Volunteer Information

About the farm

Abundance Farm is a regenerative farm following various principles and techniques from permaculture, agroecology, keyline design, biodynamics, holistic management, and many others.

Our goal is to be self-sufficient and regenerative, as well as a business model. Plans include producing beef and honey, growing fruit, herbs, veggies and timber trees, creating habitat for wildlife and increasing biodiversity, and running a luxury farmstay.

The farm is always in a “work in progress mode” with various stages of development so, many areas might not be as functional as they will be in the future.

Location

Abundance Farm is located at Raglan in the Pyrenees Shire of Victoria, Australia. Raglan is 15 km away from the closest town called Beaufort. Beaufort is 170km west of Melbourne and 60km east of the Grampians National Park. The farm is at 400-440m above sea level in the eastern slops of beautiful Mount Cole (888m). The Mount Cole State Forest has amazing views and hiking tracks.

There are many native animals at the farm including echidnas, kangaroos, wallabies, stumpy tail lizards, wedge tail eagles, kookaburras, rosellas, cockatoos, magpies, herons, and many others, including the scary ones: snakes, spiders, and scorpions.

As Raglan can be very wet, cold and windy in winter (from May/June to August/September) and very hot and dry in summer (from November to February), please ensure you are prepared with proper clothing, as well as mentally. In Victoria, weather conditions can change very quickly.

 

Chores

Persons staying at the property will be asked to participate in the daily chores of running it. Working time is an average of 20 hours/week. We will adapt the working hours according to weather conditions and farm needs.

There are daily chores such as cooking, washing, cleaning communal areas and firewood stacking. Other chores are levelling areas, moving materials, firewood collection, natural and conventional building, agriculture, animal husbandry, amongst many others.

Subject to availability at the time, you'll be able to sleep in the house, a caravan, a shipping container, or a tent.

 

Food and water

The water used in the farm for drinking, cooking, and watering purposes comes from capturing the rain from the roofs of buildings, and our springs. We do not add any harmful chemicals to it. As a purification method we use a 3-stage filtering system.

As we are off-the-grid, we deal with the grey water on-site. We provide with soaps that are suited for our cleaning system. However, if you would like to bring your own, please be mindful to bring products that will not be harmful to the environment.

Most of the time we have meals together, however, eating can be self-catering on some occasions.

Not all the food supplied is organic or grown on the farm.

Mealtimes can be varied, and we cater for omnivorous, vegetarian or vegan diets.

As this is a farm, animals might be killed sometimes on the property for population control or eating purposes.

 

Electricity, internet & phone reception

We are completely off-grid and we produce our own electricity. As it is a solar system, you’ll have to be mindful to use electricity mostly during the day (to charge your laptop or phone) and reduce your electric consumption at night.

We have a good internet connection, and you’ll have access to our Wi-Fi. If you would like to buy a sim card or internet service prior coming here, it will have to be with the Telstra since it’s the only company that has reliable service in the area.

 

Fire risk

Fire is no joke in this part of the world so, we’ll ask you to follow these rules without exception:

  • Campfires are strictly banned except on designated areas and under our supervision.
  • All persons who do need to smoke have to do so in the smoking areas. Smoking anywhere else on the property is strictly forbidden.
  • The use of incense outside the buildings is strictly prohibited.

 

Transportation

If you don’t have your own vehicle, the closest train station is in Beaufort (15min away from the farm) and we can come pick you up there with prior notice.

Trips to different areas of Victoria can be organised with prior communication with us.

We try to leave the farm the least possible so if you require anything from the shops, please let us know before our weekly shopping day.

 

If you are not respecting the property, people, rules and what we ask of you, then you will no longer be welcome and asked to leave immediately and without prior notice.

 

If you are interested in volunteering, please contact us:

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