Frequently Asked Questions

Zaytuna Farm, is a living and working family farm and a Permaculture demonstration and education centre, we are always very busy. We are a very small team, as such we are not able to accommodate general farm visits.  We do however, invite you to join us on one of our quarterly Farm Tours. In addition to Farm Tours we also run various courses and events. If you want to get involved and have some serious time/energy and plan to make a commitment to Permaculture than please refer to this section on our website.

For general Permaculture related questions we encourage you to visit our sister sites, they all offer a wealth of resources:
1. Pop over to Geoff Lawton’s website and join the learning circle. Here you will find an impressive collection of resources and a 24/7 online community full of Permaculture enthusiasts. It’s 100% FREE.
2. Visit the Permaculture Research Institute to post your questions or find your answers in one of the many forums.
3. Grow your Permaculture network and connect with like minded people across the globe.
4. Should you require consultancy services then we recommend Permaculture Sustainable Consulting Pty.

Accommodation is in self-provided tents or camper vans/caravans. We can provide a spot for your tent/camper on flat ground in our campsite area which is within close proximity to the Commons.

In this area we also have 10 raised and covered camping platforms that can provide extra shelter for tents that are smaller than 4m x 2.5m. These platforms are on a first-come, first served basis and are not guaranteed for all students. Please liaise with a member of staff/apprentice before setting up camp.

Please refer to the facilities section for a full list of amenities.

Sorry, we don’t provide tents or any camping equipment. You are required to provide all of your own accommodation needs. Please prepare yourself accordingly for the season. We recommend a good waterproof tent, air mattress, sleeping bag, blankets and pillow. If you want to protect yourself from the early morning sun then a tarp is a good idea. These items can be purchased in neighbouring Lismore.

At this point in time Zaytuna Farm is only able to offer camping facilities. However, there are several other accommodation options in the area:

• The Channon Butter Factory Tavern is a 20-30minute walk from Zaytuna Farm and offers single, double and family rooms from $60. It is also the closet place for hot meals.
• Anna’s Retreat is an 8min drive/5km from Zaytuna Farm and offers self contained cabins from $150 a night for 2.
• Terania Green Boutique Cottages are 10min drive/6km from Zaytuna Farm. They offer self contained timber cottages from $150.
• Eternity Springs is15min drive/12km from Zaytuna Farm and offers a peaceful retreat.

Meals are fresh and healthy. We have meat and vegetarian meals at all sittings. We try to get most of our ingredients from our very own gardens but depending on the seasons some foods are sourced from local markets and we choose organic produce when possible.

Yes, if you have indicated on your application that you are Vegetarian, then Vegetarian meals will be provided for you. Vegetarian meals will be indicated as such on the serving counter and will be specifically reserved for those who have indicated themselves as having a vegetarian diet. Unfortunately we cannot cater for any further special dietary requirements and if you have special needs then you are expected to provide for yourself.

We Recommend that you bring enough supplies with you before arriving at the farm (especially if you don’t have your own mode of transport). The local store does supply most items but it is much more expensive than major stores in the larger towns/cities. The local Tavern also provides meals at lunch and dinner time. The Channon market is held on the second Sunday of the month, which also offers a range of food options.

Yes there is. We ask for all vehicles to be parked in the designated car parking area, please follow the signs.

If you are participating in a course and camping at Zaytuna Farm, then camper-vans may be parked in the designated camping area. If you have a caravan we ask that you return your vehicle back to the main carpark once you have set up your caravan/camper. In wet/muddy weather please try to refrain from bringing your vehicle onto the camping area.

We have state of the art modern clean compost toilets and solar heated gas backed up hot showers, a coin operated launderette ($4 a wash), laptop working station & small library plus a communal kitchen with refrigerator.

Filtered rainwater is provided from specially marked taps both in the dining area and communal kitchen in the commons. All other taps in the commons and the bathrooms is unfiltered rainwater. Any taps not attached to a building is dam water used for irrigation DO NOT DRINK.

