Tag / Sustainable Agriculture

by Champions for Change

SDG 12 RLA for Teachers to Support Students to Cultivate a Sustainable Future by Embracing Sustainable Agriculture šŸŒ±šŸšœ

In today’s fast-paced world, where concerns about environmental sustainability and food security are at the forefront of global discussions, the role of sustainable agriculture has never been more critical. šŸŒšŸŒ¾ From reducing carbon emissions to preserving biodiversity, sustainable agriculture offers a pathway towards a more resilient and prosperous future. Join us on a journey as empower teaches to support their students to explore the importance of sustainable agriculture and how it’s shaping our world for the better.

Why Sustainable Agriculture Matters šŸŒæ

Sustainable agriculture is not just about growing crops; it’s about cultivating a way of life that respects the earth and ensures the well-being of future generations. By embracing sustainable farming practices, farmers can:

  • Protect the Environment: Sustainable agriculture practices minimize the use of harmful chemicals, promote soil health, and conserve water resources, safeguarding our precious ecosystems for years to come.
  • Combat Climate Change: By sequestering carbon in the soil and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, sustainable agriculture plays a crucial role in mitigating the effects of climate change and building climate resilience.
  • Promote Biodiversity: Sustainable farming methods support diverse ecosystems, providing habitats for wildlife and preserving genetic diversity essential for food security.
  • Enhance Food Security: By prioritizing soil health and sustainable crop management, farmers can ensure a stable food supply for present and future generations, even in the face of environmental challenges.

Embracing Sustainable Practices šŸŒ¾šŸŒŽ

From regenerative farming to agroforestry, there are countless sustainable agriculture practices that farmers can adopt to cultivate a healthier planet. Some examples include:

  • Crop Rotation: Rotating crops helps replenish soil nutrients, reduce pests and diseases, and improve overall soil health.
  • Cover Cropping: Planting cover crops like legumes and grasses helps prevent soil erosion, suppress weeds, and improve soil fertility.
  • Agroforestry: Integrating trees into farming systems not only provides shade and windbreaks but also enhances biodiversity and improves soil structure.
  • Precision Agriculture: Utilizing technology such as GPS mapping and sensor technology allows farmers to optimize inputs like water, fertilizer, and pesticides, minimizing waste and maximizing efficiency.

Joining the Movement šŸŒŸ

As consumers, we also have a crucial role to play in supporting sustainable agriculture. By choosing locally grown, organic produce, reducing food waste, and advocating for policies that prioritize sustainability, we can all contribute to a healthier and more sustainable food system. Together, we can cultivate a brighter future for our planet and generations to come. šŸŒ±šŸŒŸ

#SustainableAgriculture #ClimateAction #FoodSecurity #Biodiversity #RegenerativeFarming #Agroforestry #HealthyPlanet #FutureGenerations #SustainableLiving #GlobalCitizenship

Let’s sow the seeds of change and reap the rewards of a more sustainable tomorrow! šŸŒšŸŒ¾

Resources

For Australian students in stages 2 and 3, delving into the realm of sustainable agriculture provides an invaluable opportunity to understand how their choices and actions can impact the environment and global food security. Here are some Australian resources that can support teachers in bringing this topic to life in their classrooms:

  1. Sustainable Schools NSW: Offers a range of resources and project ideas aimed at promoting sustainability within schools. Their programs often include aspects of sustainable agriculture and can be a great starting point for educators.
  2. Landcare Australia: Provides educational resources and support for schools looking to engage in environmental projects, including those focused on sustainable agriculture. Landcare Australia encourages hands-on learning and community involvement.
  3. Junior Landcare Learning Centre: Offers lesson plans, activities, and resources specifically designed for young learners. Topics include sustainable farming practices, biodiversity, and conservation efforts relevant to Australian ecosystems.
  4. Australian Organic Schools Program: Aimed at educating students about organic farming and gardening, biodiversity, and the importance of sustainable food systems. The program offers comprehensive lesson plans and resources for teachers.
  5. CSIRO Education and Outreach: Features science-based educational materials that explore aspects of sustainable agriculture, soil health, and the impact of farming practices on the environment.
  6. ABC Education: Provides a vast array of free educational resources, including videos, interactive content, and articles on topics related to agriculture, sustainability, and environmental stewardship in Australia.
  7. Cool Australia: Offers lesson plans and resources designed to engage students with real-world issues, including sustainability and the environment. Their content often touches on sustainable agriculture and how it can help tackle climate change.
  8. Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Foundation: While primarily focused on kitchen gardens, this program teaches children about growing, harvesting, preparing, and sharing fresh, seasonal food, fostering an appreciation for sustainable food production from a young age.

These resources can help educators create engaging, informative lessons on sustainable agriculture, encouraging students to think critically about their environmental impact and the importance of sustainable practices for the health of our planet and future generations.

