Three years ago, we joined hands with the inspiring team at Farm My School to support their vision of transforming school grounds into vibrant, productive farms. This week, we returned to Bellarine Secondary College (BSC), bringing with us a new batch of plants to continue nurturing this remarkable partnership.
Farm My School was born from a shared frustration with the lack of fresh, local food in the Geelong region and a desire to address the many challenges facing young farmers today. If you’re curious about how it all began, you can read more about their journey here.
A Partnership Rooted in Education and Community
At Diggers, we’ve always believed in the power of plants to bring people together, and Farm My School exemplifies this philosophy. The work they do goes far beyond gardening; it’s about teaching young people how to farm regeneratively, equipping them with the skills to tackle climate change, and building a more sustainable food future. Over the past year, our partnership with Farm My School has flourished, quite literally! Through our Seed The Future program, we’ve donated a diverse range of heirloom vegetables to the farm. The rainbow chard, eggplants, lettuces, and more are now a staple in their harvests, bringing beautiful flavour and colour to the community.
More than just growing food, Farm My School is integrating these regenerative farming practices into the curriculum, giving students hands-on experience in sustainable agriculture. It’s an opportunity to learn by doing, and the program is gaining incredible traction, with elective classes full and the farm teeming with life.
Diggers' Heirlooms in Action
We’re proud to see our heirloom seeds taking root at BSC. Students have had great success with the lettuces, tomatoes, zucchinis, and beets that we’ve supplied, and the farm is reaping the rewards. By using heirloom varieties, they’ve introduced a whole new level of flavour and diversity to their community, and the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. It’s a chance for these young farmers to not only grow their own food but to truly taste the difference that heritage varieties bring.
Next Steps: An Orchard and Market Expansion
Looking ahead, the Farm My School team is excited to take their farm to the next level. An orchard is planned for next year, further expanding their produce offerings, and the preparation for a vegie box program and market stalls is well underway for summer. With over 100kg of produce already being harvested each week, the next phase will focus on scaling up their distribution efforts and ensuring that the local community continues to benefit from fresh, affordable, and organic produce.
A Shared Vision for the Future
Our visit this week was a reminder of the power of community and the critical role that education plays in shaping a better future. We’re so grateful for the opportunity to contribute to Farm My School’s mission, and we look forward to seeing how the project evolves over the coming years. From veggie boxes to new planting initiatives, this partnership has been about more than just plants – it’s about growing a movement that will inspire future generations.
At Diggers, we believe that everyone should have access to nutritious, homegrown food, and Farm My School is leading the charge in making this a reality. Together, we’ll continue to cultivate not just plants, but the next generation of regenerative farmers. Here’s to the next chapter of growth!
‘We are so grateful for our partnership with Diggers, it has allowed us to plant a diversity of plants on the farm and allowed us to introduce heirloom vegetables to our community! More importantly we can showcase the amazing flavour that comes with heirlooms’ – Ben Shaw, co-founder of Farm My School
