Author: Sustainable food lady

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Rural Support

SOURCED CLUB

Supporting our rural communities

Rural Support Network

Building resilience and supporting alternate income sources.

Australia is famously a land of ‘droughts and flooding rains’

Cyclones and drought kills livestock and crops, while floods and fire sweep through the land destroying everything in their path. Australia’s iconic harsh environment has been a battle ground for our nations farmers for thousands of years.

The economic impact of these events on agricultural and pastoral productivity can be immense while the follow through onto rural communities from the local hairdressers to the general store can be devastating. It is a credit to the ongoing resilience and determination of the rural families, that they survive all manner of harsh conditions.

In today’s technological era we as a nation need to look at ways we can support our rural communities to maintain balance and limit the need of charitable donation drives that come on occasions too late or take a toll on farmers pride. Citizens who care for the wellbeing of our rural families can support additional incomes coming into the home or even encourage younger family members to branch out in another field yet stay on the land to help their family work the farm.

Let’s bridge the communication gap between the city and the country in a place that’s not completely controlled by mainstream media to alert the country that help is need.

Supporting resilient rural communities, families on Sourced Club can promote either products or services from other industries. Creating an opportunity to bring in additional income and allowing for family members to branch out in their prospective field while living on the land.

While Sourced Club is primarily traceability for our food system. We have provided an additional service for our farmer / primary producer profiles in the Rural Support Network. This network is showcased on the farmers profile and allows consumers to search via industry tags and purchase direct from a rural family.

Sourced club – rural support

Charities

Country womens association 

Rotary 

Rural Adversity Mental Health

If you or anyone you know needs help:

Coles raises over $7.1 million for CWA drought appeal

Coles $1 for $1 drought appeal

Supporting Aussie Farmers – Drought Appeal
Coles will match every dollar our customers donate to the Country Women?s Association Drought Appeal.
All funds raised will be provided to the Country Women?s Association (through its state and territory organisations) to provide support to drought-affected families to help cover household expenses such as school expenses and food, medical, electricity and water bills

The Sourced Club Mission

Together we can make the shift this industry needs to create and support a sustainable food system for our future generations
Bridgette O'connor
Sustainable food lady
"There are families out there in the local communities that haven't registered for help. They're too proud and don't want to accept charity."
Bridgette O'Connor
Bridgette O'ConnorSustainable food lady

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Gap2018 Consumers

Global Agriculture Productivity report 2018

Consumers have significant influence over the direction of the food and agriculture system. Through their purchases they express their preferences and values and help shape the decisions producers and retailers make...

Their influence is growing as they consider what they buy, why they buy it and how and where they purchase food and agriculture products.

These consumer trends are global, but the nature and extent of their influence is shaped by geography, cultural norms, government policy and socio-economic status.  The following chapter provides an overview of these global drivers of change

Misinformation about food production methods has very real consequences for human health...

A study of low-income shoppers found they were wary of purchasing conventionally-produced fruits and vegetables for safety reasons. This inaccurate information about the levels and health impacts of pesticide residues on produce has been shared widely on social media. As a result, low-income consumers said they were less likely to buy conventional produce and would prefer to purchase smaller quantities of the more expensive organic varieties.

MSU’s Food Literacy and Engagement Poll captures some of this consumer uncertainty. A plurality of consumers (38 percent) say that have a higher than average understanding of the global food system, but a plurality also said that they aren’t sure how many times a week they consume foods containing genetically modified ingredients. 

In the survey, 66 percent said that food labels are very influential in their food choices but given the uncertainty about what is in their food and how it was produced, the labeling systems are not providing the clarity they need. In lieu of trustworthy, accessible information, consumers fall back on the familiar: taste, price and brands they know and trust

Generational Shifts Drive Food System Change

By 2019, the Millennial Generation (aged 20-35) will surpass the Baby Boomers to become the largest generational group in the U.S. with 74 million people.

Their numbers and purchasing preferences are beginning to fundamentally alter the food production and retail system in the U.S. and beyond. Millennials, together with members of Generation X (66 million people, aged 36-51), are in their peak food-consumption years. Most are working and raising families and/or caring for elderly relatives. As a result, their food purchases are the trends most closely watched by producers, retailers and restaurateurs.

Nutrition and saftey

Chinese consumers are also more focused on nutrition, with more than 82 percent of people willing to pay more for foods they know are higher quality, more nourishing and lacking undesirable ingredients.

This compares to the global average of 68 percent who are willing to pay for such foods. Consumers are also concerned about the safety of the foods they eat, particularly domestic rice and other food crops that may have been grown in contaminated farm soil. They are willing to pay more for trusted international brands that they know are high-quality and safe.

