Community Services
Burwood Brickworks Rooftop Farm
Sitting above Burwood Brickworks Shopping Centre, this 2500 square metre rooftop is a partnership between Cultivating Community and HomeCo, designed to create stronger, more connected neighbourhoods through shared green spaces and urban food production.
A Thriving Urban Farm
The rooftop has been transformed into a thriving urban farm through community engagement and sustainable design. It demonstrates how productive green spaces can be embedded into urban environments to support connection, wellbeing and local food systems.
Participants
from education and social inclusion programs delivered.
Meals
provided
to people experiencing food insecurity from 2,328kg of donated fresh food.
Tonnes
of greenhouse gas emissions avoided annually, equal to 1/3 of the average household’s carbon footprint.
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Learning in the garden
Employment Pathways
Our team brings formal horticultural qualifications alongside extensive practical experience in urban food growing. With a strong focus on inclusive, community-led education, the farm runs the Hear Me, See Me Employ Me, an Earn and Learn Work Pathways program supporting diverse participants to build skills and confidence in sustainable growing practices. Over the last three years:
- 38 Deaf and Hard of Hearing participants engaged
- 22 people employed through the Employment Pathways program
- 15 people supported into their first jobs
02
Addressing food insecurity
Where the harvest goes
Every year, more than 776kg of fresh produce leaves the farm as food relief, reaching social housing residents and families in need across Melbourne's north-east. This means, our harvest has provided 4,200 meals - or roughly 11–12 meals every day of the year.
The harvest also feeds directly into Cultivating Community's programs, including BANH Caravan workshops, Correa Kitchen events and Cook Well Age Well in Collingwood, and supports food relief organisations such as Box Hill Baptist Church, Alkira Cafe, @ThePantry in Vermont and Belgium Avenue Neighbourhood House.
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Grown for community
What we grow, and why it matters
We grow over 180 culturally significant plant varieties each year, tailored to local CALD communities. Our approach incorporates sustainable systems including active composting and garden-to-table practices that support long-term environmental outcomes.
Spaces like the Rooftop Farm play an important role in responding to the climate crisis by promoting sustainable food production and reducing environmental impact. The project aligns with Melbourne’s Urban Agriculture Policy and contributes to global sustainability goals.
Get Involved
Support the Rooftop Farm
Bring your team to the farm for a Corporate Volunteer Day, for a hands on session of planting, harvesting and general gardening maintance. Join the Saturday Morning Volunteer Club for a weekly place in the garden or book a workshop or tour to see how the farm operates.