 

by Action4Agriculture

SDG 2: Striving Towards Zero Hunger ā€“ A Global Mission šŸŒšŸ²

 

A Unified Effort šŸ¤

Achieving Zero Hunger requires global cooperation and individual commitment. By working together, we can ensure that everyone, everywhere, has access to the nutritious food they need to lead healthy, active lives. Letā€™s strive for a world without hunger. šŸŒšŸ²

Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2 isn’t just about ending hunger; it’s a comprehensive mission to achieve food security, improve nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture. Hereā€™s a closer look at this vital goal and how we can all contribute to its realisation. šŸŒ¾šŸ’Ŗ

Understanding SDG 2 šŸŽÆ

SDG 2 aims to end all forms of hunger and malnutrition by 2030, making sure all people have access to sufficient and nutritious food all year round. This involves promoting sustainable agricultural practices, supporting small-scale farmers, and allowing equal access to land, technology, and markets. šŸŒ±šŸšœ

The Challenge of Hunger šŸ„£

Despite abundant food production globally, millions still suffer from hunger, largely due to poverty, unequal distribution, and wasteful practices. The challenge is not just to produce more food, but to make it accessible and nutritious for everyone. šŸŒšŸ½ļø

Key Focus Areas šŸ”

  1. Sustainable Agriculture: Encouraging methods that increase productivity and are environmentally friendly. šŸŒ¾šŸ
  2. Nutrition Improvement: Ensuring diets are nutritious, especially for children and vulnerable groups. šŸŽšŸ‘¶
  3. Food Wastage Reduction: Minimising food waste at all stages, from production to consumption. šŸ—‘ļøā™»ļø
  4. Supporting Small-scale Farmers: Helping small farmers increase their yields and incomes. šŸŒæšŸ‘©ā€šŸŒ¾

How Can We Contribute? šŸ¤”

  1. Conscious Consumption: Make informed choices to reduce food wastage in daily life. šŸ›’šŸš®
  2. Support Local Produce: Buy from local farmers and markets to support your community’s economy. šŸ›ļøšŸ’
  3. Advocate and Educate: Raise awareness about hunger issues and sustainable solutions. šŸ“¢šŸ“š
  4. Volunteer and Donate: Get involved with charities and organisations working to combat hunger. šŸŽšŸ’—

For more information visit https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/hunger/

#ZeroHunger #SDG2 #FoodSecurity #SustainableAgriculture #FightHunger šŸŒ¾šŸ„¦šŸ’ŖšŸŒ

by Action4Agriculture

From The Archibull Prize to Young Farming Champion ā€“ how Action4Agriculture works for Danielle Fordham

Traditionally agriculture has not conducted longitudinal studies following the journey of participants in its agricultural awareness programs. We look forward to that changing.

Today’s story is very rewarding for our organisation.Ā Our journalist the wonderful Mandy McKeesick interviewed Danielle Fordham who we first met over 12 years ago when she participated in The Archibull Prize during secondary school

 

Young Farming Champion Danielle Fordham (centre front row ) inspiring the next generation of agriculturalists to follow in her footstepsĀ 

Background

Action4Agriculture offers a holistic suite of programs designed to inspire and empower agricultural advocates and leaders. We realise this is not a sprint but a marathon that requires long-term commitment from ourselves, our partners and, most of all, the young people we want to inspire and cultivate.

Danielle Fordham is the perfect example of how the programs and training come together. She was first exposed to Action4Agiculture through The Archibull Prize at Caroline Chisholm College and in 2022 became a Young Farming Champion sponsored by Hunter Local Land Services. As our new program, Action4Youth, readies for roll-out in 2023, Danielle has already been involved ā€“ sharing her agricultural journey with students as part of a pilot program at Lake Illawarra High School.

This is Danielleā€™s Action4Agriculture story ……

Danielle, you were part of the team from Caroline Chisholm College that was named Grand Champion Archibull in 2011 with the wonderful Rubickā€™s Cube inspired creation ā€œMoobix Cubeā€. Can you tell us about your Archibull experience?

I was part of The Archibull Prize in 2011 and 2012 and the experience was incredible. It connected my learnings in the classroom to the real world. As a cohort, my friends and I loved participating, bonding and getting to meet like-minded people our own age who shared the same passions.

I enjoyed researching issues such as how to feed a growing population, learning more about cow by-products (did you know cow parts are used in cosmetics and medicine?) and showcasing the trophy-worthy dairy and red-meat industries. It was great to come up with creative ideas to communicate these issues and showcase agriculture in a new light to the wider public.

The experience opened my eyes to the endless opportunities in agriculture and it cemented my interest and career ambitions in the agricultural field. Most importantly The Archibull Prize connected me with the brilliant organisation that is Action4Agriculture (previously Art4Agriculture) and the opportunities it has provided me.

