Albury-Wodonga’s Bhutanese Community Farm currently has an abundance of radishes and pumpkins ripe for the picking.
Silverbeet, beans and chickpeas are not far behind.
The farm is in a paddock next to the Murray River, just 300m from the Lincoln Causeway on Lemke Rd, with the Gateway Lakes precinct to the left.
Established in 2015 by the Bhutanese Association at Albury, the farm has support from lots of partners, including Parklands Albury Wodonga, National Environment Centre, Riverina TAFE and E-Works Employment Solutions.
Community members can arrange to purchase the chemical-free produce through Facebook.
Community Farm Ranger Tilak Chhetri said the initial farm enterprise was an organic market garden, producing vegetables and herbs not commonly available locally.
“We have lots of white daikon radish at the moment,” he said.
The long-term vision is to make the community farm sustainable by diversifying from vegetables to fruit, goats, chooks, honey, mushrooms, catering and other value-adding enterprises to create opportunities for economic participation for the local refugee community as well as the wider regional community.
Objectives include sharing traditional Bhutanese farming skills with the community and learning about new technologies and ways of farming.
The farm enterprise also aims to build relationships with the local community and farming groups and show the talents and skills of Bhutanese community people in the farming sector.
Mr Chhetri, who works at the farm on Tuesdays from 8am to 4pm, said volunteers were always welcome to help with weeding, composting and tending to the produce.
If you would like to purchase fresh vegetables or volunteer at the farm, contact the rangers via Facebook.
Those visiting the farm should park on Lemke Rd at the Community Farm sign and walk through the paddock to the gardens.