A community-based project converting disused urban spaces into inner-city farms is supporting environmental sustainability and social development.
The Mini Farm Project is the thought-child of Nick Steiner, who was inspired to set up a small food garden in his backyard after enrolling in a permaculture design course. After cultivating and harvesting his backyard produce, Nick donated the haul to Caboolture Community Action to support those in need.
The local community took notice and before long what started as a one-man effort had grown into the Mini Farm Project, a social enterprise with a mission to transform under-utilised urban spaces into flourishing inner-city farms. The group creates “garden pods” through land-share programs where volunteers plant vegetables, leafy greens and various herbs.
When the produce is harvested, everything grown in these urban farms is donated to food charities such as Caboolture Community Action to prepare and distribute meals to those in need. With the group estimating that around four million Australians have experienced food insecurity within the last 12 months, it is certainly a worthy cause.
Today, the Mini Farm Project is run not from Nick’s backyard but from a shared space of 800 square metres in Camp Hill that allows volunteers to grow a substantial amount of produce. The organisation also runs urban farms in Woolloongabba and Spring Hill.
Positive Action
- If you live in the Brisbane region and want to get involved, head to mfp.org.au to get in touch and register as a volunteer or visit www.facebook.com/theminifarmproject to check out the incredible work they do.
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