 

Since high school youā€™ve become a poster girl for the diversity of Australian agriculture, undertaking a business traineeship, attending Tocal Agricultural College (Double Dux!!), working in agribusiness, studying an environmental university degree and working as the Alumni Officer at Tocal. How did it feel to add Young Farming Champion (YFC) to your resume in 2022?

 

It was deeply empowering to be selected as a Young Farming Champion. I was struggling to find my connection back to the agricultural industry as I had moved into the environmental science sector and the YFC program provided the best opportunity to combine the two.

The experiences and workshops provided by Action4Agriculutre as a YFC have strengthened my confidence and ability to a stand as a clear, trusted voice in agriculture. I want to make a positive impact on agriculture and support the community, and YFC has enabled me to do this and more. YFC has broadened my horizons and I feel I can go further with my career than I ever imagined.

 

And, specifically, what skills has the YFC program given you?

The YFC program has taught me essential skills such as how to be an effective communicator, how to be an inspirational speaker and presenter and how to efficiently manage my time. The program has given me a network of peers and industry and community contacts.

Through YFC I have converted my passion for agriculture into a vehicle to empower other young people, such as my students at Tocal Agricultural College.

 

In 2023 we are launching Action4Youth, which aims to introduce disadvantaged young people to career pathways in agriculture. You participated in a pilot program at Lake Illawarra High School last year. What was that like?

It felt incredibly rewarding to be able to connect with students who were like me: interested in agriculture but who didnā€™t grow up on a farm or have the money to study agriculture straight out of school.

I was able to share my story and empower the students to think outside the square. I could assure them there are plenty of opportunities out there after school and, as a living example, that you are not limited by your HSC or ATAR results. If you are passionate about a career or lifestyle, there is nothing stopping you. You have just got to keep looking for your next step and embrace the skills and lessons you learn along the way.

Additionally, I was equally inspired by the Lake Illawarra students and their tenacity and enthusiasm. It was great to learn from each other and feel connected to the future of agriculture and our communities.

Young Farming Champions Lachie White and Danii Fordham were a big hit with students and teachers at Lake Illawarra High SchoolĀ Ā 

Overall, how do you feel the Action4Agriculture programs align with your aspirations for your own career?

The Action4Agriculture programs align with my aspirations of being a clear, trusted and influential leader in the sustainable agriculture field in two particular arenas: marrying agriculture and science, and promoting women.

The environmental world is in turmoil with global issues of climate change, ocean acidification, food and resource insecurity, habitat destruction, and contamination. These issues threaten all our livelihoods and existence; and this make creating a future we all want to be part of a shared responsibility.Ā  Agriculture is a key industry in combating and controlling these issues with opportunities in technological innovation, sustainable and regenerative practices, environment restoration, carbon capture and rehabilitation integration. The opportunities for agriculture to be part of the solution are endless.

To create these solutions it is vital to strengthen the connection and relationship between agriculture and science and I plan to do this by promoting sustainable agriculture.

Championing women in agriculture and science is also a passion of mine and in 2022 I organised an event to recognise 50 years of female students at Tocal College. By telling my own story and connecting with like-minded women we can overcome social challenges and promote equality.

Action4Agricultureā€™s ethos and opportunities to connect directly with the next generation and particularly the training and networking received as a Young Farming Champion enables me to effectively communicate these challenges and find the solutions we all need.

 

 

by Action4Agriculture

Meet Archibug – They’re Healthy. They’re Sustainable. So Why Don’t Humans Eat More Bugs?

Action4Agriculture has recently received National Career’s Institute funding to pilot a best practice model for workforce development.

The target group is young people aged 15 to 24 who may fall through the cracks without the necessary support systems.

This will see us working with three groups of young people

  1. Young people still in school
  2. Young people who have left school
  3. Young people attending schools for specific purposes

If you are not familiar with the concept of schools for specific purposes let me introduce you to the Youth off the Streets (YOTS) model a passion project of Father Chris Riley.

We have been working with YOTS for a number of years and what a joy it is

This year Eden College at Macquarie Fields put their hands up to participate in The Archibull Prize. They recorded their learning journey on Wakelet

Equally working with the state governments version of YOTS like Penrith Valley Learning Centre who won The Archibull Prize in 2020 we are always just blown away by how deeply these young people think

Students who attend these schools often come from a childhood of adverse experiences, sometimes horrendous adverse experiences. These wonderful schools have very special teachers with the skills to turn their lives around and give them hope they can break the cycle of disadvantage and create a bright future for themselves.

Lets have a look at how Eden College took a deep dive into The Archibull Prize ChallengeĀ 

The Big Idea

After conducting a vote, our class decided that we would research the UNā€™s SDG 2: Zero Hunger. We came to this decision after reflecting on the variety of ways different countries are impacted by hunger.

