The ACT Greens will this week call on the ACT Government to investigate opportunities for urban agriculture programs centred in our heritage homesteads, particularly for those at risk in the community.
"There are many benefits to Canberrans growing food locally", said Andrew Braddock, ACT Greens MLA for Yerrabi.
"Not only the direct impact of giving people access to fresh and nutritious food, but also the connection to the soil and the land can deliver broader positive life outcomes.
"We know that Canberrans are keen to garden and grow their own food.
"The Draft Canberra Region Local Food Strategy, recently released by my colleague, Minister Rebecca Vassarotti, identified that heritage homesteads could be used to start building urban agriculture programs.
"I've asked the ACT Government to look into these sites with a view to developing some new programs to help Canberrans learn how to grow food locally and possibly even establish their own small businesses.
"The ACT Greens took a strong policy of building our local food system and urban agriculture to the 2020 election.
"I am very pleased that my colleague, Minister Rebecca Vassarotti, has recently released the ACT's first local food strategy for comment, delivering on our commitment.
Urban agriculture doesn't just improve our access to fresh and nutritious food. It can also help people find their feet when they fall on difficult times. It's a sentiment supported by Fiona Buining of the Ainslie Urban Farm.
"We need hands-on training programs for people to learn how to grow food, both for themselves and as a business." says Ms Buining.
Ms Buining's Churchill fellowship 'Heart' program sees social enterprises pick up at-risk people and helps them make a new life for themselves by teaching them how to grow and sell food in their local community.
"We have an amazing opportunity to set up something like this in Canberra. " We have the space and the tools. We now need to put them to work"," said Mr Braddock.
