Growing for the future

Growing for the Future

Imagine you’re a young person growing up in the Illawarra with barriers to employment. You might have mental health issues, you might be from an intergenerationally unemployed family or community, or you might have learning or behavioural issues that have put you on the wrong side of the education system.

Now imagine you’re a newly arrived refugee. You had to escape you home country under fear of your life, and you may have spent years or even decades living in a refugee camp. You arrive in Australia into a community that doesn’t speak your language, has foreign social customs, and let’s be honest, has a lack of respect for the skills and knowledge that you bring with you.

I’ve spent years working with young people and former refugees, getting to know them, and hearing their stories. Although each person and story are unique, one thing that is shared by all is this: a feeling that, through no fault of their own, they lack control over creating a positive future for themselves and their families.

We plant seeds, knowing it will take months until we will reap the rewards from our work. To grow food, you must therefore be an optimist and trust that the work you put in now will benefit yourself and others in the future. The opportunity to see (and taste!) such a tangible reward from the hard work you have put in is one of the most empowering feelings on earth.

Our success in providing employment pathways for these communities, and giving people a platform to launch from, is one of the many reasons why Green Connect is such a nationally celebrated social enterprise. The time they spend at our farm, doing meaningful work alongside supportive staff, helps people cultivate the confidence and belief that they can take control of their future.

We don’t just grow food. We grow futures.

Enjoy,

Cal Champagne
Green Connect Farm Manager

In your box:

Note: We sometimes need to make changes to what we pack in your veg box based on the quantity or quality of produce that we can harvest and source. If you have any questions about what is in your box, don’t hesitate to contact us at [email protected].

Did you know?

Rocket, or arugula, is a member of the brassica family, making it a relative of broccoli, kale, bok choy, cabbage, and many others. With a slightly peppery taste, it adds heaps of flavour to a dish. You can eat it in a salad, as a fresh topping on pizza or pasta, or cooked in a stir fry or frittata.  Store your rocket wrapped in paper towel to keep it fresh for longer.

You can find all of our recipes here!