After looking into what ā€˜food insecurityā€™ means and understanding how different countries eat, we discovered the enormous amount of food wasted and discovered that humans waste 1/3 of all food produced! AND that there is enough food produced to feed everyone in the world but that due to wastage, people are food insecure. This was the main inspiration for our project.

With minimising food waste as our goal, we decided to look into alternate food sources that were both environmentally sustainable and would allow for greater food security internationally. We found out that billions of people are currently consuming insects as part of their diet. Despite our initial hesitation, we pursued this idea to understand that not only are these insects nutritious, they are cheap to farm and do not require as much energy, space or feed to produce in comparison to our traditional western forms of protein (eg. chicken, beef, pork etc).

We asked the students at Eden College to tells us what success looked like. This is what they said

Success in 2022 first and foremost looked like the completion of this project. Seeing the disappointment in not being able to bring the vision of our social action group to life in 2021 (due to COVID lockdowns) motivated us to do our best this year.

We also measured success by:

  • collaborating on ideas and working well as a group to bring our vision to fruition
  • learning about the UNā€™s SDGs (specifically zero hunger). We completed various activities and consumed information from the CSIRO, National Geographic and WHO to learn about Indigenous Australian hunting and gathering processes, Cambodian and Thai experiences with food insecurity and how to irradicate it.
  • using this knowledge to come up with viable solutions

We believe as a class that we have achieved major success through this project and have inspired small changes within our school.

We asked them what they found EXCELLENT, UNFORTUNATE, SUPRISING

See what we mean, what a joy it is to work with young people who are ACTIVE and AWARE and have the capacity to help us #CreateABetterWorldTogether

Meet the Eden College’s Archibug

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by Action4Agriculture

Impact Reports – An opportunity to celebrate the extraordinary people you work with doing extraordinary things

At Action4Agriculture we work with some truly wonderful people. One of those is our journalist Mandy McKeesick. She is such a pleasure to brief and the outcomes always bring great joy.Mandy is the author of our Impact Reports and yesterday we made our 2021 report live.Ā 

We celebrated the students and teachers we work with who are changing the world.

We celebrated the young people in agriculture we work with who are changing the world.

We celebrated our funding partners and our supporting partners who enable them to create a world we are all proud to be part of.

Young people may only be 20% of the population but they are 100% of the future

The research shows they are the demographic who are aware and active. They also have the capacity to bring the rest of us along with them.

Extraordinary things are happening in our schools –

Just a couple of examples – read our Impact Report to celebrate the many others

Watch this extract from an international presentation given by our founder Lynne Strong and teacher Kristen Jones

Banksia Awards finalists Hamilton Public School’s entry for the 2021 Kreative Koalas Competition

 

Visit their website hereĀ Ā Ā Ā 

And the magnificent team at Penrith Valley Learning Centre – so looking forward to celebrating their win in person

2022 is the year the team at Action4Agriculture get the opportunity to deliver best practice.

And we welcome funding and supporting partners who, like us, know success requires investing in a marathon not a sprint

by Action4Agriculture

How Danila Marini is promoting diversity, equity and inclusion conversations in agriculture

In high school, Danila Marini ā€œnever felt comfortable in my own skinā€. The Young Farming Champion (YFC) tried to heavily hide their femininity at the agricultural high school they attended in South Australia, but although was called a tomboy never really wanted to be a male.

ā€œIn the early 2000s I didnā€™t have much exposure to the LGBTQI+ community and only knew of some terms like bisexual while the term non-binary was non-existent,ā€ Danila said.

Now, as the newly appointed Action4Agriculture Sustainable Development Goal 3 (Good Health and Well-being) Ambassador, Danila (30) is excited at the opportunity to share their story with todayā€™s high school students.Ā Ā 

Ā 

The Ambassador appointment came about after Danila participated in a workshop designed for The Archibull Prize (TAP) students of Ā Mary MacKillop Catholic College in Wakeley, western Sydney. The all-girls school was interested in showcasing gender diversity in agriculture and a workshop was coordinated by SDG 5 (Gender Equality) Ambassador Francesca Earp with strong female leads including Tayla Field, Dione Howard, Chloe Dutschke and Katherine Bain. Danilaā€™s inclusion facilitated open discussions about gender fluidity and non-binary people in agriculture.

Ā 

ā€œThereā€™s definitely a gender bias in many industries such as science and agriculture that swing towards the classic straight white cis male,ā€ Danila saidĀ 

Danila who is a CSIRO experimental scientist and animal ethics co-ordinator also recognises the hurdles for women and gender diverse people, whether related to societal expectations about having a family, or professional stereotypes.

I have had someone say to me I donā€™t look like someone who would have a PhD,ā€ says they andĀ  “non-binary people present the same,ā€ they said

Ā 

For Francesca, 25, whose masters and PhD are focused on gender equity and the exclusionary past of feminist history and how it shapes the engagement and empowerment of non-dominant feminist groups, working with a Danila was timely and eye-opening.

