Entertainment and interaction were provided through the ever-popular Kids’ Zoo which featured an alpaca, baby goats, lambs, a calf, rabbits, chickens and ducks, all of whom were affectionately cuddled by scores of children, and their parents. Children and adults alike were also given the opportunity to get their hands dirty by planting herbs in the mobile garden beds set up for the event.
In her speech, Lord Mayor Clover Moore spoke about the educational value of the City’s partnership with the Powerhouse Museum and said that the City Farm and the Community Day were about “letting children know that food doesn’t come from the shelves of supermarkets, but that it grows in the ground”. Through experiencing where their food comes from, children can gain a greater appreciation of food and potentially healthier eating habits.
The concept of the City Farm is about connecting people and particularly children to their food, and the feedback the City received from the community strongly indicated a desire for this connection. If the community’s words are put into effect the City Farm will be an inclusive, innovative, well designed, community driven, environmentally, socially and economically sustainable, permaculture-focussed learning space filled with small animals, organic and local foods, orchards, composting, native bees and an organic cafe.
Council originally proposed five locations for the City Farm project and through a feasibility study identified Sydney Park and a small section of the Powerhouse Museum as the preferred sites.
The City Farm is being developed as a partnership between the City of Sydney and the Powerhouse Museum. An advisory group has been formed with community representatives, including the Sydney City Farm Community Group. Other community members are also invited to be involved in the City Farm with events such as the Community Day being a great way to allow the community’s voice to be heard.
Community members had a chance to ask questions about the City Farm and provide their ideas for activities and programs and chat to the Lord Mayor as well as members of the City Farm Advisory Group.
Overall, there was strong support for the city farm proposal and more than 150 people have signed up for City Farm news and volunteering opportunities.
