Over
the last decade Urban Agriculture has grown both internationally and nationally
building on our historic mission and need to grow our own food and feed our
communities. There are numerous urban agricultural systems;
however, Mougeot (2001; pg. 10) provides a concise definition that enlightens
the multi-functionality of urban farming.
Urban Agriculture is an industry
located within (intra-urban) or the fringe (peri-urban) of a town, a city or a
metropolis, which grows and raises, processes and distributes a diversity of
food and non-food products, (re)-using largely human and material resources,
products and services found in an around that urban area, and in turn supplying
human and material resources, products and services largely to
that urban area.
Planning for food security is emerging as a
new duty for local, state and federal governments in Australia and worldwide.
In urban regions food planning is becoming paramount, due to a higher
proportion of its residents being more likely to be food insecure, and cities
becoming more vulnerable to shocks the current industrialised and centralised
food system. Urban agriculture provides tools for cities to remedy this
situation and increase their resilience to economic, social and environmental
crisis. At St. Laurence’s College, the urban
agriculture movement is recognised, encouraged, and supported both in the
curriculum and as a co-curricular activity. Urban agriculture and all
of its practices is embraced as a desirable land use, rather than an incidental
one, and is committed through its activities to educating the mind,
rejuvenating the spirit and nourishing the body through hands-on experience of
sustainable urban agriculture and local food systems.
Vision Statement
The multifaceted horticulture
and agriculture work of the St Laurence’s College Urban Farm is a model and
inspiration for creating livable, sustainable, connected urban communities, by
building critical links between community, urban food production and education.
Our mission is
to promote and provide a practical working model of the sustainable production
of food within an urban setting by:
·
Designing, installing, maintaining, improving and
managing food systems
·
Conducting all on-site activities with the
assessment and mitigation of risks that may impact the health, safety or
welfare of all stakeholders who are on-site with permission of the Principal or
the Principals agents
· Conducting
educational tours for class groups, staff and visitors to the college
· Disseminating
information about the developing, operating and maintaining the urban farm to the
wider community, professional associations and online communities
· Providing
opportunities for students, staff and parents to become involved in
after-school activities that supports the growth and maintenance of the urban
farm in practical ways
· Keeping
in touch and up-to-date with current research, practices and ideas relating to
sustainable food production in order to inform future decision making
· Prioritising
the sourcing of second-hand, discarded or donated materials and equipment for
their re-purpose and re-use in food production systems
Values
Caring
for the planet
We employ sustainable agriculture principles and support community members who
share our commitment to environmental stewardship.
Eco-justice
We hold
the unshakeable belief that ecology and social justice are inseparable.
Educating
by doing
We lead by example and inspire and educate others to achieve their own visions
for healthy and verdant communities.
Welcoming
everyone
We create spaces that are open for all to learn, share, grow, and nurture
themselves, their families, and their neighborhoods.
Maintaining
transparency
We are open and direct in our farming practices and committed to providing
accurate information to our school and to the wider community.
Safety in design
We invest safe design and build principles in a
project that applies over the entire life cycle of that project.
Being
groundbreaking
We believe our innovations in urban farming can lead the cultivation of a
healthier, greener school and city.
