We shall not cease from exploration
And the end of all our exploring
Will be to arrive where we started
And know the place for the first time.
~ T.S. Eliot
Deep Winter 2026 will be held at Murwillumbah Showgrounds in the Northern Rivers Region, NSW on the 11th to 13th Sept.
The event deepens its roots this year with a simple, democratic unconference. The concept behind Deep Winter is to bring small and medium scale farmers and allies together to participate in a joyful event where we collectively discuss our challenges and successes, and share knowledge, experiences, and strategy to deepen our thinking and strengthen our movement for agroecology and food sovereignty.
2015-2025: A very short recap
Back in 2015, we worried about regulations & corporations that made it difficult for livestock farmers to build or access processing facilities. Now there are on-farm butcher’s shops and even abattoirs across the country, and state governments are supporting us!
Market gardeners had it easy on the regulation front in 2015, but worried about the risks & realities of burn out in what can be back-breaking toil. But FSANZ made the veg farmers fellow victims of scale-inappropriate regs with the ‘licence to sell lettuce’. But because we are collectivised, we won exemptions for the little guys.
Allies shared initiatives to help connect growers & eaters, and we debated whether an aggregated box scheme can be called a CSA (no, said CSA farmers, though there are many wonderful box schemes). Our allies have grown in number and deepened in solidarity every year.
If you aren’t already a member of the Australian Food Sovereignty Alliance, join now to help our powerful movement collectivise, organise and act!