FOOD SECURITY

With Money to Spend, Consumers Prioritize Food Diversity, Nutrition and Safety

The number of people actively involved in food production continues to decline, yet consumer interest in the content and origins of their food increasingly drives their purchases
Consumer evolution - GAP2018

Read the full 2018 Global Agriculture Productivity report here

The Sourced Club Mission

I advocate for knowledge and a food system of integrity. When people stand behind their 

produce and actions, our community is more accountable.

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      Founder – Bridgette O’Connor

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Mission

From Paddock to Plate

The Sourced Club Mission

A sustainable food system starts with the knowledge of the source of our food and what is in it. Empowering consumers to purchase in line with their ethics and local community.

Australia is famously a land of ‘droughts and flooding rains’

The diversity of our food system allows me to connect and support the paddock to plate structure from our farmers through the distribution channel to our retailers and dining venues. I campaign to consumers on every level from business owners and organizations that purchase from the wholesale market to our end consumers. Always consider the source of your purchase and the impact it has on our future. 

I am passionate about giving recognition back to our farmers and bridging the gap in our food experience not only through technology and education but through events. Encouraging communities to reconnect to the life source that is our food system.

In my efforts to promote sustainability. I advocate for knowledge and a food system of integrity.  When people stand behind their opinions and actions, our community is more accountable.

My Connection to this field is I was brought up in a farming family from the Riverina in NSW. My grandparents and immediate relatives are farmers, in our home we are chefs and restaurant owners, we had small local catering businesses to large licensed clubs. In my early adult life I saw the relationships behind the likes of international grocery giant Unilever and our supermarket leaders, right through to the distributors for our convenience stores. I know the logistics of our food system and I know the people.  Unlike others in this space I’m not here to say this is what everyone should eat or cut out. I’m here to encourage business owners to showcase and promote your food story connection allowing consumers will find you. 

Today's consumer cares about transparency
and ethics in business.

Food sustainability for very good reason is a hot topic at the moment. Our population is increasing and our resources and the health of our environment is in decline. Sustainability defined by the Brundtland Commission as

“Meeting today’s needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs”

When we purchase with knowledge and purpose we can make a difference

A sustainable food system is crucial. Unfortunately anything of such importance to our survival will always be controversial. The conversations around our food industry problems is usually fuelled by personal greed and a business bottom line. Likewise we also contend with agenda pushing sideline food critics jumping into the debate. Telling people what not to eat, yet do not think of the origin and sustainability of their own choice.

” An apple can be just as bad for your body, the environment and your economy if you do not know its source and what was used to produce it.”

I don’t pretend to know the answers to our food system troubles but what I do know is that knowledge is power, giving consumers a transparent look into the food system they support when they shop and dine is a great place to start.

Together we can put value into businesses that are in line with our ethics and local community and together we can ensure that the businesses that are not up to our standards are the ones that fall.

I advocate for knowledge and a food system of integrity.When people stand behind their produce and actions, our community is more accountable.

The Sourced Club platform was created to help advance my mission. The objective was to construct a platform that was both user friendly and affordable. I wanted to ensure that all businesses are able to access the technology to inform their customers what they are eating. Realistically should we actually be eating anywhere they won’t tell us what’s in our food and where it’s from?

The platform’s purpose is to give a digital presence to all businesses in our food community, to connect and empower you to express your business and its place in our food system.

We want people to use sourced club to promote their business and the food community they work with, but not at the expense of the well-being of others or the integrity of our community.

People will only build community on Sourced Club if they feel safe. We encourage you to communicate what matters to you in both your business network choices and practice standards. We for see no circumstances that our platform will add a public or members review arena, therefore eliminating trolls and false attacks from competitors. 

The Sourced Club Mission

Sourced club is about integrity of our food story, all businesses should feel safe to promote their business and network allowing consumers to find them without having to justify their existence to people with an agenda against.
Bridgette O'connor
Sustainable food lady
An apple can be bad for your body, the environment and your economy
if you do not know it's source and what was used to produce it.
Bridgette O'Connor
Bridgette O'ConnorSustainable food lady

Recent Posts

The Farmer’s Competitor

07/01/2024 No Comments

SOURCED CLUB Supporting rural communities to caretake our Land & Water 2 The Farmer’s Competitor Now – let’s get a better understanding of who I

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Restaurants the gateway to a sustainable food system

Restaurants are the gateway to a sustainable food system

Promote your Business and Network
Join Today

‘Today I’m going to share with you some of the most important ideas that can not only show your businesses place in a sustainable food system but to elevate your brand in the eyes of both current and new customers.