 

ā€œI hadnā€™t met anyone previously in the ag sector who identified as non-binary,ā€ says Francesca. ā€œThe same is true of my work in agricultural development, which is an unfortunate reality of traditional patriarchal perspectives of agriculture that either don’t provide opportunities to non-binary practitioners or researchers or don’t make them feel welcome while fostering engagement and empowerment in the sector.

ā€œDanila was really open in talking about how we could improve the inclusivity of the workshop sessions, talking about equity in general, rather than specifying who we were fighting to have equality for, which I’d really like to take further in my own future research.ā€

Ā Franny says everyday is an opportunity to open your eyes and see the world from some-one else’s perspectiveĀ 

Danila and Francesca are welcome role models for young people with a personal interest in gender diversity and this illustrates how Action4Agriclutre empowers these young people to talk about the issues important to them, and to take everyone along on a journey of understanding.

Ā 

ā€œGender equity is a very complex issue and by focusing on only the ā€˜femaleā€™ aspects of gender equity you not only heavily impact minority groups but women themselves,ā€ says Danila. ā€œIā€™m not afraid to speak up about my experiences and I realise people canā€™t change or learn if you are not willing to help.ā€

Ā 

After the workshop, Danila said that being a good ally to non-binary people meant being cognisant of the fact that gender is complex. Asking for pronouns and remembering to correct mistakes are two important things.

ā€œItā€™s very important to understand that non-binary is not a ā€˜thirdā€™ gender ā€“ itā€™s an encompassment of gender fluidity and not all non-binary people present the same,ā€ says they. ā€œAlso, do not lump woman and non-binary people together for events if you are not willing to accept non-binary people that are assigned male at birth.ā€

Ā 

Having role models in agriculture who promote diversity, equity and inclusion is not only important for students but for teachers, families and communities. Leah Brown, TAP teacher at Mary McKillop, says her students are passionate about highlighting gender issues and contributing to fulfilling gender goals.

ā€œWe know that real life activities and projects are great for engaging students in their learning and building relevance and connections to what they are learning with the wider community and the world.ā€

Ā Applications are now open for the 2022 Archibull Prize hereĀ 

Ā 

by Action4Agriculture

The Power of Art to Heal

This post shines a spotlight on SDG 3 and how The Archibull Prize and Kreative Koalas can improve the health of our students and our selves

The United Nations Sustainability Development Goals (SDG) underpin our Action4Agriculture (A4A) school programs and our values. In schools students are tasked with identifying a goal they want to achieve

 

The problem they have to solve or the barrier they need to overcome to achieve their goal

We then invite them to design and deliver a community behavior change program to make it happen

 

In past years popular SDGs chosen by schools have been:

  • SDG 2 ā€“ Zero Hunger
  • SDG 12 ā€“ Responsible Consumption and Production
  • SDG 13 ā€“ Climate Action
  • SDG 14 ā€“ Life Below Water
  • SDG 15 ā€“ Life on Land

In 2021 The Henry Lawson High School in Grenfell, NSW, became the first school to incorporate SDG 3 ā€“ Good Health and Well-being, as their theme to guide their Archibull Prize entry. Teacher Jillian Reidy explains their progress to date:

ā€œOur vision for our 2021 Archie was to focus on well-being and use the cow to be a public artwork to express well-being words provided by the community and well-being initiatives within the school. Well-being initiatives include the design of a well-being haven for students, and a colour run that was designed but which we have not been able to run due to COVID restrictions. We have also initiated another public art project working with the council which will explore well-being. Funding has been applied for and we are hoping to have it completed mid 2022.ā€

Watch Jillian talk about how the school was inspired to go on their journey here

Living with a pandemic has forced us all to re-evaluate our own health and well-being and to develop strategies to increase resilience. In the Growing Up in Australia: The Longitudinal Study of Australian Children (LSAC) Annual Statistical Report 2018 resilience in adolescents was found to be higher when they had a strong sense of belonging at school and had friends they could trust and communicate with about problems. The Henry Lawson High School is proactive on this strengthening of resilience.

Similarly, in primary schools it has been important to build resilience, especially in school communities where the pandemic came hot on the heels of devastating bushfires in 2019-2020. To support these schools St Vincent de Paulā€™s (Vinnies) Ā Bushfire Recovery and Community Development Program provided funding to deliver Kreative Koalas into five schools.

The Vinnies Program has three major areas of focus ā€“ future preparedness and building resilience, community cohesion, and environmental regeneration and sustainability. ā€œVinnies views Kreative Koalas as aligning with all three, but particularly the resilience building and environmental sustainability,ā€ John Fenech, the manager of Community Development Bushfire Recovery at St Vincent de Paul Society of NSW says.

The Australian Government recently created a Student Wellbeing Hub, which incorporates Beyond Blueā€™s report on resilience in children aged 0-12. This resource is available to teachers who can use further resources within Kreative Koalas to create targeted resilience interventions for their students in need.

