Report celebrates project’s growing success

FARM My School has celebrated its success on the Bellarine as it prepares to turn over new ground in Colac.

Bellarine Secondary College (BSC), Bellarine Community Health (BCH) and Farm My School (FMS) launched its pilot project report, subtitled “Growing more than carrots” at the college’s Drysdale campus on Thursday last week.

The report details how the Farm My School project at BSC began, what it set out to achieve, the in-kind and financial support that enabled the project to grow, and the community stories and connections built both at the time and into the future.

In 2021, FMS and BCH made the first connection, with FMS pitching the idea: “What if schools could feed their communities? What if we used underused school land to build farms that could be used as a site for learning and connection, as well as providing a new source of locally grown fresh produce?”

Collectively, FMS and BCH pooled a broad range of skills to bring the concept to life, such as farming, education, business, health, sustainability, finance and community engagement.

By December 2021, BCH had secured funding through a Victorian government grant to start a pilot.

Conversations with BSC began at the start of 2022, and a formal partnership was signed in May of that year.

Speaking at last week’s report launch, FMS co-founder James McLennan said the farm could not have been realised without the support of its partners, especially BSC principal Wayne Johannesen.

“He could see our vision from the beginning and he continues to champion our ideas, along with many others here today.”

In October 2022, the project was launched with the “Build a Farm in a Day” event, with 600 community members pitching in to help out.

Milestones along the way included FMS harvesting its first vegetables and employing its first farmer in January 2023, produce being sold at a market stall at Ket Baker in January 2024, Mr McLennan receiving the inaugural Jamie Oliver’s Food Entrepreneur of the Year award in October 2024, and ABC TV program Gardening Australia filming on site in November 2024.

FMS is growing to the west, with the 24-hour “Build a Farm in a Day” event at Colac Secondary College starting at 9am on November 22.

In its conclusion, the report states FMS’ first year focused on laying the physical and emotional foundation of the farm.

“Over the past year, the emphasis has shifted towards embedding the farm into the college’s culture and learning environment, bringing to life the core principles of the project’s vision.

“The FMS pilot at BSC has become more than a project; it is now a pillar of community empowerment, innovative education, and sustainability.

“As the farm continues to grow, it promises to leave a lasting legacy for students, staff, and the broader Bellarine community.”