Small Community Farm Big Community Impact

Established in 2013, through an agreement between Racing Queensland and SANDBAG, Green P Community Farm is a hidden oasis that locals to the 4017 may drive past every day and not be aware it exists.

Green P Community Farm is a farm located on a portion of the unused land at the Deagon Training Racecourse. With an area of 3000m2, farm coordinator and community partnerships worker, Daniel Cruz, explains that it is a space where families from refugee and diverse cultural backgrounds gather to grow organic vegetables, build community and develop skills supporting their active contributions to Australian society.

“There are 60 members and their families who have migrated to Australia from Bhutan, Myanmar (Karen), Solomon Islands, Tanzania, PNG, South Sudan and New Zealand. The farm has proved to be a great space to build community,” Daniel said.

The idea was born from a group of community development workers from SANDBAG, Multicultural Australia and the Brisbane City Council.

Since its inception, the Farm has established relationships with many local community organisations. These include WomenSpace, St Patricks College and St Kieran’s Primary School, who share skills, volunteers and equipment, and with local cafes and restaurants who assist with coffee grounds and vegetable scraps for compost, as the farm is totally organic.

The Farm also has partnerships with the University of Queensland, QUT, Griffith University, QPASTT and the Woolworths Centre for Childhood Nutrition Reasearch. Students and researchers from various disciplines come to volunteer and to share their skills in occupational therapy, nutrition, environmental sciences and community development.

Although their impact is far reaching, both socially and environmentally, Daniel explains that due to commercial upgrades by Racing Queensland, the future of Green P Community Farm is in doubt.

“Our biggest challenge at the moment has to do with sustainability of the farm. Racing Queensland has been our biggest supporter throughout these years. By supporting the farm, Racing Queensland have made a very positive social and environmental impact on not only the refugees, benefiting over 200 people, but also on the 4017 community.

“We are really grateful to Racing Queensland for all the support they have given to us. We would like to continue to have their support and be part of their development plans as we want to continue bringing benefits to the refugees and the 4017 community with their support,” said Daniel.

If you would like to meet the expert farmers and purchase organic veggies and spices, the Green P Community Farm is open every day from 10am until 3pm. (Tuesdays 1pm to 3pm). They are also open to volunteers.

“The farmers love to show off their produce and visitors always leave with their arms full of veggies, flowers, spices and herbs and their hearts filled with the kindness of the farmers.”

For more information you can email Daniel on dcruz@sandbag.org.au or visit www.sandbag.org.au/