The goal of the Farm to School Project is to cultivate healthy food connections between farms, canteens, classrooms, and communities.

Who can get involved?

Any community members interested in this kind of program including but not limited to those working or volunteering in a school, urban farm, community garden or in the agriculture sector.

Pilot catchment area

  • Cardinia Shire
  • City of Greater Dandenong
  • City of Casey
  • Mornington Peninsula Shire
  • Frankston City

What’s happened so far? 

We’re thrilled to announce the progress of our pilot Farm 2 School initiative, designed to foster a deeper connection between schools and Down’s Community Farm. Here’s a recap of our recent milestones:

Co-Design Session 

In 2023, we hosted an engaging online co-design session with 15 passionate attendees. Together, we laid the foundation for this innovative program.

Pilot Commencement

The pilot is now underway at Downs Community Farm, with a focus on attracting schools in the Frankston area. We’re excited about the potential connections between the community, young people and education settings.

Community Engagement

A recent online round table drew 9 participants, including representatives from 3 schools and 1 TAFE institution. Their valuable input is shaping the future of Farm 2 School. Despite challenges, a farm tour attracted interest from 5 schools. While only 1 school attended, we were grateful to welcome 8 partners, including 2 stakeholders from Downs Community Farm.

School Engagement

We’re delighted to share that one school has commenced regular visits to Down’s Community Farm. Discussions are ongoing with another school to join us on this exciting journey.

Impact and Feedback

Early feedback from an informal survey is promising. 54% of participating students express a newfound interest in growing their own food, while 9% are keen to support local produce initiatives.

 

Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to nurture this vital connection between agriculture and education in our community!.

For further information, contact the Project Lead