THE STUARTHOLME URBAN FARMING CLUB –NOW WITH NATIVE BEES!

In 2020, Stuartholme became a proud participant in the Agribusiness Gateway to Industry Schools Program (AGISP), a program run by the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries.

Thanks to this initiative, we secured grant funding and successfully established the Stuartholme Urban Farming Club, affectionately referred to as the UFC.

There are many interesting things about being involved in this program, including access to connections with industry, events and excursions for students, and professional development opportunities for staff. We have also been successful in securing two separate AGISP grants that have funded two great initiatives at Stuartholme: the Urban Farming Club and the Hire Education: Drone Pilot program.

In the UFC, we strive to do many things, including:

• empowering, inspiring and exciting young women about sustainable farming

• addressing stereotypes about the agriculture industry, including who can farm, where farming occurs and the environmental impact of farming

• teaching students about sustainable food production and environmental justice, including permaculture, organic growing, closed loop agriculture, aquaponics systems, precision agriculture, protection of native flora and fauna, and indigenous growing.

Since the initial grant from AGISP, the UFC has been self-funding. We use plant and food sales to raise funds for educational excursions, workshops, and new equipment/plants. So far, we have added a few things to our school – raised garden beds, a solar-powered aquaponics system, a compost bin, a frog hotel, two smart gardens powered by the internet of all things, and, this year, a native beehive!

Our new native beehive is filled with Tetragonula Carbonaria – also known as sugarbag bees. These native bees are stingless so pose no risk to students or staff, but are a great way to support to our local ecosystem. UFC students have been closely monitoring our new bees and have created a time-lapse video of their growth since March, which we’re entering into the Hermitage Plant Science Buzz About Bees Competition, run by the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries. We’re excited to see them continue to grow into their new hive and – maybe – produce a small amount of honey in the future!