One of the more unusual events during the 2022 River of Art across the Eurobodalla Shire is the Jingara Farm Experience. Michelle and Graham Scobie have been developing Jingara Farm at Mogendoura as a sustainability showcase for almost a decade and on Saturday, 24 Septeber from 2.30-4.30pm they will be inviting the public to inspect the work they have been doing in terms of self-sufficiency.
Jingara Farm is a 232 hectare (570 acre) property on Hawdon’s Road at Mogendoura which is just 8km from Moruya. The Scobie’s breed Damara sheep and Border Collie dogs and live entirely off the grid. The Experience will showcase the breeding programs for both the dogs and the sheep as well as the solar system and the natural building methods they have employed over the years including stone, cordwood and pole frame construction.
As well as losing approximately 5km of fences in a bushfire on 24 Jan 2020, they also lost their shed and have replaced it with a 200 square metre construction utilising pole frame timber from the property as well as corrugated iron that was damaged in the fire in Broulee. Their rammed earth home was built by previous owners Steve and Bev Clarke.
They also have an extensive vegetable garden and orchard and all winter heating, cooking and hot water is provided by the one slow combustion stove. Rain water storage has been increased from 10,000 litres on arrival in 2013 to the current 130,000 litres and Mogendoura Creek water for gardens and stock troughs has now been augmented by a 3 megalitre dam.
The afternoon will commence with a tour of the homestead area followed by afternoon tea of rhubarb crumble and a short concert of 7 original songs by Graham and Michelle from the 7 albums they have produced.
Cost is $10 for adults and $5 for children with a maximum of $30 for a family. You can book for the Jingara Farm Experience and get directions to the property by phoning Graham on 0409 225957 or emailing graham@scobie.com.au It has been timed so that participants can go directly to the main event of the River of Art, Luminous, in Riverside Park, Moruya.
