Urban farming in Canberra: the next generation
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If seeing a homegrown lettuce in a pot outside your house warms your heart, you’d likely applaud the work of Fiona Buining from Ainslie, who has created an entire urban farm in her backyard.
Growing quietly in the lush Inner North, Fiona’s property has a whopping 50 fruit trees, nuts, berries, vegetables, two beehives, chickens and working rabbits.
Operating under the business name of Ainslie Urban Farm, Fiona grows soil-grown microgreens in two greenhouses in her backyard for local restaurants and cafes and during Covid grew and sold seasonal vegetable seedlings suited to Canberra’s conditions.
“I love growing things, particularly food,” says Fiona. “But equally – I love sharing the knowledge with others about how to grow food.”
If you’re an aspiring urban farmer or home grower, you’ll be pleased to know that Fiona says everyone can learn – even if you’re starting with a humble backyard lettuce pot. Why? Because enabling and empowering people to grow food is Fiona’s passion.
As a former high school teacher, Fiona managed the Merici College Kitchen Garden for eight years, teaching students how to grow seasonal vegetables using organic growing methods to supply the school canteen and restaurant.
“I loved working with the teens. As a teacher, I saw first-hand the physical and mental health benefits of learning to grow food. At the end of every year my students would ask me, ‘What’s next Miss?’ in their quest to learn more about growing vegetables.”
As for learning more herself, Fiona took a global approach.
“There was no clear pathway to becoming an urban grower – I knew I needed to know more. So, I applied for a Churchill Fellowship, knowing that it would take me to any country I chose to see successful, best-practice urban farm ventures providing vocational pathways.”
Fiona was awarded a Churchill Fellowship in 2020 to investigate urban farm ventures that provide vocational pathways for aspiring food growers. Fiona believes that growing good food is one of the most positive actions people can do for their own health and to heal the planet.
Her question was: how do you become an urban grower in Australia?
“I was deeply inspired when I went overseas on my Churchill Fellowship in 2022. I visited Canada, the USA, the UK, and the Netherlands to learn from leading urban farmers and bring back new ideas, inspiration and friendships.
This included North America’s largest urban street farm called Sole Foods in Vancouver; a life-changing program for people with barriers to employment at Growing Home and Windy City Harvest in Chicago; a highly successful farm incubator hatching farmers and farm businesses at Viva Farms in Washington State; a highly productive urban farm training program at Woodbank in Manchester; the world-class Warmonderhof Biodynamic Training Farm in the Netherlands; and many more training farms and related enterprises.”
As an Australian urban grower, Fiona has observed an unmet demand for locally grown fresh food.
“There’s just so much opportunity. Wherever there’s a patch of dirt, and a little time and commitment, anyone can grow their own food. I am passionate to teach and help others do this, as well as build the vocational pathways to support this.”
Following her Churchill Fellowship, Fiona is leading an urban growing revolution beyond her own backyard. She feels excited by the opportunities in urban farming and is working to establish an urban farm training program in Canberra and forging new vocational paths through running workshops across Canberra.
“There’s so much more to be done, and I’ve only really begun my journey. The Churchill Fellowship propelled me forward immeasurably – not only to learn but to share the knowledge, and become part of a global community.”
Fiona encourages other like-minded women in the ACT with a passion – in any area, not just urban farming – to apply for a Churchill Fellowship. Applications are now open and close on 1 May 1 2024.
Find out more at churchilltrust.com.au/become-a-fellow.
