The co-managers, Charlotte Bartlett-Wynne and Eve Fraser, say the relationships being forged over the physical labour of growing food are one of the great things about this farm. “A lot of farmers experience isolation but this farm is part of the community,” Bartlett-Wynne says. “I think we are really lucky in that way.”
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But they have worked at it. Farm Raiser is a not-for-profit social enterprise that has transformed a 7300-square metre patch of mown grass into a bountiful farm with strong ties to organisations providing a range of support services.
The first crops went in five years ago. Among the produce being harvested each week are hundreds of bunches of coriander, bags of leafy greens, masses of cabbages and flowers. Still in the polytunnel in which they have been raised from seed are tomatoes, cucumbers and many other summer herbs and vegetables. The first round of zucchinis has been transplanted outside, not far from an expansive bed of garlic entering its final stretch of growth.
Meanwhile, Pocket City Farms market garden in the inner-Sydney suburb of Camperdown has just run a fully booked school holiday program, teaching children to make seed bombs, recognise different bugs and care for chickens among other gardening-related activities.
This 1200-square metre growing space was established on a one-time bowling green in 2016. Growing food on this farm, like at Farm Raiser, is closely bound up with building community. This is a place of food relief projects and educational programs. Multiple volunteering sessions are held each week as community helps to propagate, plant, weed, make compost and generally grow “good, clean, local food” using organic principles. They also care for the farm’s three chickens.
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Turmeric, baby blue popcorn, chicory and lemongrass are among crops being harvested but this social enterprise also encourages people to grow food at home “whether you’ve got a balcony, a backyard or just a few pots”.
So what can home gardeners take away from urban farms?
Bartlett-Wynne says the best way to tackle pests is to increase the variety of what you are growing. By cultivating a mix of different vegetables, herbs and flowers, including cover crops, you can encourage more beneficial insects that provide natural pest control.Improve the microbial activity in your soil by adding organic matter, minimising tilling and keeping your soil covered.Avoid planting every seedling at once. Stagger your planting to avoid boom-and-bust cycles and harvest over a longer period of time.The more growing seasons you put in, the more you understand the needs of particular crops, and also the different microclimates within your garden.Volunteer at an urban farm, or even just visit one. The Farm Raiser urban farm in Bellfield is open with Open Gardens Victoria on Saturday, October 25, and Sunday, October 26, while there will be a 45-minute “Sustainability Farm Tour” at Pocket City Gardens in Camperdown (bookings essential) on Saturday, December 6.
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