BUNNINGS WAREHOUSE CANNON HILL VISIT THE URBAN FARM

Our young urban farmers were joined on-site last week by Bunnings Warehouse Cannon Hill crew members for the planting of Australian natives.  The plants, chosen by Bunnings, are bird and bee attracting varieties.  When they eventually fruit and flower our native bees will be in for a treat!  The Bunnings team were impressed by the size of the farm and the variety of operations that it accommodates. Above all, they were most impressed by the enthusiasm with which our students participated in all aspects of the work required to be done.  All plants, pots and potting mix were generously donated by Bunnings Warehouse Cannon Hill.  

EKKA Rural Discovery Day

The Royal Queensland Show Rural Discovery Day sees Primary students celebrate and experience first-hand, Queensland primary industries.  Rural Discovery Day is a unique hands-on learning experience where students discover how their food gets from paddock to plate, with the help of actual farmers.  This year, The Urban Farm exhibited for the very first time at this annual event.  Held at the Brisbane Showgrounds since 2003, the Rural Discovery Day has proven to be an outstanding educational and entertaining event, giving city students a well-rounded education in one convenient location.

Introducing The Urban Farm official logo

Unity College visits to conduct field work on the farm

On Friday 3^rd March, a Year 9 Geography class from Unity College in Caloundra made the 1 ½ hour journey to South Brisbane in order to conduct field work on our farm.  The day began with a health and safety talk, introducing the two ‘arms’ of the project (the management/administration side, and the practical farming side), followed by an explanation of the science behind some of the growing methods.  Students and their teachers were taken on a guided tour of the farm where they collected primary data to be included in their assessment task.  Their task is to write a report evaluating the feasibility of creating a similar farm at Unity College, and to make justified recommendations for any future proposals.  After a final question and answer session was held in the air-conditioned comfort of the library, we fare-welled our guests who were most complimentary about the educational service we were able to provide them. 

Open Day is a Huge Success

On 2nd March 2017, the farm gates were flung open to welcome members of the public. Hundred's of visitors wandered through the farm on either a self-guided or student-guided tour.  Every visitor who made a comment about the farm was entirely complimentary. People, especially those seeing the farm for the first time, left the visit in awe of what has been achieved in such an awkward and unassuming space. When you see it regularly, like me, I guess you begin to take for granted how unique and truly amazing our little urban farm really is.