The RegenNarration 167. Farm Like the World Depends On It, with Kaycee Simuong & Tom Macindoe
What if you could regenerate farmland and create a sustainable farming lifestyle while also building a strong community? Join Anthony as he visits Tom and Kaycee, an innovative young farming couple from the Nambucca Valley on Gumbaynggirr Country in NSW, who are doing just that. They share their remarkable journey of stewarding 400 acres of forest and grassland into a thriving regenerative farm, and founding the North Arm Farms Co-op - a unique enterprise model that sends 100% of what we spend on our food directly to the farmers.
Hear how Tom and Kaycee are adapting to the dramatically changing climate of the Nambucca Valley, from drought to fire and flooding, and how they're learning to build resilience in their farming practices. They also share their experience with a Myanmar agricultural cooperative founded by Burmese refugees.
In addition to their inspiring farming journey, Kaycee and Tom have established a unique seven-way partnership to manage North Arm Farms co-op. They talk about the keys to success in that model. They also talk about their vision for protecting the land, including through traditional fire management programs and conservation agreements, as well as their decision to step away from organic certification. Their delivery van carries the slogan, ‘Farm like the world depends on it’.
Head here for automatic cues to chapter markers, and a transcript of this conversation (please note this transcript is AI generated and imperfect, but hopefully serves to provide greater access to these conversations for those who need or like to read).
This conversation was recorded at Mandarin Bend, on 11 April 2023.
With thanks to Blair Beattie from Farmers Footprint Australia for taking the driver’s seat on our journey south from the northern rivers, to visit Tom and Kaycee.
Title slide: Tom Macindoe & Kaycee Simuong on delivery day (pic: Blair Beattie).
See more photos on the episode web page, and for more from behind the scenes, become a subscriber via the Patreon page.
Find more:
Mandarin Bend Farm.
North Arm Farms collective.
Rachel’s Farm, final screening at the Sydney Film Festival on Saturday 17 June 2023.
Tune in to my conversation with Kirsten & Serenity from the Open Food Network, the market platform North Arm Farms can be found on, for episode 126.
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