When we first turned an unused soccer pitch at Bellarine Secondary College into a thriving market garden, it was an experiment. Could schools really become hubs for food, education, and community resilience?
Two years on, the answer is clear: not only can they, they must.
At Bellarine, students, farmers, and volunteers have already grown tonnes of fresh produce, supplied more than 20 families with weekly veggie boxes and integrated hands-on learning into classrooms across science, maths and wellbeing. Over 2000 students have had direct farm-based learning experiences - from soil health to cooking what they’ve grown.
As Farm My School commences work on its second site at Colac Secondary College, the move marks more than just “site number two.” It signals that our model is replicable and urgently needed.
Why Replication Matters
Across Australia, thousands of hectares of school land sit under-utilised. At the same time, schools face rising rates of student disengagement, families are navigating food insecurity, and communities are grappling with the climate and health crises.
Our approach transforms these challenges into opportunity. A single school farm:
- Feeds students and families with nutrient-dense produce.
- Educates through curriculum-linked, hands-on learning.
- Employs youth in regenerative agriculture pathways.
- Connects schools with their communities through shared food culture.
Now, Colac becomes the proof-point that this isn’t just a local story, it’s a scalable solution.
Building Resilience Where It’s Needed Most
Colac is a regional hub facing many of the same pressures as communities across the country: rising cost of living, limited fresh food access, and the need for practical learning pathways that keep young people engaged.
Here, our second farm will:
- Establish a market garden co-designed with students.
- Provide food for local families through veggie boxes and school kitchens.
- Create employment and training pathways for students in regenerative farming.
- Foster a new sense of pride and agency within the school and wider community.
This is not just about growing vegetables. It’s about growing the next generation of problem-solvers, food citizens, and community leaders.
A National Opportunity
The Farm My School model has always been about more than one site. With Bellarine and soon to be Colac now anchoring the movement, we can begin to map out a future where:
- Schools across Australia transform unused land into food hubs.
- Partnerships with government, corporates, and communities align around regenerative education.
- Young people leave school not just with knowledge, but with skills to shape a healthier, more resilient future.
Scaling to Colac is not the endgame. It’s the beginning of showing what’s possible. Because if two schools can do it, twenty can. And if twenty can, why not every school in Australia?
Learn More
Read Farm My School Bellarine Pilot Project Report: Growing More Than Carrots! — a report that shares how the project began, what we set out to achieve, the generous in-kind and financial support that made it possible, and the community stories and connections we’re building.