When we take time to reflect we realise SDG 3 affects not only our students and teachers but all of us. Our good health and well-being underpins all we do in our lives, just as the SDG underpins the work of Action4Agriculture.

Read how more of our Archibull Prize schools are building resilience here

Apply to participate in The Archibull Prize 2022 hereĀ 

Apply to participate in Kreative Koalas 2022 hereĀ 

#sustainability #environmental #resilience #pandemic #bushfirerecovery

 

by Action4Agriculture

Archie Action – Pymble Ladies College Embedding Agriculture in the Geography Curriculum

Case-study 3: Meet Ray Howells, Geography Teacher at Pymble Ladiesā€™ College, who has integrated ā€˜Ecosystem of Expertiseā€™ into the Stage 5 Geography Program

Geography is increasingly being used in The Archibull Prize to teach agriculture by surrounding the school with an Ecosystem of Expertise through:

  • Building long term partnerships with best practice farms the students investigate and report on
  • Working with our Young Farming Champions to get an understanding of how our food travels from paddock to plate and the diversity of people and roles that feed and clothe us, supply us with ecosystem services and renewable energy

Today we visit Pymble Ladiesā€™ College (PLC) to see how they make the Ecosystem of Expertise work in practice.

Geography teacher Ray Howells grew up ā€œwith the smell of cow manureā€ in an English country village. He went onto teach and lead the geography department in an inner-city London school where some students had never visited a farm. But today at Pymble Ladiesā€™ College, many of his pupils, although predominantly from Sydney, have rural connections.

ā€œThe sense of community at the College is really strong, one day a student was talking about her parentā€™s farm,ā€ says Ray. ā€œI thought it would be nice to foster this interest in agriculture in class, so I sent an email out to all of the past boarding families and friends who I thought might be supportive of this.ā€

In response to Rayā€™s call-out to the wider Pymble community, a flourishing relationship has developed with Blantyre Farms in Young, southwest NSW, and family business Montrose Dairy in southern VIC.Ā  The students involved decided to explore how to address hunger and food insecurity through ā€˜the Archiesā€™. Through Covid-19, the use of technology and digital resources has made learning accessible and enabled the Archibull program to continue.

Blantyre Farms is a mixed farming operation including sheep, cattle, cropping and pigs.

ā€œI am fortunate to be a Pymble girl and my daughter is also a boarder at Pymble so when Ray put out the call for parents [in agriculture] to be involved I eagerly answered,ā€ says Edwina Beveridge from Blantyre Farms. ā€œFeeding the world is a noble profession and I hope a visit to our farms will challenge the studentā€™s perceptions of sustainability and agriculture. Our farm is not what you would expect.ā€

Indeed, Blantyre can show students examples of cutting-edge technology. With 2000 sows on the farms this means they have about 20,000 pigs on hand at any time, but in an innovative solution the farm captures methane from the pig manure and turns it into electricity.

ā€œThis massively reduces our carbon footprint and allows us to generate carbon credits. We were the second project registered under the CFI [Carbon Farming Initiative] and the first farm. I like to say we are the first carbon farm in Australia and I am yet to be challenged on this!

ā€œI grew up on a farm but showed no particular interest until I was 24. I hope this might show the students it doesnā€™t matter if you grew up on a farm or whether your enthusiasm started later, ag is a cracking career,ā€ says Edwina.

Another ex-PLC student to answer Rayā€™s call was Gillian Hayman from Montrose Dairy.

ā€œAs a student I was always eager to understand how what I was learning related to the real world and I am sure there are many students who learn in this way.Ā  The opportunity to learn the theory in the classroom with Ray and then back up the learning with Montrose and Blantyre Farms is a positive step and will no doubt lead to many other linkages for students.Ā  I hope it will open their minds and perhaps break down some long-held perceptions about who a farmer is and how they go about their business in these modern times,ā€ says Gillian.

ā€œUnless young people are introduced to rural areas and farming through family connections or through their schooling they will not discover the possibilities open to them and there are so many exciting career opportunities across all aspects of agriculture. There are jobs from the research in labs and in the field to hands-on farming; from technology, greenhouse gas emissions, soil, plant and animal management, environment and biodiversity to nutrition, community development and economics.Ā  Even if people do not choose a career in ag, it’s so important to understand food production and land management as a consumer.ā€

Ray echoes Gillianā€™s sentiments.

ā€œWe really want to make Year Nine and Ten Geography interesting and relatable. If the girls decide not to continue the subject in Stage 6 thatā€™s fine, there are so many avenues and opportunities available to choose from. Iā€™m confident weā€™ve given them a comprehensive snapshot of the big issues we face in Australia and the world, which is my objective.ā€

Helping students to make those decisions is Tayla Field and her network of fellow Young Farming Champions. Tayla, who works in horticulture, is assigned to PLC through The Archibull Prize.

