Farmgategate

Joe’s Farm Gate receives non-fatal blow, but questions over CERES’ integrity remains

In mid-May 2023, CERES’ CEO Cinnamon Evans announced on ABC’s 774 breakfast program that the Farm Gate at Joe’s Garden was closing due to financial stress. Evans joined the program because earlier that morning, a local, long-term volunteer of Joe’s Market Garden had called in to express her disappointment at the recent news from CERES about the Farm Gate closure.

Locals mobilised immediately, organising a ‘Last Hurrah’ event at the Farm Gate, and sending letters to the CERES board, Evans, and the Merri-bek Council.

A day before the Last Hurrah, it was announced that CERES received a state government grant of $1 million over 2 years for the ‘CERES Community Enterprise Precinct’. The next day, an update was provided by CERES, stating that the organisation was ‘heartened’ by the community support for the Farm Gate announcing that it would remain open on Saturdays over Winter and that they would review the decision in Spring.

During COVID, the Farm Gate opened everyday. Local artist Gabrielle Pounsett wrote about it as a place “where we gather, are sustained… isolation, anxiety, and loss fall away… the garden was a constant during the long bleak years”.

Between lockdowns, the Farm Gate continued to grow in popularity with locals offering edible weed and medicinal herb tours, ‘weed’ dating, local bird tours and a monthly ‘open carrot’ (open mic). However, as Victoria’s restrictions eased, the space naturally became quieter, and the Farm Gate reduced its hours to four days a week.

Abruptly, Farm Gate staff received an email from HR being told that their roles were going to be ending within two and a half weeks and that the Farmgate would be closing, triggering the Last Hurrah.

At the event, a large group of disgruntled but cautiously optimistic locals descended upon the site to munch toasties and sip coffees whilst discussing the future of the site. A discussion circle was dominated by questions directed to those executives and staff from CERES in attendance.

Cr Mark Riley spoke out against the corporatisation of CERES, questioning his own part in the recent Council decision to support a grant of $120k (which is usually given annually).

The loss of $12,000 in the last financial year was cited by Evans and other CERES’ staff as the main reason for the reduction in Farm Gate hours. However, this only accounts for roughly 13 per cent of the total loss that CERES faced in the last financial year. The loss was also during a time of managerial changes at Joe’s.

The events at CERES are a reminder that despite a business having a good reputation, they can still make bad decisions. Local support shows us that Joe’s Farm Gate was worth saving and is worth investing in.

By MC, SS and LB