Canberra City Farm

Canberra City Farm is a vibrant community hub rooted in regenerative agriculture, located in Fyshwick, Australian Capital Territory. Founded in 2012, this two-hectare urban farm and learning center sits beside the Jerrabomberra Wetlands on Ngunnawal land. The Farm welcomes gardeners, growers, and anyone curious about sustainable food systems. It is a place where volunteers and members come together to cultivate the soil, share knowledge, and build a more resilient local food network.

The Farm operates as an association incorporated in the Australian Capital Territory, run by a community of volunteers. Its mission is to reconnect Canberrans with nature through hands-on learning, collaboration, and action. Visitors can explore orchards, propagation areas, wicking beds, and innovative composting systems. The site demonstrates what is possible in a small-scale regenerative farm within an urban setting.

Regenerative Agriculture and Learning at Canberra City Farm

At the heart of Canberra City Farm is a commitment to regenerative practices that improve soil health, increase biodiversity, and care for the community. The team focuses on methods that are kind to the earth and to future generations. On-site activities include composting, biochar production, and crop rotation. These techniques are not just practiced but actively shared through workshops, working bees, and educational programs.

The Farm embraces the principles of permaculture and offers a constant learning curve. Volunteers explore the interconnectedness between soil life and Canberra’s regional food system. Whether in a classroom or with hands in the soil, learning is always practical and community-centered.

Allotment Education Program

The Allotment Education Program gives members access to their own plot where they can grow vegetables, herbs, and flowers while learning from experienced gardeners. This program supports people at all skill levels and fosters a collaborative atmosphere where knowledge about Canberra’s unique growing conditions is readily shared.

Workshops and Events

Canberra City Farm runs a variety of workshops on topics such as composting, biochar making, seed saving, and seasonal food growing. The Farm also hosts community events like the Winter Solstice Celebration. These gatherings strengthen ties between members and showcase the Farm’s role as a lively educational hub.

Customer Reviews and Ratings for Canberra City Farm

Canberra City Farm holds a 4.7-star rating on Google Maps based on 27 reviews. Visitors consistently describe the Farm as a wonderful demonstration garden and a peaceful place to explore. The feedback highlights the knowledgeable volunteers and the collaborative spirit that defines the site.

Google Maps reviewers frequently mention the beauty of the orchards and vineyards. One reviewer noted the Farm provides “many ideas for making the most of a small farm or city garden.” Another appreciated how many Canberra residents came together for a permaculture festival, calling it “a great place.” The owner responds warmly to feedback, reflecting the Farm’s community-minded approach.

Features and Facilities at Canberra City Farm

The Farm is designed to demonstrate sustainable growing techniques that work in the Canberra climate. Key features include propagation areas, wicking beds, demonstration gardens, compost bays, a biochar retort, and five orchards.

Propagation Areas

The propagation setup includes a glasshouse, a shade house, and a shed with a heated bench. The Propagation Team volunteers produce a diverse range of seedlings year-round for the communal gardens and for sale at events and through the website shop. Seedling sales provide important income for the Farm.

Wicking Beds

Surrounding the Low-Energy Super Shed are several wicking beds that demonstrate water-efficient gardening ideal for Canberra’s hot, dry summers. These beds feature inbuilt water reservoirs and currently grow myoga (Japanese ginger), horseradish, tomatoes, and flowers. They show how to grow herbs and vegetables in limited spaces like verandas or courtyards.

Four-Bed Demonstration Garden

This communal garden area demonstrates year-round productive growing. Volunteers work on Monday mornings rotating crops over a four-year cycle to manage pests and diseases while improving soil health. All produce is organic and freshly harvested, providing a practical example of regenerative gardening at a small scale.

Compost and Biochar

All organic waste from the Farm is transformed on-site. The compost area includes bays for green waste and for cooked compost. About four times a year, volunteers build a hot compost pile using garden waste, manure, a microbiological brew, water, and air. The biochar retort pyrolyzes large prunings into charcoal, which is then soaked in a microbiological brew before being added to the topsoil to support microbial life and water retention.

Orchards

Canberra City Farm maintains five orchards with over 100 fruit trees. The Old Orchard features 100-year-old pear trees and heritage varieties of apples, plums, medlars, almonds, mulberries, red currants, and gooseberries. The New Orchard contains rows of apples, apricots, plums, cherries, and peaches. The Espaliered Orchard demonstrates fruit-growing in small spaces, while the Circular Orchard focuses on small, manageable trees. The Feijoa Orchard showcases the best feijoa varieties identified for Canberra’s climate.

Canberra City Farm in Fyshwick, Australian Capital Territory

The Farm is located at 2 Dairy Road in Fyshwick, Australian Capital Territory 2609. The site is nestled beside the Jerrabomberra Wetlands, offering a green retreat within an industrial and commercial suburb. The property is accessible via public transport, and the grounds are suitable for walking and cycling.

Canberra City Farm operates on a volunteer-centered model with opening hours that vary. The Farm is currently closed but typically opens on Sundays from 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM. Visitors are encouraged to check the official website or subscribe to the newsletter for the latest opening times and event schedules.

Membership and Volunteer Opportunities

Joining Canberra City Farm unlocks special member prices for workshops and events, a monthly newsletter, access to the Allotment Education Program when available, and insurance coverage during working bees. Members become part of a community dedicated to urban farming and environmental projects that build a more sustainable capital region.

Volunteers are central to operations. Opportunities include joining working bees, assisting with allotments, making compost, preserving produce, and helping the Farm hum. New volunteers and members are especially welcome, and no prior experience is required—just a willingness to learn and get hands dirty.

Common Questions

What is Canberra City Farm?

Canberra City Farm is a two-hectare community-run urban farm in Fyshwick, Australian Capital Territory. It focuses on regenerative agriculture, hands-on learning, and building a sustainable local food system.

Where is Canberra City Farm located?

The Farm is at 2 Dairy Road, Fyshwick ACT 2609, beside the Jerrabomberra Wetlands.

What are Canberra City Farm's opening hours?

Opening hours vary. The Farm typically opens on Sundays from 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM. Contact Canberra City Farm or check the website for current hours before visiting.

How can I get involved at Canberra City Farm?

You can join as a member, volunteer at working bees, participate in the Allotment Education Program, attend workshops, or subscribe to the newsletter. New volunteers and members are always welcome.

Does Canberra City Farm sell plants or produce?

The Farm sells seedlings through its website shop and at events. Produce grown in the communal gardens is harvested for volunteers and sometimes donated to local food pantries.

What facilities does Canberra City Farm offer?

Facilities include propagation areas, wicking beds, a demonstration garden, compost bays, a biochar retort, and five orchards with over 100 fruit trees. The site also hosts workshops and community events.

Is Canberra City Farm wheelchair accessible?

Contact Canberra City Farm directly for detailed accessibility information.

How can I contact Canberra City Farm?

You can email info@ccfarm.org.au, call +61 434 982 053, or visit the contact page on the website to send a message. A newsletter subscription is also available for updates.