WAKALA FARM

Wakala Farm is a 57 acre property in the Sunshine Coast

Hinterland which is owned by Jo Brown and is being developed by Jo in conjunction with Sunshine Butterflies and their foundation sponsor Landscape Info Guide to provide education and training programs for people with disabilities. Wakala Farm is a large interactive ecologically sustainable farming project which will have full access for people with disabilities to interact and be involved in the production and sales and will combine small crop farming, permaculture systems and wildlife education as part of the programs. The farm hopes to be fully self sufficient in a few years.

The Name Wakala

The name Wakala is indigenous for crow and was chosen because crows are Wakala Farm Entrance birds which are predominately misunderstood and there are a large number in the area. Originally from South Australia, Jo and Ted are also often called crow eaters as a nickname.

Wakala Farm Program

Wakala Farm is a farming, landscape and horticulture therapy program currently under development for people with disabilities. The program utilises plants, horticulture, landscaping, sustainable farming and animals to provide activities to improve social, cognitive, physical, psychological and general health and well being for Sunshine Butterflies members while improving their body, mind and spirit. Wakala Farm will involve Sunshine Butterflies members in all phases of organic farming, landscaping and horticulture as a means of bringing enjoyment to their life. Wakala Farm participants will learn and gain hands on experience in all aspects of ecologically sustainable small crop farming. They will be involved in the growing, production and sales of all produce from the farm and learn how to make the farm fully self sufficient. They will learn about and care for the farm animals and the native wildlife which would include feeding and milking cows, raising the young calves, feeding the horses, building nesting boxes for birds and possums, caring for the chooks and collecting eggs. They will learn how to set up permaculture zones, identify and grow native plants, and fruit trees and prepare the fruit and produce for sale.

Caring for Chooks

Future Projects
Future projects on Wakala Farm which are already being developed are turning the second house on the property into a respite house. This will provide both short and long term respite for people with disabilities and their families and carer. A conference, education and training centre on the property to provide training for people with disabilities as well as the general public. This conference centre will be able to be used by corporate companies, local businesses, schools, training companies and clubs and will be able to be used in conjunction with the farm for education and training in horticulture, landscape, permaculture and organic farming principles if required.

Feeding Horses

Jo, who is a partner in Landscape Info guide, lives on the property with her family and will supervise the development of the Wakala Farm project with the help of her partner Ted. Assistance with input, expertise and training will be provided by other partners in Landscape info Guide in conjunction with Sunshine Butterflies Charity. Ted is using his expertise in landscaping and machine operation to help develop the many areas on the farm. He is preparing wheel chair and disabled access pathways to the orchard, chicken nesting boxes and the vegetable garden so people with all types of disabilities can be involved. He will also teach the safe operation of landscape and farm machinery to the students.

Experience and Qualifications

Landscape and Farm Machinery

Jo Brown has had many years experience in the sustainable small crop farming industry which included the production and sales of bananas and specialist herbs. Jo has formal qualifications in Sustainable Farming Practices. During this time Jo has been heavily involved in ecologically sustainable farming practices including Permaculture and organic growing principals and the wildlife identification, education and rescue industry. Jo has also gained hands on experience and knowledge of the horticulture and gardening industry while being employed by the Queensland Education Department as a gardener and grounds person.
Landscape and Farm Machinery The other partners in Landscape Info Guide provide a vast amount of experience and qualifications in the landscape, horticulture and nursery industry which includes many years of landscape and horticultural lecturing and industry orientated presentations. This knowledge and experience will be very beneficial in helping with the coordination and development of Wakala Farm and the design and delivery of training programs for people with a disability in the future.

About Sunshine Butterflies

Wildlife Identification

Sunshine Butterflies Charity is a one stop shop of information, support, services and respite assisting those with a disability and their families and carers. Founder Leanne Walsh explained that their model has proven beneficial to families as a way to be connected with ease to appropriate services as well as to other families experiencing disability. With the support financial support of foundation sponsor Landscape Info guide, Sunshine Butterflies will provide services to directly assist families navigate their way through existing services as well as adding new alternatives to accommodate recreational and post school activities and programs including art, farming and horticulture. Wakala Farm will provide an excellent opportunity for people with disabilities to learn about sustainable organic farming, landscaping and horticulture and have hands on involvement in the actual growing, production and sales of the produce while learning the technical side as well.
Sustainable Organic Farming

Landscape Info Guide Blog

Wakala Farm will be a permanent fixture on the Landscape Info Guide website with an associated blog icon on the home page. This space will keep people up to date with the progress and development and will provide photos and information of the farming activities and articles about these activities. It will also have a dedicated section in the monthly Landscape Info Guide newsletter.

Wakala Farm