ground Executive Director, May Ly.
‘We want to enable people to reconnect to the land and take ownership of their sovereignty over food and water. To create a positive ripple effect around local and regenerative food systems.’
May says this involves marrying centuries-old farming practices with modern techniques to achieve premium results without impacting the land adversely.
‘We teach people how to grow food using ancient traditions and incorporating cutting-edge technology, as opposed to industrial agriculture. This way we are regenerating the land while growing food – we are always giving back more than we take.’
The Conscious Ground farm is set on 230 established acres at Myocum and produces an abundance of certified organic produce with more than 150 varieties of fruit ,as well as a market garden, food forest and livestock.
The team has a stall at Byron Farmers Market every Thursday morning and is known for its more unusual food offerings, including luffa, bitter melon and longans.
‘We love the market because it gives us a chance to engage with our community and talk about what we do on the farm,’ May says. ‘It’s also a chance to give tips on how to use the produce and maximise the nutritional potential because we grow many products that people don’t know a lot about.
‘Luffa is a great example. You can use it like a zucchini – the young luffa fruit, the flowers and the tips of the vine are all edible. And it’s so versatile, because at the end of the season you leave the fruit to age on the vine then you peel it off and you can use it in the kitchen to wash dishes or in the bathroom to exfoliate your skin.’
Conscious Ground also creates unique tea blends, all certified organic, made from herbs and fruits grown on the farm, which are also available at the market every week.
Byron Farmers Market is held Thursdays 7–11am at the Butler St Reserve, and Bangalow Farmers Market is Saturdays 7–11am behind the Bangalow pub.
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