Organic School Gardens

Adopt a Farmer Program

Linking schools with farms for organic food and

farming education

 

 

Thank you for your interest in the Adopt a Farmer Program. This Program has been established to connect schools with local or regional certified organic farmers, create unique opportunities for farmers to share their knowledge, and for school excursions to see a primary production operation first-hand, providing on-farm learning opportunities.

In 2013, the Organic Schools program is expanding to include a suite of new videos and associated teaching resources. With the offering of these new resources, the Adopt a Farmer program will be able to reach many schools across Australia with videos and learning opportunities about organic food and farming education. Click here to visit the Adopt a Farmer program page and we recommend registering with the Organic Schools program to receive the newsletter information updates. 

• foster a connection to farms, the land and the food we eat

• contribute to children’s’ understanding of where our food comes from 

• provide schools with learning resources about primary production based on organic principles

• create opportunities for producers to become teachers and leaders for generating the interest of younger generations in organic farming as a career
  
  

Schools

The amount of assistance available to schools is determined by funding available to the Organic Schools Program in 2013.

The number of schools that can be involved in the Adopt a Farmer Program is unlimited other than being dependent on the availability of suitable local and regional organic farms.

To be eligible for the Adopt a Farmer Program, schools are required to be registered with the Organic School Gardens Program and have an edible garden already developed for the purpose of school garden education.

Farms

Organic School Gardens is seeking certified organic and biodynamic farmers to participate in the OSG’s Adopt a Farmer Program.

Soil testing offer Assistance is available to farmers with a discounted rate for soil tests courtesy of SWEP Pty. Ltd Analytical Laboratories as Gold Industry sponsor of the Adopt a Farmer Program.

As part of the promotion of the Adopt a Farmer Program, farmers will be featured in several key mainstream media channels to allow the stories of organic producers to be highlighted to the wider community and to non-organic producers. The highlights from farm excursions and school events will be shown through post-event media activity with film clips, photos and stories of these events available for download from the Organic School Gardens website.

Farmers' Information Sheet

When working with schools you may be required to obtain a "Working with Children Check".  Find out more.

Timeline
There is no closing date for applications to the Adopt a Farmer Program. There are separate application forms for schools and farmers.

Registration

If you are a school please click here to complete a registration form.

If you are a farmer please click here to complete a registration form.

Soil Testing

Assistance is available to farmers with a discounted rate for soil tests courtesy of SWEP Pty. Ltd Analytical Laboratories as Gold Industry sponsor of the Adopt a Farmer Program. Organic farmers involved with the program are offered a discounted rate of $250.00 + GST (normally $350.00) for Complete Soil Test (which includes cation balance, nutrient balance and microbiology balance all with recommendations) or  $85.00 + GST (normally $110.00) for Standard Soil Test. 

SWEP Analytical Laboratories helps us understand the importance of soil testing and how understanding your soil makes all the difference.  

Healthy soil = healthy plants = healthy animals and people!  

Soil test information sheets have been specially designed to support schools to adopt more sustainable and healthy gardening practices to improve and manage soil.

Student information - What is balanced soil?

Organic School Gardens - Soil Test Information and Form