Growing Grenfell Community Produce
A community garden project at a small school in Grenfell has evolved into a community-wide initiative to supply fresh, local produce to those in need.
- LEP23-005-Weddin-02_LLC_006
The issue
As a small, rural community with a lower socio-economic demographic, the community of Grenfell faces obstacles that prevent many families from being able to provide fresh, healthy meals, participate in regular physical activity, or community initiatives.
The Grenfell Food Hall offers low-cost groceries but struggles to source fresh produce as the food must travel long distances and the range is often limited to staples like potatoes. Families on tight budgets tend to cut fresh fruit and vegetables first, impacting health.
The solution
St Joseph's Primary School in Grenfell, with assistance from Weddin Landcare, successfully applied for funding through the Western NSW Local Health District's 2025 Building Healthy Communities Challenge to start a community garden. The initiative promotes sustainable eating and physical activity by creating garden beds and using local expertise to teach gardening skills.
Led by Natalie Caruana from St Joseph's, with assistance from Weddin Landcare, a working group was formed, which drew in other organisations and schools including The Henry Lawson High School, Grenfell Men's/Hen's Shed, Grenfell Food Hall, Grenfell Multi-purpose Service, Weddin Community Native Nursery, and Grenfell Preschool and Long-Daycare Centre as well as individual community members.
Guided by Weddin Landcare, greenhouses, compost bins and garden beds were installed and workshops were run to educate community members on growing fruit and vegetables; soil health; and composting.
The impact
This project has evolved from a small school project to a community-wide effort aimed at providing healthy, low-cost fresh produce to the Grenfell Food Hall. Food is now grown and shared across multiple sites, fostering an intergenerational skills and knowledge exchange among children, adults, and the elderly. Food drops to the Grenfell Food Hall are being made on a regular basis, with customers ecstatic to receive the locally produced fruit, vegetables and herbs.
The working group, now Grenfell Community Produce, has created a Facebook page to spread the word and share produce, seedlings and knowledge throughout the community. Recipe cards are being developed to help families prepare healthier meals from the produce grown.
Key facts
- St Joseph's Primary School and Weddin Landcare helped to form Grenfell Community Produce as part of the Western NSW Health District's 2025 Building Healthy Communities Challenge.
- Grenfell Community Produce allows access to fresh food and promotes good health, through growing and sharing produce and knowledge.