‘THE ORGANIC GROW-OPERATIVE’
a unique ecological agriculture opportunity

The Grow-Operative Program of The ReGenesis Farm in New South Wales, Australia, offers a unique opportunity to agricultural entrepreneurs to start or expand their businesses.  In a high profile market area, without the heavy financial outlays required by most new agricultural ventures, small businesses can license land in exchange for a  fee proportional to the amount of land used and services required.

Filling a major gap in the market for organic vegetable seedlings is our first Grow-Operative Partner, Early Risers Organic Seedling Nursery .  Early Risers works synergistically in a ‘closed loop' system with The Farm’s second Licensee or Grow-Operative Partner, Munch Crunch Organics.   Early Risers provides the seedlings for Munch Crunch’s gardens/  Munch Crunch provides compost material for Early Risers Nursery.  Each business is totally independent, yet committed to working collaboratively together.

'The Grow-Operative' is a program designed to incubate and mentor small business enterprises that address the local market for organic products and services. Participants or partners can license the use of land and take advantage of the farm’s extensive infrastructure, as well as engage in a lively social dynamic with other licensees. Filling a major gap in the market for organic vegetable seedlings is our first Grow-Operative Partner, Early Risers Organic Seedling Nursery .  Early Risers works synergistically in a ‘closed loop' system with The Farm’s second Licensee or Grow-Operative Partner, Munch Crunch Organics.   Early Risers provides the seedlings for Munch Crunch’s gardens/  Munch Crunch provides compost material for Early Risers Nursery.  Each business is totally independent, yet committed to working collaboratively together.

ReGenesis Farm offers an established framework of  ‘whole systems' into which a new venture could enter,, including integrated forestry and agro-forestry plantings, native restoration areas, well-developed farm infrastructure and a sophisticated ecological management plan. The farm infrastructure available to licensees at ReGenesis Farm includes extensive dams and irrigation systems, access roads, fencing, drainage channels, machine shed, food processing area, some farm machinery, as well as power generated by a 20 k wind turbine. The ' Grow-Operative' program offers an opportunity for the enterprising entrepreneur to develop a private enterprise without the massive financial outlay normally required to support a new agricultural venture. While costs for each enterprise will vary, the base-line costs to the licensee are 10% of capital infrastructure costs and 4% of gross profits. The Grow-Operative is seeking and is open to a range of sustainable organic agricultural enterprises, such orchard crops, cut flowers, medicinal herbs, honey production, seed production, aquaculture, mushrooms  bamboo cultivation and a value adding food production line.

The Market Opportunity

The north coast, and, in particular, the Byron Bay area, is renown for its inclination toward the "organic" or "natural" lifestyle. Strong market demand exists locally and regionally for organic food products and natural health care products. Close proximity to market, including the Gold Coast and Brisbane, is another important advantage of The Grow-Operative.

Consumer awareness with regard to environmental issues in the region is very high, and community values strongly support environmental protection. Your product's identification with "best practice" ecological agriculture is another plus offered by ReGenesis.  Values-driven marketing provides a distinct advantage.

Whether you're an "ecological entrepreneur" wishing to start up a new natural foods or products venture,  a "retiree" to hobby farming on the north coast, or an existing small farm business that wants to expand, The Grow-Operative may be for you. You can eliminate land costs, cut back extensive start up and infrastructure costs, enter the market sooner, and realize returns much faster with the support of the Grow-Operative.

One of the many benefits The Grow-Operative offers licensees is the opportunity to work in a dynamic social context. Agriculture is often isolated work. The working environment at ReGenesis Farm is conducive to the exchange of knowledge, information and services. When that exchange revolves around replenishing and nurturing the environment through the use of ecologically sustainable agricultural methods, then not only does the earth benefit, but the people involved share the satisfaction of knowing that they are contributing to positive, sustainable future. While The Grow-Operative started with individual licensees being strictly on The Farm, ReGenesis envisions a future ‘industrial ecology' in which Grow-Operative Business Partners might be off property as well as on The Farm.  Economic synergies and mutual benefits can thus be achieved across a wider bioregional area.