Growing Farmers

25/03/2023

The wonderful farmer Jesse took us for an incredibly informative and generous tour of the Wurundjeri garden and veg and cut flower gardens on Wurundjeri Country along Birrarung. Farmers were able to hear about the growth of the space and changes in soil management, witness and experience some of the farm systems in place, including harvesting, washing and packing produce for the farm gate. We also got a wire weeding demo!

We enjoyed our DIY banh mi catering from get in touch with them for your delicious catering needs.

Thanks to for funding our education program. Let us know if you want to join in next time!

16/03/2023

This weeks offerings at the include beautiful summer produce from the backyard farmers and and staples from

We love our Fawkner Food Hub!

24/02/2023

This weeks offerings to grown regeneratively in Fawkner soils on Wurundjeri Country by and the backyard farmers!

Image 1 shows the following vegetables spread out on a round table: Lebanese zucchini, big yellow button squash, cucumbers, carrots, beetroots, eggplants, green chillies, cherry and large tomatoes, green capsicum, okra. Green and purple basil, and Vietnamese mint! This image doesn’t show the 9kg of grapes picked from one our backyard farms!
Image 2: a big stack of harvest crates on a trolley wheeling into the senior citizens centre
Image 3 black crates stacked in the back of a car taken from the cool room at Fawkner food bowls to be delivered to the hub!

21/02/2023

Thank you to Danny from for hosting us so graciously on a very hot midsummer evening! We managed to have shade from the double-story neighbour in the west, which was a relief for us and the farm! Danny shared the opportunities and challenges on buying an existing farm business, whilst also farming elsewhere, and share some plant care, pruning and trellising tips and techniques with us.

With thanks to for feeding us so well and keeping us hydrated with the most delicious iced tea! They are open for catering if you’re looking for a merri-Bek based caterer!

With thanks to funding from for paying farmers to run our education sessions and supporting us to grow a new generation of farmers!

17/02/2023

We are so lucky to be growing food as backyard farmers with our buddies and distributing through who are celebrating 50 weeks feeding community weekly in Fawkner!

The backyard farmers project is an experiment in partnering merri-bek residents who want access to space for learning to grow food, with mentorship and education, in other people’s backyards. We are in our second year of experimenting with some farms now sending beautiful locally grown pesticide-free produce out to locals via the merri food hub. We’re building resilience in our food system, and working it out as we go.

16/02/2023

Thank you to and .veggie.empire for a wonderful tour and activity sponsored by sharing some herb dividing and winter sowing skills with us as well as the many years of wisdom from Rachel and the team in building such an amazing project! We are inspired and amazed at how persistence, people care and mindfulness can create amazing outcomes for the lives of farmers. We aspire to grow just like you! And thank you for catering such delicious and nutritious foods and flavours 🤠

09/11/2022

Our networked farms grant from has allowed the backyard farmers to access the most beautiful seedlings grown by Kelly and the community at which will be planted out across the 5 farms and in the market garden rows at FFB. We’re testing a model to work collaboratively sharing resources within our communities and streamlining our processes - emphasizing the unique skills, space and people available in our community! We’re working on our communication, how we function as a network and prioritising our relationships, to grow food well.

You can find out more in person and hear from the farmers in our upcoming tours from 10am-1pm on Saturday 26th November in Fawkner for Link in bio 🤠

ID a happy farmer Ben is kneeling down behind a collection of beautiful seedlings, such as tomatoes, capsicums, watermelon and basil. Behind him is blue skies and Fatima, the greenhouse, at Fawkner Food Bowls. Ben is wearing a short sleeved beige shirt, orange sunglasses and a cap and is smiling 🙂

11/10/2022

The recent rain and sunshine has brought the backyard farmers out to swarm! Here are some happy people together in an abundant and vibrant backyard on Wurundjeri Land in Coburg North, with plenty of pollinators and bugs around and the soil smelling good. This farm has been been tended to for many years by Francesca’s late husband. Backyard farmers Carla, Rebecca and Lindsay are beginning to see the benefits of tending to it, creating air flow, letting in the light and learning to relate with one another in harmony.

We are a small and new community organisation run mostly by volunteers. If you’re able to support us in setting up backyard farms, please consider donating on our website to help us grow soils, food and share with our community in Merri-Bek.

01/09/2022

Want to try out backyard farming over summer?

We are looking for someone to co-farm with one of our backyard farmers for six months between October 2022 and April 2023.

The backyard farm is established and located in Fawkner, Melbourne. As a backyard farmer you will:
- Collaborate with another farmer on crop planning, planting, harvesting and distribution throughout the spring/summer season
- Gain practical experience in urban farming
- Commit 1-2 days per week to the project as a volunteer
- Have access to food growing workshops
- Grow healthy, nutritious food for yourself and the community
- Join a network of 6 farms across North Moreland, meet other urban farmers and local community members.

