In 2015, Greater Melbourne’s 4.37 million people required about 15,080 tonnes of food per day, about 3.45kg per person. 41% of this food come from Melbourne's “foodbowl”, areas of agricultural land on the fringes of the city. By 2050, Melbourne will require 60% more food, about 24,132 tonnes of food per day, to feed its predicted population of 7 million.*

How do we feed a growing city were urban sprawl is encroaching on productive land? Part of the solution is an increase in urban agricultural projects that harness the power of local communities, use marginal and disused urban land and decentralise food systems.

CERES Urban Agriculture Micro-Buiness tour proudly showcases two
businesses at the forefront of Melbourne's slowly-but-surely growing
urban agriculture movement. This tour will take you to backyard
operations of Spoke & Spade (Heidelberg) and the Mushroomery (Brunswick/Alphington)

During this tour you will learn about the ins and outs of running an urban ag businesses: Crop planning, selling and marketing, tools, business models, growing crops and mushrooms, harvesting, troubleshooting issues as they arise and the future plans of the farms.

*Stats from Melbourne’s Food Bowl Report by UniMelb, 2015 https://research.unimelb.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0008/2355155/Melbournes-Foodbowl-Now-and-at-seven-million.pdf

What you will learn

Ins and outs of running an urban ag businesses
Crop planning, selling and marketing, tools, business models
Growing crops and mushrooms, harvesting, troubleshooting

What you will get

Hands on experience of preparing a mushroom bucket for growing
Knowledge and demonstrations from real urban ag businesses

What to bring

Note pad and pen
Cash if you'd like to buy any fresh produce at Spoke & Spade
Clean rubber gloves for mushroom demonstration

What to wear

Comfortable, weather-appropriate clothing and comfy shoes that can get muddy

Appropriate for

Those interested in starting an Urban Agriculture Micro-Business