Sydney City Farm

The "Sydney City Farm" is in the process of development. In the meantime a corner of Sydney Park, St Peters - near the Brick Kilns - has been "transformed" into a "Summer Garden": Saturday 19 January to Saturday 24 March 2013.

The City Farm was initiated in 2009 when Sydney City Farm approached the council.

A Feasibility Study was commissioned from Clouston Associates to assess best practice models in Australia and overseas combined with stakeholder consultation and field work investigations in order to establish issues, objectives, evaluation criteria and recommendations for a future Sydney City Farm. Clouston define "Community Gardens" as " places where people come together to grow food and engage in communal activities. They are a great way to foster good health, support life-long learning, cultivate vibrant communities and 'green' urban environments."

Also involved in the feasibility study were:

• The People for Places and Spaces (PPS), a consultancy firm specialising in "collaborative placemaking, urban revitalisation, design facilitation and implementation for places, spaces and buildings". Their work work "transforms places into more efficient, liveable and people-friendly environments and ensures that projects can be implemented". They "specialise in complex projects in politically-sensitive environments". Projects include "Woollahra 2025: community consultation process".
• Root Projects Australia (RP) was engaged to advise on considerations for feasibility in relation to the governance and funding models (fully funded to fully community funded) for existing city farm models in Australia and overseas in terms of understanding the current operating models, staffing structures, costs and revenues. Based on benchmark examples, the most successful model appeared to be the not-for-profit association managing and operating the farm with a committee of management selected from the membership base. RPA have worked on the relocation of the Melbourne Wholesale Fruit and Vegetable Market and the National Flower Centre.
• Equatica, a "group of water professionals providing innovative and sustainable water management solutions in the urban environment".

 Other city farms are being considered by Randwick and Blacktown.

Saturday, February 16, Meet a farmer – get the insider’s look at farming life
Saturday, February 23, Meet a beekeeper – learn about bee-keeping and the production of honey
Saturday, March 2, Meet a market Gardener – find out what is needed to grow your favourite produce
Saturday, March 9, Meet a horticulturalist – learn how trickier crops are grown by our local farmers
Saturday, March 16, Paddock to plate – get the dirt on where your food comes from!
Saturday, March 23, Celebration/Harvest Weekend – a hoedown to celebrate the harvest of all our crops.

The City Farm Project Manager is Adam Ridge: 9246 7267, aridge@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au.