SEEDLAB Tasmania is this week celebrating the achievements of its community. From golden gins to golden girls (and bees), we’re adding value and getting ready to harvest our latest crop.
Seedlab Bootcamp 2 participant Anita Long, of Coolgardie Farm at Richmond, has secured $97,000 from the State Government through the Supporting Women to Succeed Grants Program, for The Sister Hives Project with the Southern Tasmanian Beekeepers Association.
Anita said this program would enable them to develop and deliver a beekeeping program designed by women for women.
Seedlab Tasmania is also thrilled to announce we are part of a successful bid to the same grant program, in collaboration with Swinburne University of Technology and Cradle Coast Authority, for $179,000 to create pathways for women’s leadership in future agri-food industries.
We’ll be running workshops and three bootcamps for women in the North-West of Tasmania in 2022, as part of the program.
Prof Robyn Eversole of Swinburne said women were often the invisible innovators in rural communities.
“We are delighted to be working with Seedlab Tasmania and the Cradle Coast Authority to empower local women to make their agri-food ideas happen,” Dr Eversole said.
Cheers for gin win
Southarm Craft Distillery (Cultivate 3) this week announced a gold medal win in the Australian Gin Distillers Association for their Taswegian Dry Gin.
Congratulations not only on the win, but also on obtaining the “Taswegian” trademark.
Jean and Kent Moore make a range of distilled spirits in their craft distillery and are developing unique agritourism experiences to thrill.
Adding value
The Seedlab Tas program has featured regular masterclasses and workshops on everything from how to premiumise alcoholic drinks, to how to develop better agritourism opportunities, get more sustainable packaging options, and packvertising (telling your story on your packaging).
In collaboration with Trade Tasmania, Seedlab Tasmania will be running a one-day, face-to-face workshop in Launceston on Friday, November 26.
“Developing Food and Beverage Opportunities Through Value Adding” will feature local case studies on value-adding from Anthony Houston, Daly Farm, Forager Foods, Kooee Snacks and Freycinet Marine Farm. Andy Cooley from Story & Brand will workshop tools to use to develop new ideas.
And we’ll hear the retailer’s perspective, and how to keep value in the value chain from industry expert Ray Butcher.
Tickets are just $50 + GST per ticket to cover catering.
The link to register is: https:// valueaddingfoodanddrinktasmania.eventbrite.com.au , or you can register via Events on the Seedlab Tasmania Facebook page.
Third harvest WE’RE getting to the pointy end of the third round of Cultivate, the Seedlab six-month Accelerator program.
Cultivate is an intense program that provides information, training and support for all aspects of your business: from food safety to branding, intellectual property to scale-up.
We have supported 40 Tasmanian businesses through Cultivate in the past 20 months. Cultivate culminates in “Harvest” – our unique and vibrant harvest festival where we celebrate growth and our community.
Pics; JESS OAKENFULL
Jane Dening of Coaldale Walnuts (Cultivate 2) said of Cultivate: “I feel privileged to have been selected to join the Seedlab program. Without this guidance, support and mentoring, I would not have had the confidence and skills to upscale my business and venture into broader markets.”
Coaldale Walnuts at Richmond has seen tremendous change in the past 12 months – bringing the second generation on to the family farm, and focusing on wider distribution of their walnut kernels and pickled walnuts.
Come and celebrate the successful Cultivation of our Third Cultivate Crew – all 13 of them. Third Harvest is on Monday, November 29, at Willie Smith’s Apple Shed.
Tickets are just $60 + GST for the noon-6 pm session where you’ll be able to taste, talk and hear the stories of the graduates and our alumni. To register: https://seedlabtasmaniathirdharvest.eventbrite.com.au or via Events on the Seedlab Tasmania Facebook page.