Students at Loganlea State High School are tackling food scarcity with a new mini farm project.
Two years ago, the school partnered with The Mini Farm Project to produce school-grown, harvest-ready vegetables for those in Logan who are in need of food assistance.
To assist their vegetable farm, the school’s agriculture students are learning about urban farming and sustainability, including a working urban farm with cattle, pigs and poultry and an indigenous food forest.
The Mini Farm Project is a local charity organisation dedicated to feeding “Australians in need, for free, all year round”.
Their data shows 47,000 Logan residents require daily food assistance.
The Mini Farm Project founder Nick Steiner said charity organisations couldn’t keep up with the growing demand for food relief in Logan.
“All of the charities we work with are overwhelmed with demand at the moment, and they are now seeing a lot of full-time employed people reaching out for support too,” Mr Steiner said.
“Our Mini Farms are about more than growing a carrot or some lettuce.
“The free produce they provide to local charity partners is invaluable and breaks down the barriers between donors and the charities they support by building a community around the produce.”
Griffith University and Logan City Council helped to bring the mini farm into fruition.
Mayor Darren Power said it was “fantastic” to see students approach an issue like food insecurity.
“As the community continues to feel the impacts of cost-of-living pressures, the food relief this project will deliver could not come at a more important time for our local charities,” Cr Power said.