My mission in our food industry is to support a sustainable food system. Our contribution is to connect and promote good food stories. We aim to do this through traceability allowing consumers to purchase with purpose not only when they shop but also when they dine.

Food is on trend and as restaurateurs I believe you are the gateway to local food community survival. 

People want to feel connected to
the businesses they support

 

Lets start with what we know

The most important factor on purchasing decisions is trust 

People want to feel connected to the businesses they support and transparency shows a business with integrity which ultimately leads to loyalty”

Now our restaurant industry is about two things food and service 

Food has been the new black for over a decade now,” and there are no signs that is going to be changing . We are immersed in a culture of #foodporn and celebrity chefs, like honestly 20 years ago would we even put those two words together celebrity and chef. Yet today, consumers of all age’s can name and follow multiple of these new celebrities.

We have seen what effect TV shows like masterchef have had on the way people eat and the influence it has on how they purchase.

The phenomenon has capitalized on consumers’ expectations on transparency in their food

Consumers want to know what they are feeding their body. Something easily done when they prepare meals themselves.

 

Today's Consumers want to know

What Social Impact a Business has

  • Where is it from
  • What's in it
  • Fair Pay Farmers and Workers
  • Animal Welfare
  • Local Economy
  • Storage
  • Distance to Plate

And that’s not even getting into the gluten free, dairy free, vegan questions.

Restaurants play a very important role in their local communities food system.

It’s time for restaurants to benefit on the sustainable trend and I say trend here quiet loosely as trends come and go. Yet I do not believe that consumers expectations as far as  transparency is concerned will go backwards on such an important topic like the food we eat.

With such an intense focus on food and its source, There will be more competition, and opportunities than ever before. 

While I’ve touched on the ease of consumers knowing their food story when they shop and prepare themselves.

What if restaurants matched even bypassed their traceability expectations?

 

Now to build the connection

One of our most basic needs as humans is the need for connection, sense of belonging sits alongside the needs of food shelter water

The names and faces of the people behind your produce will market your venue and dining experience better than anything.

Consider the connection from consumer to their food story when you compare a waiter or waitress adding fresh caught local seafood or reading grass fed angus beef on a menu to seeing the names, faces  and stories behind your produce on their phone or tablet as they are ordering or waiting for their order.

When a business associates its brand with a cause, it gives consumers the chance to express their values with their money.

Let’s have a look at a restaurant's
sustainable food Trump Cards

ECONOMY

Your buying power in just dollars can make more of a difference in a good food community than any household can.

ACCESS

Your connection to the wholesale and even primary producer market does not monopolize your buying habits.

SHOWCASE

You can showcase good food stories on plate and serve it with the aroma and taste that no TV show or magazine can compare.

Your business can be known for integrity and being socially conscious just by showcasing your network.

Socially conscious marketing is a powerful way for businesses to connect with customers. 

66% of consumers will pay more for a product or service committed to a positive social impact

People want to feel connected to a business they support and transparency shows integrity

"

The names and faces of the people behind your produce will market your venue and dining experience better than anything.

"

The journey is gratifying and the greater goal of a transparent sustainable food system an epic finale

"

A restaurants connection with food for the consumer is one of pleasure. For this reason and many more I believe restaurants play a very important role in their local communities food system

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Farm tripping September 2018

Get to know your Farmer

Farm stays and Day trips

Farm tripping at Redwing Farm

Weetulta South Australia

Farmstays and daytrips- Supporting a good food, eat local culture.

Get a taste of country life on a local farm and unwind among the wide open spaces enjoying all that country hospitality has to offer. A fun way to educate the family on the importance of knowing their food story.

This farm tripping is at Redwing farm in South Australia, Redwing is situated on the beautiful Yorke Peninsula and is only a ten minute drive from all the activities on The Copper Coast. Not only does Redwing Farm offer both farmstays and daytrips but they offer a wide range of activities and education on the farm lifestyle. 

Redwing Farm

Redwing is the perfect place to take some time our, relax and recharge! But we also have lots of things to keep visitors busy for those that want to explore and learn more about agriculture and our farming lifestyle

Walks and Wildlife

 

Walking on and around the farm is safe, however it is a working farm so please remember to watch out for heavy machinery which may be operating in the area. Also remember to take a hat, water bottle and always keep an eye out for snakes – particularly in warm weather. There are also umbrellas provided for inclement weather. If walking on the road, just keep to the side and you will be fine.

