St Laurence's College Urban Farm

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.

Mission Statement

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.