FareShare’s new urban farm in Dingley shows what happens when the trade pitches in.
Food insecurity is a genuine problem, with one in seven Australians living in poverty according to Poverty in Australia 2025: Overview – Poverty and Inequality. FareShare, bless 'em, are trying to do something about it, and their new Dingley urban farm is now up and running.
KS Environmental stumped up the land over 18 months ago, allowing FareShare to grow fresh veg for their Melbourne kitchen. From there, FareShare churns out 1.3 million meals a year.
Water Works
Water, irrigation, and drainage are pretty crucial for any farm, and this one’s no different. Aqua Pro Irrigation and East Plumbing Co (Reece customers, naturally) volunteered their time, alongside design bods from the Reece Irrigation Studio. The result? The urban farm should be able to grow up to 150,000 kgs of fresh veg in its first year, rising to 300,000 kgs over five years.
Spreading the Load
A big thanks is due to everyone who mucked in: KS Environmental, Heidelberg Materials, Brown Brothers, Bushman, Alex Fraser, ABC Sheds, Titan Trading, DAEMCO, Pipe Makers, Vinidex, MXD Electrical, Kelm Hire, BD concreters, Trevor Brimble Landscapes, C&N Concrete, Formstone Concrete, Ambi Homes & Tayfra Concrete and Petta Concrete Pumping.
The farm's layout is pictured here.
A man works on the sprinkler system surrounded by plants at the new site, as seen here.
So, hats off to FareShare and all involved. Let's just hope those ambitious 300,000 kg targets don't require too much… *ahem*… 'organic augmentation'.
