A crop growing in an unusual place is helping share the message of food, fibre and farming with a new generation of children.
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In the heart of Adelaide, a small patch of land, less than 0.05 hectares, has been the site of some important crops.
The Botanic Gardens of SA City Crop is now in its fourth rotation, with a May-sown crop of lucerne.
In the past three years, the site has also grown wheat, barley and corn.
Public programs manager Carrie Moss said the program was developed to “connect people with plants”.
“We’re showing what it is used for, by people, by animals, and what part agriculture plays in the economy,” she said.
Ms Moss said the crops were combined with an education program, mainly school holiday programs, that helped share the message.
During the October school holidays, students planted alfalfa sprouts.
Botanic Garden SA horticulture supervisor Cliff Sawtell said the decision for lucerne was based on soil analysis that showed the patch was low in nitrogen.
The garden soil is clay on a limestone ridge with quite a high pH.
Mr Sawtell said, for most of the staff at the Botanic Gardens, it was their first time growing traditional agricultural crops.
“It’s been a good learning process for the staff involved as well,” he said.
It’s been a good learning process for the staff involved as well.
- CLIFF SAWTELL
“We did a lot of research, consulted with growers and seed breeders for professional advice.
“The industry has been very supportive.”
The plot was split with 50 per cent sown to Supersonic, provided by sponsor S&W Seed, bred in Keith, with the other 50pc planted to a SARDI variety.
Mr Sawtell said lucerne was expected to be in until April 2017, to allow time for nitrogen fixation to occur.
It has already been cut twice, serving as mulch for other plants in the gardens.
In 2012, a crop of Mace wheat was ground into flour to make bread, while a stand at the Royal Adelaide Show promoted a plot that size could provide a family of four with one year’s worth of bread.
The next year, Navigator barley from the patch was used for a limited edition craft beer.
Botanic Ale was a collaboration between Coopers, the Lobethal Bierhouse and the Botanic Garden, with 1200 litres produced and sale proceeds directed back to the garden.
The latest crop was a heirloom variety of corn called True Gold, supplied by Diggers.
Mr Sawtell said preparations for planting corn were more extensive than previous crops, with compost laid down and mounds formed.
Ms Moss said the corn crop was a good way to connect with kids. She said children were given corn seed to grow at home, then invited along for planting and picking, and could take home their own ear of corn.
“It’s all related to growing food and learning about agriculture,” she said.
“City kids don’t get to see this much.”
