Hi, I’m Ben Falloon of Taranaki Farm. 

My family and I run a small pasture-based farm in north central Victoria, and I’ve been a practitioner of regenerative farming for over 10 years. Regenerative farming is a kind of holistic land management which works with nature to produce healthy organic livestock, and improves the biodiversity and resilience of the land. 

We care for our chickens

Our chickens are hand-raised in small batches of less than 300 at a time, out on the pasture. Every day they turn over a fresh plot of land, scratching for insects and thriving on a mixture of grain, pasture herbs, forbes, legumes and grasses. Our chickens are a pivotal part of the Taranaki Farm team. 

Their daily activities make an essential contribution to our pastures’ health and biodiversity, and the ongoing regeneration of the landscape wouldn’t be possible without them. We tend to them daily, and pride ourselves on giving them an environment which allows them to express their essential “chicken-ness”. The value of their contribution cannot be overstated - it’s immediately obvious where they've been when you step out on the pasture. 

Ever since we started growing pastured poultry we have wished we were in charge of the slaughter and preparation of our own chickens. It is traumatic for them to have to travel to a remote abattoir, only to be handled by strangers who have not done the work of caring for them. I know that this is sentiment we share with other small poultry producers across the country. 

For years I’ve believed that there is a better way. Better for the animals - who will not endure the stress of transport and of being handled by indifferent strangers. Better for farmers - as we will can ensure our chickens are cared for through every moment of their lives, before being slaughtered humanely. Better for the community - as they will know exactly where their food is coming from. And better for society, as this brings us another step forward in achieving greater transparency and ethics in food production.

Ethical poultry production is in danger 

In late 2017, the need for a new way of doing things became “mission critical”.  The night before I was scheduled to deliver a batch of chickens for processing, I was told that birds from small-batch farmers were no longer being accepted.

This means there’s now only one facility left in Victoria where farmers can take their chickens. It’s a precarious situation for us all, and one which definitely advantages the industrial farming industry, who keep their chickens in lightless sheds by the thousands. 

This issue effects everyone who cares about where their food comes from. If this last facility shuts out small producers, the only chicken available for purchase in Victoria will come from large scale operations and factory farms. For those of us committed to regenerative, ethical, pasture-based farming, such an outcome is intolerable.

Let's create a real solution

In the time since I was turned away I’ve been working to develop a solution - one that returns the power to farmers, and allows them complete control over the supply chain. I believe the answer lies in establishing on-farm micro facilities.

I’m prepared to build and license an on-farm micro-abattoir - a small batch plant that will ensure careful and humane slaughter of our birds. This will be fabricated by combining two shipping containers - an excellent repurposing of existing materials. 

The facility's internal layout and equipment positions have been carefully considered based on extensive research. It will support a small team of up to eight people, allowing good communication and professional conduct. Panelled internally with coolroom materials and refrigeration compressors, the building will meet compliance regulations and be very comfortable to work inside.  The slaughter and processing of the birds carries an emotional toll for us, so I have also included an abundance of natural light into the design, and will landscape the exterior to enhance the natural setting.

The chickens will be brought from the surrounding pastures without transport stress. This approach represents the very best in animal welfare considerations. We're commited to the ethical high standards that we practice. 

It will not be easy. But I’m committed because I believe that it’s essential if small pasture-based poultry producers are to have any future at all in Victoria.  Without this initiative the fine thread that is presently holding all Victorian pastured chicken producers in business could be severed without warning, leaving only industrial chicken factories to dominate the market.

Micro-facilities for on-farm processing

Using the knowledge I’ve obtained in over a decade of farming, including the licensing of my small on-farm butcher shop, I will design and build a prototype. I am committed to:

• Developing a model which other small farms can replicate and propagate
• Sharing all our research, facility designs and equipment details
• Documenting the licensing and bureaucratic challenges, and solutions
• Holding education days, public farm tours and demonstrations in the completed facility

If this campaign is successful, we can forge a new resilience in small-scale farming in Victoria. Small family farms can regain control of every stage of production, and in doing so ensure the best possible conditions for their pasture-raised chickens. No more road transport, no more stress. And you will continue to have a meaningful alternative to large scale industrially-raised meat.

If the campaign reaches its stretch goal, I pledge to mentor two additional farms in establishing their own facilities, and help them stage their own Pozible campaigns to make that happen. We need to propagate good ideas and continue to prove that small-scale farming is what our community needs to thrive and succeed.

What you can do

Your pledge will bring this essential project to fruition. Help reverse the trend of ever-increasing industrialisation and mechanisation. Help bring care and conscientiousness back to the production of pasture-raised meat. Help farmers build their own means of processing the chickens they raise to the best ethical standards.

Together, we can make it happen.

Thank You,

Ben Falloon and family,

Taranaki Farm

PRIMARY BUDGET

40' Shipping Container $5,000

20' Shipping Container $3,500

Delivery $500

Container Mod / Engineering $6,500
Footings $500
Rust treatment $500

Concrete Slab $1,000.00
Epoxy Resin $1,000.00
Floor Channel Systems $2,500

Triple Intercept and Waste Plumbing  $4,000

Wall Panelling $10,000
Electrical + Lighting $3,500
Compressors/Coolers/ $8,000
LPG Pro Scoulder $12,500
Plucker $4,500

Rotatary cones $1,850
Stainless steel benches $2,500
Chill Tanks $500

Drying Racks $500
Equipment & Coolroom shelves $1,500

Handwashing / Washdown sinks $800
Incidentals $2,000

Food Safety Plan Design / Writing $5,000
Licence & initial audit & testing $2,500

Pozible Target Budget : $80,650

STRETCH TARGET BUDGET

The stretch target budget includes items that are required for the facility, but not essential to the prototypes reproduction on other farms. This includes display doors for public demonstations (so people can see processing while it's being performed). It also includes extras such as a vaccum packing machine, consumerable like shrink bags, drying shackles and an ice machine for the icebath. 

If you help us reach the stretch target budget I will also pledge to assist through mentoring, two other farms with the research, design and build of duplicate micro-abattoir through the standing of further pozible campaigns. Lets make this great idea spread! 

Bi-Folding and Aluminium Event/Display Doors $16,500

Vacume Machine $4,500

Shrink Bags $500

Drying Shakles $1,800

Ice Machine $2,600

Ex-Dairy Bulk Tank (for Chilling) $3,000

Foot Switch for Plucker $450

Backup Logic Board for Scolder $650

Stun Box $850

Deboning Cones x 2 $198

Drip Cooling Tray $1200

Poultry Crates x 10 $600

2 x Stainless Workbenches $1130

TOTAL $33,978

Combined Primary + Stretch Budget

TOTAL $114,628

An important note about our pledge rewards

Produce cannot be posted! This means that if you select a pledge which includes produce, you'll need to be able to collect it from Taranaki Farm, Woodend, Victoria. We will be in touch regarding the dates and times that your produce will be available for collection. 

If your pledge reward also includes a farm tour, you'll be able to collect your produce on that day - please keep an eye on your email for more information.

Lastly, if you'd prefer to donate your produce we can do this on your behalf. If you are donating your pledge's produce we are happy to post any other pledge items to you if you wish. Just give us a heads up when making your pledge.