World-first farming course links environmentalism with the national curriculum

Australian farmers and educators have teamed up to deliver a world-first farming course that teaches environmental farming practices to kids in conjuction with the national curriculum.

A WORLD first farming education course, designed by Australian agriculturalists and educators, is sowing the seeds of sustainability in younger generations.

For five years, the Farm Bryon Bay has been offering Australians a hands-on experience in sustainable agriculture.

Now, its founders Emma and Tom Lane are taking their expertise from the crop to the classroom with the Grow. Feed. Educate. Give Back. program – an organic journey tailor-made for children aged 3-10, aimed at blossoming environmentally friendly farming practices.

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Emma Lane, co-founder of The Farm Byron Bay. Picture: supplied.

The recipe for sustainability was simple, according the Farm co-founder Emma Lane:

“Organic farming leads to organic learning.”

Launched yesterday, the 12 module course is the first of its kind and offers to anyone around the world and is inspired by the practices of the Farm and based upon the Lane family’s “own education and our own experimenting and growing food”.

Freya Martinot, 5, carries a chicken at The Farm Byron Bay. Picture: supplied.

The program teaches children to grow their own edible organic garden, exploring concepts such as composting, pollination, recycling, sustainability and paddock to plate.

“Showing them the process of growing food, how rewarding that can be, rather than just seeing a vegetable at a supermarket,” Ms Lane said – an important lesson in sustainability Ms Lane hopes adults will learn by osmosis.

“We learn a lot through our children, through their sense of wonder and their passion,” she said.

Four-year-old Bambi Sanderson pets a calf at The Farm Byron Bay. Picture: supplied

“They’re the future custodians of the planet … what we teach them will determine what it’s going to become.

“We hope that message will spread.”

The program has been developed in conjunction with holistic education experts Whole Beings in order to “to link in curriculum elements from school, such as the biology of composting or growing.”

Families can purchase individual courses; another commercial version of the course, linked to the Australian curriculum, is available for schools and other groups.

The program can be accessed at: https://www.thefarm.wholebeings.co/