ā€œThe students were able to provide a list of questions which was a great starting point, however I noticed a lot of these were in areas beyond horticulture so I reached out to the YFC asking for support. Marlee Langfield provided insights into agricultural yield from crops, Anika Molesworth gave her thoughts on the future of farming in Australia and Emma Ayliffe commented on the role of water in Australiaā€™s dry climate. Other members of the YFC team came back with videos and we were able to create a range of online resources specifically for the PLC students,ā€ says Tayla.

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Screenshots of the PLC Virtual Classroom created to support the students during COVID lockdown

Having access to the Young Farming Champions network through Tayla and having access to two operating farms means PLC is using the Ecosystem of Expertise to its highest degree, and the subject of geography has made the pathway clearer.

 

Tayla has a long history as a YFC of inspiring students to consider careers in agriculture. See case study hereĀ 

 

Ray sees this of enormous benefit to both his students and to agriculture.

ā€œWe have this very stereotypical image in the media of what agriculture is, like what you might see on ā€˜Farmer Wants a Wife. Opportunities like The Archibull Prize, Kreative Koalas, and other initiatives outside the classroom can help broaden this and show agriculture as a cutting-edge industry that is undergoing a new wave of technological revolution. With this paradigm shift, there are exciting opportunities to encourage, educate and upskill the next generation to work in innovative and wide-range fields of 21st Century agriculture.”

This concludes our 3 Part Series that showcases the opportunities for work integrated learning and how to embed the world of agriculture into the wider school curriculum

We talk to the Lorraine Chaffer from the Geography teachers association hereĀ 

We talk to Amy Gill from Youth of the Streets here

#ArchieAction #YouthinAction #YouthinAg

by Action4Agriculture

Want to drive change – who do you think should be the messenger?

One of the keys to being a successful changemaker is the capacity to identify the best role models for your audience. Who will be the most effective messenger?

Part of the Action4Agriculture experience for teachers participating in The Archibull Prize and Kreative Koalas – design a bright future competition is access to experts who share with our teachers the psychology of change management. Our Changeologist Les Robinson reminds schools about the importance of choosing the right messenger in his brilliant 60 minute workshops on The Art of Change. Our experience also tells us schools who support each other make things happen faster

Today’s blog post shows the pivotal role connectors play in creating a thriving community network and marrying the often complex concepts of agriculture, sustainability and environment. A wonderful example of this ecosystem at work was highlighted recently through Hamilton Public School and the Centre of Excellence In Agricultural Education .

Zane Osborn is the assistant principal at Hamilton Public School in Newcastle where UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) have informed learning for the past three years. With a school garden already a community focal point for SDGs Zane approached Kris Beazley at the Centre of Excellence and joined their No Bees No Future project. Kris in turn suggested Hamilton Public School participate in Action4Agricultureā€™s Kreative Koalas, which it commenced in 2021.

As part of the Kreative Koalas project Hamilton Public conducted surveys with students and families and came to three conclusions:

  • Most people in the community would like to contribute to positive climate action,
  • Very few people knew about the SDGs,
  • People want simple ideas they can action right now in their home and community to help the environment

ā€œWe talked about how the simple things we do in our garden (that have a positive impact on the climate) can be an example to other people in the community and can inspire them to do the same; things such as preserving biodiversity, eliminating chemicals, encouraging and preserving pollinators. We wanted to do some peer to peer teaching and educate our community of families and other nearby schools.ā€ Zane says.

This peer-to-peer messaging took the form of a series of impressive videos broadcasted on YouTube.

ā€œWith a Sustainable School Grant and lots of passionate students and teachers we were able to drive the creation of Blue Gate Garden TV. Students created episodes all based around ā€œlessonsā€ on how people can make a positive impact on the climate,ā€ Zane says.

Students and staff at Hamilton Public School have successfully taken complex eco-literacy concepts and created a common language for all.

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Read more about Hamilton Public School hereĀ 

Not to be outdone Kris Beazley was also working on eco-literacy with her Year 7 AgSTEM students at the Centre of Excellence, by creating resources for primary students.

ā€œOur Year 7 AgSTEM student team consists of nine students who are undertaking a unique learning model. In their curriculum they focus all their learning through four lenses – Sustainability, Agriculture, STEM and Aboriginal Knowledges. This year our student team have engaged in a number of projects aimed at educating themselves and others about issues related to the environment and climate action.Ā  In this capacity they have worked with primary school aged children, teenagers and adults from varying generations. This translational approach has been a theme throughout their work this year,ā€ Kris says.

Tapping into the schoolā€™s wealth of agricultural connectors the students were able to commence their research with a Hackathon with Cotton Australia and Australian Wool Innovation, which influenced their project for The Archibull Prize.