 

During your stay on the farm you can view some of the extensive wildlife in the area. The following is a list of some you may see: Grey Kangaroos, Foxes, Rabbits, Hares, Deer (escaped from a nearby Deer farm), Brown Snake, Sleepy Lizard, Blue-tongued Lizard, Bearded Dragon, Parrot, Willy Wagtail, Welcome Swallow, Barn Owl, Boobok Owl, Australian Magpie, Australian Raven, Galah, Wedge-tailed Eagle and Nankeen Kestrel.

Meet the Team

A collection of friendly farm animals reside in the paddock that borders both the Shearer’s Quarters and the Barn providing a fantastic interactive experience, or just entertainment for those that wish to view from afar.

Sheep

The sheep you will see at Redwing are Merino’s or crossbreds. The Merinos are used for their wool and meat, the crossbreds for meat only. Every year there are lambs that are left motherless and you may be lucky enough to be staying while they are getting bottle fed. There are also two pet sheep in with the other animals, these guys are known as Elizabeth and Pirate!

Pigs

We have three resident pigs at Redwing. Pig Pig is the biggest pig and was part of a bunch the local school were fattening up for the Adelaide Show. Despite her size now, she was the runt of the litter and was picked on to the point that when market day came she was too ill to go. The Ag teacher didn’t have time to care for a lone pig so she was bought out to Redwing where she recovered from her injuries and grew immensely! She has been known as a few things – ‘Lucky’ and ‘Spot the Chop’ to name a few, but she is now known as ‘Pig Pig’. She loves a feed and a scratch on the head, but make sure you watch out for her teeth when she’s hoovering your scraps!

Our second pig is Ingrid who was a pet pig who outgrew her yard! She was rehomed at Redwing in Easter 2013 and has been a hit ever since! Our latest addition (Jan 18) is Boris the Boar – he’s the black one – and we’re hoping he gets along well with the girls and there may be piglets soon!

Cows

Our two Dexter cows are a miniature breed, so this is as big as they get. The red one is called Ranga and the black one is Caesar. They’re one of our faves, so gentle and quite shy, but they love some scraps as much as any of the other animals, so don’t let them miss out! Our latest addition is Godfrey the Friesian cow … he’s a big black and white boy who will grow into a giant! But don’t be worried, he’s a gentle soul too.

Chickens

There are a number of chickens on the property. Damien breeds Light Sussex and Plymouth Rock, while I prefer the quirky breeds – look out for the frizzle, silky and sizzle chickens roaming the house yard. We like to call them ‘The Funnies’! If you have any food scraps you are welcome to feed the chickens – they will be your friends forever!

Ducks

There are some Khaki Campbell and Indian Runner ducks amongst the chickens. These guys are great for cleaning up snails. They also enjoy food scraps – if they can get in before the chickens do.

Geese

We have four geese on the property – Bruce the Goose and his 3 female friends!

Dogs

There are two dogs you may see on the farm – McGee the super social Border Collie and beautiful Maxi the Golden Retriever. Both are very friendly and love kids!

Cats

You may see two grey and white cats around the homestead. Bessie loves a pat, but no point trying it on Tilly – she’s daddy’s girl only!

Donkeys

Menindie and Banksy are a real hit! We love them to bits! You’ll find they’re very intelligent and loving (particularly Menindie), so give them a pat and a hug! They are bred from the wild Australian donkeys, so are quite hardy, but still need to be fed the correct diet to avoid illness. Please use only the ‘donkey feed’ provided, or feed them whole apples or carrots. If you’re lucky, you may even hear the very loud ‘hee-haw’!

Boer Goats

The Boer goats are meat goats; however the ones at Redwing are strictly pets only. They breed every eight months so you are most likely to see kids during your stay. The kids are extremely energetic and inquisitive, so pull up a pew and watch the free entertainment!  Like the poultry, they also enjoy a free feed whenever the chance arises. They love scraps and bread so if you have any leftovers they will be happy to finish it off for you. Bucky is the boss, then we have Tom, PB, Sassy and Mumma Goat, plus whatever kids are running around at the time!

 

Magpies

 

We have been looking after orphaned magpies at Redwing for six years. Each year we have a couple of magpies bought in that have been found on roadsides – usually the product of a car accident which killed other family members, or injured them. In the wild baby magpies stay with their parents for up to two years. Being hand-reared they generally stay for at least six months, the longest up to a year and a half. In this extended time period they become very friendly so you may see some around the yards, or even have some begging for food on your verandah! They have sharp beaks and claws so do be careful, however if you’re game, they will often roll over for a pat!

Feed the Animals

Feeding the friendly farm animals is endless fun! Guests are welcome to bring fruit, veg and bread to feed the animals too

 

Contact

Nicola Ph  – 0408 252 128

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