b'01Tucked away in suburbia on the Green Connect Farm, lambs graze in the sunshine, pigs roll happily in the rich soil, and theres a buzz of people tending to the flourishing vegetable beds side-by-side, all under the watchful eye of Farm Manager Emily Henderson.Our farm has long been the heart of Green Connect and the02foundation for us to fulfill our mission: creating opportunities for people facing barriers to employment. But the 11-acre, award-winning urban utopia requires hard work to stay true to our sustainable permaculture approach.After a year of constant rain, Emily says, Over 50% of theOp Shopsfarm beds were too waterlogged to grow food. We couldnt get in and work the beds, and the weeds took over. It was a wilderness. The La Nia weather pattern causing the wetter-than-normal conditions ended this year, and the team began reclaiming 03 the land. But Emily explains, We avoided disrupting the03natural layers of soil to preserve soil health, but doing03everything by hand was laborious. UNANDERRA UOWGREEN CONNECT Emilys farming background and determined spirit haveThe Unanderra Op Shop spills with pre-lovedThe University of Wollongong (UOW) Op ShopGREEN CONNECThelped the farm overcome these challenges; the team are now harvesting a bounty of organically grown veg fromtreasures, and locals know theyll alwaysworks in tandem with our Unanderra store around 90% of the vegetable beds, allowing Green Connectfind a one-of-a-kind item among the racks.to divert waste from landfill. However, with to launch a new online shop to sell more produce, includingPurchases from the community, along with ourstudents only on campus around 180 days a eggs, honey, and ethically raised meat.55 recycling streams, help us keep around 91%year, its challenging to staff it full-time while Emily says, Our walk-behind tractor purchase enabled usof donations out of landfill. ensuring it remains economically viable.to reclaim the beds, relieving the need for a huge amount ofBut the Unanderra stores layout and pricing structureLast year, we solved this by partnering with UOW Pulse, manual labour to re-establish overgrown areas. needed an overhaul to ensure we continue to sella UOW organisation that aims to enhance the student We also started bi-monthly Saturday community farmproducts quickly. experience; they provide student volunteers three days04blitzes. We pick various projects for the daythere might beper week to run the store, and we staff it Monday and Op Shop Coordinator Steph Thackrays background in garden bed work or something to dismantle, like the old pigThe Farm retail and merchandising has been integral to the OpFriday. The volunteers gain valuable work experience enclosurethen we break our volunteers into groups andShops successful revamp; she says, To increase ourand credit towards their studies.get a lot done. stock rotation, we introduced a discount system, andLuisa Steinkogler, Green Connects Marketing and Previously, the farm was only open to volunteers onwe research the RRP of our donations so we can set aCommunications Coordinator and part-time UOW Op weekdays; the farm blitzes enable people with weekend- fair price. Shop Coordinator, says, A lot of the student volunteers only availability to get involved. People come with their kidsThe team have also dedicated more floor space toare living away from home, and theyre looking for a and do something different together as a family, Emily says,family. I think we give them that. She says, Its also you dont usually get to go to a farm when you live in theOur farm has longbest-selling categories like books and condensed thegreat for us; they know the important UOW dates and space for slower-moving items, while a recent donation City of Wollongong!been the heart offrom the West Wollongong Rotary Club has funded newthe best ways to engage with students. Now that the farm is thriving, Emily and the team can focusshelving units to get more shoes and luggage on theBuilding on the volunteer partnership, the Op Shop and on the future. Green Connect andfloor and out the door.UOW Pulse hosted an Op Shop Ball at the university05With software called Tend, the team will track crops andthe foundationSteph says, The turnover is quicker now, and wereduring Global Climate Change Week; students danced improve harvest estimates, and accessibility upgrades willmaking budget every month. the night away wearing outfits purchased from the tie in with two recent grants to fund a bush tucker garden forfor us to fulfill ourOp Shop, and an op-shop-inspired fashion parade The increased revenue has created more trainingillustrated the possibilities of sustainable fashion. school children and a community garden. Plus, Su Mehs newmission: creatingopportunities for local people experiencing barriers toThe successful event will run again this year, helping flower garden, which received funding from Jack Johnson employment. Young people and people with disabilities and the Johnson Ohana Foundation last year, matching everywork experiencevolunteer; they learn retail skills, and we write them aus educate students about the circular economy and donation from our community, is almost ready to bloom.sustainability.Freshly cut flowers will be available through our online shopopportunities forgood reference, Steph explains, and The MulticulturalLuisa says, We touch on all three sustainability for veg box customers and at local farmers markets.Communities Council of Illawarra brings a group of people facing barriersyoung people from SCARF Refugee Support to learnpillars at the UOW Op Shop: Social, Economic and A group of University of Wollongong students areabout sustainability and how we work. Ecological. We build community, we help young managing that project; its right at the entrance as youreto employment. Steph says, It has been a great result and Im lookingpeople gain work experience so they can support06driving in, and theyll complete it in time for springit willthemselves financially, and we divert waste from be stunning, she says with a smile. EMILY HENDERSONFARM MANAGER forward to seeing what else we can achieve!landfill. Its really exciting to be a part of it.Top: Steph Thackray, Op Shop Coordinator and Luisa Steinkogler, Marketing and Communications Coordinator PAGE 27'