ā€œAs part of their Archie the students developed teaching resources for primary school students about sustainable fibre production in Australia and end of life options for Australian cotton and wool. In completing their project they have written educational books, learning resources and games for primary aged students. They also presented a workshop for primary students across NSW as part of an Ag Week conference, promoting sustainable end of life options for cotton,ā€ Kris says.

Working with agricultural connectors and participating in programs such as Kreative Koalas and The Archibull Prize has enabled students across primary and secondary schools to engage peer-to-peer messaging. The result has been an increase in eco-literacy within communities, celebrated by Blue Gate Garden TV and a suite of new shared educational resources. And in a spectacular polish to these achievements both Hamilton Public School and the Centre of Excellence have been recognised as finalists in the NSW Banksia Awards Ministerā€™s Young Climate Champion categoryĀ Ā 

“The Minister’s Young Climate Champion Award recognises young innovators aged under 18 years who bring bold ideas for a safe and thriving climate future that align with any of the UN SDGs. Young and passionate minds who have taken outstanding actions that benefit the sustainability of their communities and help address climate change will be showcased in this award, which is a celebration of young people with drive, commitment and a passion for sustainability and the environment.”

Mega congratulations to all involved.

 

 

 

by Action4Agriculture

Archie Action Case-study 2: Meet Amy Gill, a teacher with Youth Off the Streets and a passionate advocate for the role agriculture plays in teaching disadvantaged kids

 

Geography is increasingly being used in The Archibull Prize to teach agriculture through the Ecosystem of Expertise:

  • Building long term partnerships with best practice farms the students investigate and report on
  • Working with our Young Farming Champions to get a big picture understanding of the agriculture supply chain and the diversity of people and roles that feed and clothe us, supply us with ecosystem services and renewable energy

Today we chat to teacher Amy Gill from Youth Off the Streets to see how she makes the Ecosystem of Expertise work in practice.

Photo sourceĀ 

Action4Agriculture first met Amy in 2018 when she was working at the newly opened Youth Off The Streets (YOTS) school The Lakes College (TLC). The independent school and its disadvantaged students participated in The Archibull Prize with Young Farming Champion Tim Eyes, visiting Timā€™s The Food Farm as they learnt about the Australian beef industry.

For Tim, who has entertained children both in mainstream schools and at the Sydney Royal Easter Show, hosting the TLC students was an enjoyable and eye-opening experience.

ā€œIt was really refreshing having unfiltered, blunt questions ā€“ they were just very honest kids. They had real questions about red meat and feeding people under the poverty line so we spoke about exploring the secondary cuts such as mince, which is accessible, diverse, and quick and easy to use,ā€ says Tim.

Read about the students highly inspiring journey here

Amy also took her Archies cohort to Grace Springs Farm in Kulnura, on the NSW central coast, and this was the beginning of an ā€œamazing partnershipā€.

ā€œIn the end we formed such a strong relationship [with Grace Farms] that Youth Off The Streets decided to run a learning unit called Bee the Cure, centred around whether the decrease in bee populations can be remediated on a community level,ā€ says Amy.

ā€œOnce that was finished, we continued to go out there every week and once I left that campus my colleagues continued the program, which is amazing.ā€

Originally, Amy took the pupils to the property to learn about sustainable farming.

ā€œIt was during the drought and we wanted to teach them the ways we could farm to make the most of the ecosystem and environment that we live in.”

ā€œLast year, I reached out to Grace Springs with a plan for another project-based learning unit where one group would learn about beekeeping and another would go into the farm and do all the chores like picking up eggs, cleaning out the milking machine, transferring the birds around the paddock, and feeding pigs.

ā€œItā€™s a hands-on experience and a breath of fresh air for the students. We can hug a cow or hold a chicken and itā€™s not going to judge you. That animal therapy is absolutely beautiful.ā€

Watch the very moving tribute to farmers the YOTS students created in 2018

 

Despite most of Youth Off The Streets students not coming from agricultural backgrounds, some are now considering careers in the industry and as Amy has moved to other campuses she continues to encourage those interested.

ā€œOne girl in my current class has found a real interest in farming through our ā€˜Archieā€™ discussions and is currently doing a personal interest project on livestock and beef. Sheā€™s considering being a cattle farmer. Until such options are put in front of them, they donā€™t know they exist because they live in a very isolated world with little opportunity.ā€

Amy, originally a drama teacher who now teaches across curriculum, says that projects like Bee the Cure demonstrate a link between geography and agriculture.

ā€œThey fit into geography and also a science module ā€˜Living World.ā€™

Listen to Amy speak about her new program SOLAR (Schooling via Off-campus Learning for At-Risk students) and continued passion for her students here

 

Read more about the wonderful work Amy is doing at YOTS hereĀ 

The Archibull Prize is an example of project based learning. Listen to Amy talk about project based learning here

#ArchieAction #PartneredLearning #ProjectBasedLearning #YouthVoices #YOTS