This year’s Small Farms Field Day is extending an invitation to all chicken enthusiasts to join in and become an exhibitor/speaker at the Malanda Showgrounds on Saturday November 8th .  The survey at the end of last year’s field day revealed a number of the public asked for more information about keeping chooks in their backyard.

The theme for the Small Farms Field day is “Big on everything Country” and this has to include the humble yet profoundly productive chook. As more people are turning to growing their own produce keeping livestock, including chickens can be quite baffling for the novice.

“What type of chook should I get for my small farm?”

“How do I keep them safe from snakes, dingoes and the family pet?”

“ What food is best to produce that delicious ‘Golden Egg?”

So many questions pop up when the decision is made to add chickens to the list of home grown food supplies.

So for those chicken experts out there who can share their knowledge and wisdom with either a stall or and be a guest speaker.  Organisers send out and warm invitation to you all.

Just go to the website www.malandasmallfarms.com and fill in your application form and join in the ever expanding Malanda Small Farms Field Day being held on Saturday 8th of November at the Malanda Showgrounds.

This year we are hosting the fast growing form of Wood Art that is becoming increasingly popular around the world.

Entries are now open for the new Chainsaw Wood Carving Competition. Combining the ancient art of wood carving with the modern technology of the chainsaw will

“Chainsaw carvers are amazing to watch” said organiser Alan Wall. “This region has some real woodsmen, and we hope this competition will draw them out”

Without a doubt this new event will attract many onlookers, as competitors test their talents and skills to craft their unique masterpiece in a simple one hour carving session.

The finished art piece will be judged then auctioned off to the public, with 25% being returned to the carver.

The chainsaws will start at 1.00 PM the Malanda Showgrounds .

Entry fee is $10 and first prize and second prize is a chainsaw valued at generously donated by Malanda Rural Supplies and Rod Miller.

So if you fancy yourself as a wiz on the chainsaw and can create a piece of furniture, sculpture or any other type of unique craft piece in one hour, then sharpen up your chain saw and get your entry form in.

The 2014 Small Farms Field Day at Malanda Showgrounds on 8th November is shaping up to be bigger and better than the first one that was held only last year.   There is still just a few days left to register your stall or exhibition.

“The Small Farms field day is about everything country, tractors, motorcycles, irrigation, farm equipment and animals” said field day coordinator Bob Stewart.  “We like to keep it simple, so that everyone can enjoy catching up, and finding out about how to grow things better on their block.”

As more consumers develop a craving for local fresh food, a batch of new small farms is finding innovative ways to meet the demand. This rural renaissance is producing more varieties of vegetables, raising goats, sheep and buffalo to produce new types of cheese, or finding creative methods of getting it to market, and this is what the new Small Farms Field Day is all about.

Targeting all North Queensland small farmers, from Cairns to Townsville, the field day is building on the resounding success of the inaugural field day last year. “We were almost overwhelmed by the number of people that poured through the gates last year, and the business being done was amazing” said Chairman Glen Drury.

Feedback surveys revealed that people wanted more stalls, more information, more animals, more stalls and more often. “So the organisers North Johnstone and Lake Eacham Landcare, and the Malanda Show Society have listened to this and a sensational array of exhibitors are already booked, new sponsors and partners are coming on board, and new sections are being added” said Glen

Cross Stitch Corner, Johnstone River Catchment Management and Terrain NRM have all decided to back this fresh new event with sponsorships. The Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal is funding a new and innovative Small Farmers Information Centre to help people decide how to make the best use of their small landholding to create a sustainable rural lifestyle.

Jude Nechwatal from Cheesemaking and More, will be demonstrating how to make cheeses in the home kitchen. The Home Cheesemakers Competition will allow the many budding cheesemakers in the area to showcase their ability to master this old craft. Three categories will be judged, and then spectators can taste the delicate differences between home-made camembert, fetta and cream cheeses.

Features will include the Celebrity Goat Milking Competition. The new event of Chainsaw Carving is proving popular, and TREAT, Tree Kangaroo and Mammal Group and Tablelands Wildlife Rescue will be giving talks and information on planting for, and living with wildlife on small and large blocks and even backyards.

The Malanda Showgrounds is transformed into a little village for the field day with names such as Country Lane, Farmer’s Lane, Equestrian Lane, Landcare Lane, Green Energy Corridor, Rural Technology Pavilion and the large and small Animal Sheds .

“With home grown produce, information, fun and entertainment as well as offering the best in country foods, the small farms field day is guaranteed to have something of interest for everyone” said Bob Stewart

Anyone interested in being an exhibitor, competitor or wanting to participate in any way in this fresh new event is encouraged to visit the website www.malandasmallfarms.com  phone Carl on 40965349 or email at info@malandasmallfarms.

This is what the Small Farms Information Centre, funded by the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal (FRRR) will be all about at this year’s Malanda Small Farms Field Day will be all about. “In today’s harsh economic times, people want the ability to produce food and possibly an income by utilizing their own piece of dirt,” said field day organiser Bob Stewart.

The FRRR Small Farm Info Centre will provide displays, information and workshops to help you to decide what to grow, how to sow and where to sell your produce. Growing trees, spices, and fruits to even creating a small cooperative with mushrooms or bamboo on your land will be included in the topics of discussion.  Information and talks about such things as poultry raising, producing sustainable fresh produce to animal nutrition and health, will also be available. “Small land holders may simply want to add to rural land care by planting native trees and maintaining pests, weeds and diseases on their property.  There is also a number of tree species that can bring in a reasonable income to the land owner.

This Information Centre will assist them with advice on a range of sustainable farming practices”, says Russell Fry President of North Johnston and Lake Eacham Landcare.  So come and take advantage of this great opportunity to participate in the workshops and discussions with a range of experts in their various fields, at the Small Farms Information Centre during the Malanda Small Farms Field Day starting at 9am on Saturday 8th November at the Malanda Showgrounds “Its Big on everything country”