We provide a lot of advice on the website at the time of booking your course/event. Please refer to your course/event page for the most relevant information to you.

We ask that you ensure that your toiletries, soaps, etc., are eco-friendly. That means free of any chemicals and labelled as such. Please ensure you bring your own towel.

There is no outside lighting system in the camp ground, so please bring a head-torch/flashlight.

If you are coming to Zaytuna Farm as an Apprentice/Volunteer then we recommend to bring; rubber gumboots, water proof coat, torch, drink bottle, good shade hat, sunglasses, thick long work pants (drill cotton or denim are more scratch and snake bite proof), working gloves (if you have soft hands), and long sleeved cotton work shirts (to avoid sun burn). Work boots must be worn ALL THE TIME WHEN WORKING on the ground on the farm and removed before entering any building on site, as such we recommend you bring elastic sided slip on work boots as lace up boots are going to be very frustrating.

When living in a community and on a farm that strives to be as sustainable as possible, the way in which you conduct yourself is very important. Below we have provided some guidelines to help you with your general conduct:

• Make yourself familiar with the Zaytuna Farm Etiquette and MOU.
• Take your shoes off before entering any of the buildings.
• Clean up after yourself and don’t leave personal items laying around.
• When you have finished at the workstation unplug your laptops/mobile devices and make space for others who may need to use the facilities.
• Be conscious of the amount of time you spend in the shower, try to conserve water, please use organic toiletries/don’t leave the floor muddy/wet, make sure you leave the toilet seat/cover down. If any of the supplies have ran out or something is broken inform an Apprentice/member of staff.
• Our electrical systems are solar based, be mindful of your energy consumption. Aim to charge devices during the middle of the day when the sun is at it’s strongest and try to use as little power as possible after dark. Please switch off lights when not in use.
• Please note, that on weekends you are not permitted at Nadia & Geoff’s house site, for the purposes of rest and privacy, unless they are performing a specific task (like feeding the animals).

We appreciate that circumstances change. Please refer to our refund conditions which are detailed in the terms and conditions section of our website.

That all depends on your mode of transport. We have provided lots of information in our detailed directions section. If you are joining us for a course and are interested in car-pooling then please email us so we can let other members of your course know.

Ultimately this is up to you. However, we would recommend our International students and visitors to have comprehensive travel insurance for cancellation, medical expenses, personal accident, personal baggage, money and liability before travelling to Zaytuna Farm. Travel insurance is relatively cheap and can be purchased through a number of channels.

If you are staying at Zaytuna Farm in the capacity of a Volunteer we recommend that you obtain a Wwoofing membership as this will cover you with some form of insurance cover for small accidents. See their website for more details.

We do not provide any advice for vaccinations. Please speak with your Doctor or visit WHO website. Due to the fact that we are an active farm, we do recommend that all visitors have a valid tetanus vaccination.

I’m afraid we are unable to offer advice in connection to your visa. Please visit the government website for the most up to date information and to find a visa that is right for your situation.

Anything left behind on site will be held for a maximum of 4 weeks and will then be disposed of. If you think you have left something behind please contact us and provide a full detailed description of your item and where you think you left it, we will then confirm via email if the item has been found.

On weekends, most people take the opportunity to explore the local area, which includes the nearby waterfall and national park.

The Channon Craft Market, the oldest in the region, is held every second Sunday of the month in the village, an easy 15 minute walk from the farm. The market has a diverse and interesting range of food options to choose from. For more information, visit the Channon Market website.

Nimbin, the third most visit town in New South Wales is a 20 minute drive away.

Byron Bay, the very popular coastal town and surfers heaven is a 40-50 minute drive away.

Zaytuna Farm is in a high rainfall area, with a summer rainy season starting in November/December through to April/May. Temperatures around 30ºC/86ºF and high humidity is common. In the cooler months, May to October we can have occasional light frosts on the ground in the early mornings. The days are usually a nice and warm 20º/68ºF.