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Farmer Cameron Mynott is passionate about providing local and sustainable food to the community using pasture raised techniques.
Mr Mynott’s farm Australian Pasture Fresh is one of 12 farms which will open to the public as part of the Hastings Landcare's 2017 Farm Gate Tour from June 10 until June 12.
Port News was invited out to the 40 hectare Herons Creek farm on June 1 and journalist Liz Langdale observed the chickens, ducks and pigs in their natural environment where they are free to roam all day long.
Mr Mynott said he would like people to start questioning the food they put in their mouths.
“We’re the most overfed but undernourished generation ever,” he said.
Mr Mynott said there are farmers doing amazing work but don’t get supported locally because people aren’t prepared to pay a little bit more for the product.
“I would love Port Macquarie to start feeling good about their food,” he said.
Mr Mynott has been on the property since September, 2016 and has been working hard to repair the soil to make it fertile.
About 2000 chickens are used on a particular area of land to fertilize it before they are moved on to a different section of the farm.
Each of the mobile chicken vans which are situated on the farm put down about 35 to 50 kilograms of manure down each night. The vans are moved every two days unless there is a particular area where Mr Mynott believes requires more nutrients.
Once the land has been effectively treated by use of the chickens Mr Mynott plans to farm cattle on the property. The chickens will still be used to ensure the land remains of high quality.
“In doing that we don’t need any pesticides, herbicides or fertilizer,” he said.
“We let nature take its course.”
Mr Mynott does not have to round up the animals at the end of the night. Shelters are situated on the farm so they can stay warm and protected from predators.
Before My Mynott began farming he worked in corporate risk about nine years.
As part of his job he was travelling on about 200 flights a year. On planes he would read books by Dan Barber who is an American philosopher chef who wants to change the way the country farms and eats.
Mr Mynott was on one plane which he thought he was going to crash. From that moment he decided to get out of the corporate world forever.
Mr Mynott said the quality of the egg produced from chickens which roam free each day don’t compare to those which are produced from hens who are cooped up in a confined space.
“Their egg is their hormone so we’re eating stressed hormones,” he said.
“If they are happy in their natural environment you can taste that difference.”
Mr Mynott said the farm is working towards 100 per cent sustainability.
“Nothing green leaves this land,” he said.
Mr Mynott works with chefs and they bring in food which is used to feed the animals.
The farm has its own water supply and is solar powered.
The 2017 Farm Gate Tour stretches from Maria River and the oyster beds of Port Macquarie’s North Shore to Lorne, the Bulga Plateau and Yarras.
The cost to attend is $30 which includes a self-guide booklet with property information, tour schedules, maps and travel times.
The booklet is available online at www.hastingslandcare.org.au or to collect at Port Macquarie’s Visitor Information Centre at the Glasshouse, Hastings Landcare (44a Cameron Street, Wauchope) and Ecowild Health Foods (21B High Street, Wauchope).