Keen to join the local food revolution?
Complete a short form by Wednesday 21 September: https://rb.gy/yxwsgg.

12/08/2022

Fawkner locals! Get fresh, local food direct from farmers via the Merri Food Hub 🥦

Here are three reasons why you should seriously consider buying your produce from Merri Food Hub:

1. Our produce costs far less than Colesworthdi: We source from farmers and producers, and can pass on savings to you

2. We champion shorter supply chains: this means your fruit and vegetables last much much longer than the stuff you normally buy

3. We are resident-led: Merri Food Hub was set up by two Fawkner residents who saw the need: fresh, affordable and culturally-relevant fruit and veg.

If you don’t agree, come by and see us. We’ll soon change your mind. Actually, no. We won’t. The produce speaks for itself!

Fridays, 10 am - 4pm at the Senior Citizens’ Centre on Jukes Road, Fawkner or online at https://openfoodnetwork.org.au/merri-food-hub/shop. Order online before 10 am tomorrow to collect on Friday!

10/05/2022

One of our Backyard Farmers Project landhosts recently featured on Gardening Australia! Sapphire shows us how to encourage a wider range of fungi in your garden by leaving some dead plants in the garden, using a wider range of mulch (not just wood chips), and avoid using antifungal chemicals.

We meet Dr Sapphire McMullan-Fisher – a fungal ecologist who can measure the health of her neighbourhood parks - and her garden - by the different fungi growing there.

29/03/2022

Upcoming workshop, free for Moreland residents!

Practical, accessible cooking workshop using produce from the Fawkner Food Bowls to create a delicious, low cost, waste free meal! A Fawkner Food Bowls & Jesuit Social Services Ecological Justice Hub collab and supported by Moreland Council. See event details to register!

https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/zero-waste-garden-to-plate-cooking-workshop-tickets-277353781627

Practical, accessible cooking workshop using produce from the Fawkner Food Bowls to create a delicious, low cost, waste free meal

10/03/2022

We are thrilled to announce that we recently launched round two of the Backyard Farmers Project.

Joining the project are eleven aspiring farmers, who will be creating and maintaining five farms across North Moreland, growing fresh food for the local community.

On Saturday we held the launch at an existing backyard farm, harvesting, preparing and eating the abundant produce growing there.

The following day our farmers headed to Future Seeds Nursery in Pakenham for their first workshop on seedling propagation.

Over the next month we will be holding working bees to establish the new farms!

On Saturday we held the launch at an existing backyard farm, harvesting, preparing and eating the abundant produce growing there.

The following day our farmers headed to in Pakenham for their first workshop on seedling propagation.

10/03/2022

10/03/2022

08/03/2022

Want to support the next generation of farmers?

We have partnered with CERES Fair Food as the recipient of their Pay-It-Forward program, with all donations through autumn helping us support new farmers.

Through round 2 of our Backyard Farmers Project we are assisting 11 aspiring farmers to grow food on 5 farms across North Moreland, and your donations directly assist us to run the program.

Our farmers receive access to land, mentoring, training and start up assistance.

Donate today: https://members.ceresfairfood.org.au/products/4048?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=SUNDAY%20March%206&utm_content=SUNDAY%20March%206+CID_06c424741b2ceb5def95e001f6ed98ac&utm_source=Email&utm_term=her

17/02/2022

Experiencing financial hardship and have a dream of getting into farming? Local Food Connect - Melbourne are generously sponsoring a place to attend Farmer Incubator's PUGF Program.

We need more farmers into the future! So Local Food Connect is pleased to offer a sponsorship to attend this year's Pop up Garlic Farmers Program.
PUGF is a 9 month beginner's course in small scale farming. It includes 8 hands on workshops, farm tours and panel discussions with specialists and industry experts. Then put your knowledge to the test by growing your own crop of garlic with a Site Facilitator to support you and a group of fellow farmers to share the experience. Choose from one of six farms across Melbourne.
Act NOW. Program starts 26th February. Email your interest to: [email protected]

For more information join Farmer Incubator's webinar at 6pm on Thursday 17th Feb.
https://fb.me/e/51hOwzxCE

10/02/2022

Are you interested in joining the backyard farmers crew?

We are looking for volunteers to help our backyard farmers manage the farms in Fawkner and North Coburg. Volunteers get to meet like-minded people, learn food growing skills, gain practical experience and take home delicious fresh produce!

We are offering two types of volunteering opportunities:
- one-off volunteering at our working bees in March and April to set up the new farms
- semi-regular volunteering throughout 2022 working closely with backyard farmers

Register interest by 25 February 2022: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfT1_bctNb4pXbJnRnEZvMAzz6Ks_uV96e0a3-d9scVlaucVA/viewform