About Summit

Location

Summit Organics is located in north-eastern New South Wales, Australia. Our farm is thirty kilometres west of the town of Murwillumbah, and eight kilometres beyond the historic village of Tyalgum which is known locally as the ‘Heart of the Caldera.’ In this sub-tropical region of NSW’s Northern Rivers, Mount Warning-Wollumbin and its surrounding ‘caldera’ are remnants of the long-extinct and enormous Tweed Volcano.

Summit Organics is owned by Rod and Tania Bruin, and their farm comprises 128 hectares (338 acres). This property is located right next to the World Heritage-listed Border Ranges National Park and commands absolutely stunning views. The vegetable production area is an intensive market garden and utilises approximately 2.5 hectares (six acres).

Organic Certification

The farm is certified with Australian Certified Organic (ACO Producer No. 2199), is subject to the Australian Organic Standards, and is audited annually.

We produce more than fifty different vegetable and herb crops in a year. They are marketed through New Brighton Farmers’ Market (Tuesdays 8.00 – 11.0am), Murwillumbah Farmers’ Market (Wednesdays 7.00 – 11.00am) Mullumbimby Farmers’ Market (Fridays 8.00 – 11.00am) and the Gold Coast Organic Farmers Market  Sundays (6.30 – 11.30am at Merrimac State High School).

History

Summit Organics originally started out as Summit Coffee Plantations when we were producers of the first ‘Certified Organic’ coffee to be grown and processed in Australia. Approximately 15 years ago we decided to focus on organic vegetables. Our first vegetable crop was sweet potatoes which we sold at the Lismore Organic Market. This first, small taste of success gave us the confidence to gradually increase the range of crops.

Inputs

The irrigation water used by Summit Organics comes from two spring-fed dams and is gravity-fed to the production area, so no pumping is needed.  The dams are also filled by rainwater falling directly onto the Border Ranges, a pristine environment which is largely unexplored by humans. We use flexible irrigation pipe to drip-feed water directly to the plants. Drip/trickle irrigation minimises water consumption as drip feeding targets only the plants that require water. The irrigation pipe is re-used many times on the farm, drastically cutting down our use of plastics.

Summit Organics are in the process of improving soil condition through the regular application of certified organic compost. This is produced by Lismore City Council from council-collected green waste, and arrives by ‘truck and dog’ (i.e. truck + trailer) loads of around 36 cubic metres.

Education

Rod interviewed by Mikey Densham of the No Till Market Garden Podcast Listen HERE 

Summit Organics are actively involved in education and training. We regularly host Farm Walks on the property, teaching interested people about organic farming and soil care. Regular attendees include: Organic Agriculture students from TAFE; Permaculture students; and of course many of our market customers.

Rod continues to be invited to speak at various organic forums, film nights and related activities held throughout the region. He has been awarded life-membership of the local Soil Care group in recognition of his efforts.

Summit Organics has an ongoing involvement with TROPO, the Tweed Richmond Organic Producers Organisation: go here to TROPO

There is a superb video of our May 2010 Farm Walk which can be viewed at www.forgreenies.com or on You Tube.

Rod and Tania also feature in the excellent new documentary, ‘The Worm is Turning’ : go to https://vimeo.com/ondemand/thewormisturning.

Philosophy

We aim to provide greater security and sustainability to the local food supply as well as increased production with minimal ecological footprint. We continually trial new crops, crop covers and growing systems. Most important of all is the promotion of healthy soil and crops through excellent organic farming practices.

In a nutshell, our philosophy is: healthy soil—healthy plants—healthy people—and of course, a healthier planet!

The People

Peter Bracher – administration