Farm My School turns two with community bash

THE team behind the trailblazing Farm My School regenerative garden will host a large community party later this month to mark the pilot program’s second birthday.

The family-friendly celebration will feature special guests and local food vendors, along with a variety of fun activities, including musical performances, tree planting in the orchard and a scarecrow-making competition.

The event will take place at the farm’s Bellarine Secondary College site on Thursday, October 31 between 3.30pm and 8.30pm, and attendees are encouraged to bring along a picnic blanket or chairs.

Farm My School co-founder James McLennan said the team was excited to invite the community back to the farm to celebrate the milestone.

“It’s really remarkable seeing the transformation of a disused soccer pitch, full of weeds and rabbit warrens, into an abundant market garden that now supports a range of programs and initiatives – and in only two years,” he said.

In 2022, more than 600 community volunteers came together to lay the groundwork for the now-thriving farm, transforming the 1.5-acre pitch with more than two-kilometres of garden beds in just 24 hours.

Since then, the farm has continued to expand its impact, engaging and supporting the local community with new knowledge, hands-on educational opportunities, community events, as well as fresh, healthy produce.

As part of the birthday celebrations, Bellarine Secondary College students are being encouraged to participate in several light-hearted and quirky competitions that showcase the farm.

A photographic competition will culminate in a display of photos of the farm at the event, while a songwriting competition will see budding musicians take to the stage to perform their creations.

Bellarine Secondary College principal Wayne Johannesen said the event was a great opportunity to celebrate the school’s partnership with Farm My School and Bellarine Community Health.

“Together we’ve achieved a lot in two years and I’m really looking forward to seeing what the students create as part of the celebrations,” he said.

“I’ve even donated one of my old suits for the scarecrow-making competition.”

Bellarine Community Health healthy communities planner Pen Lynch said throwing open the farm gates to the community to celebrate the second anniversary

“It’s hard to believe it’s been two years since the big ‘Build a Farm in a Day’ event, when construction of the farm began,” she said.

“It’s grown so much since then and the birthday party is a wonderful celebration of everyone who has contributed to the farm, big or small, since that day.”

The event is free for Bellarine Secondary College students, their families and staff, while a small admission cost for general community members will be put back into the Farm My School program.

For tickets, head to Humanitix