About Green Thumb Farm
Green Thumb Farm is a small-scale, community-focused farm in Samford Valley, Queensland, just 35 minutes from Brisbane’s CBD. People of all ages and abilities visit to learn through hands-on experiences. We offer educational programs for families, early childhood centres, and school groups, as well as farm tours and participation in community events.
Through inclusive, interactive, and inspiring experiences, Green Thumb Farm nurtures practical skills, builds resilience, and demonstrates positive actions for healthier people and a healthier planet.
Our Strategic Plan aligns with the Qld Government strategic directions:
- Queensland Obesity Prevention Strategy 2023-2032
- Making Healthy Happen Action Plan 2024-2026
- Queensland Organics Action Plan 2022-2032
- Queensland Climate Action Plan Australia’s Disability Strategy
- 2022-2032 Queensland Climate Action Plan
Our Strategic Plan aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals, with a focus on:
- Goal 2: Zero Hunger - End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture.
- Goal 3: Good Health and Well-being - Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.
- Goal 13: Climate Action - Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.
Why Our Work Matters
People – In Queensland, only 5.8% of adults and 3.1% of children meet the recommended daily vegetable intake (Report of the Chief Health Officer, QLD, 2024). By engaging with hands-on food growing, people gain practical skills, make healthier eating choices, and contribute to stronger, more resilient communities.
Planet – Food transport accounts for nearly half of direct road vehicle emissions (Dr Mengyu Li et al., Nature Food, 2022), and globally, 8–10% of greenhouse gas emissions are linked to food that is wasted (UNEP Food Waste Index Report, 2021). Growing food locally, eating seasonally, and composting reduces emissions and nurtures a healthier, more sustainable planet.
Our Solution for People
When people connect positively with food growing - touching, smelling, and seeing how food is grown - they make more empowered food choices, children grow into healthier adults and communities grow more resilient.
Our Solution for Planet
When people increase their consumption of local, seasonal food, discover local farms, and grow some of their own produce, small shifts occur that help relocalize our food systems. These changes lead to better long-term environmental outcomes.
Our Vision
A world where everyone is connected to how food is grown, empowered to make sustainable choices, and inspired to care for the earth.
Our Mission
We inspire people to grow, embrace, and choose sustainable, seasonal food through hands-on experiences on our small, sustainable farm — good for people and the planet.
Our Internal Values:
Positivity
We approach every task with optimism, encouragement, and a can-do attitude.
Inspiration
We spark curiosity and excitement for growing and choosing sustainable, seasonal food.
Collaboration
We work together, value everyone’s contributions, and foster positive, supportive relationships.
What makes our Approach Unique?
- Green Thumb Farm is an established beautiful and inspiring organic farm, showcasing locally grown food, with close proximity to densely populated areas of wider Brisbane.
- Our educational farm model is a cost effective, innovative public health intervention that could be replicated in other areas and target a large cohort of the population through different programs at the one farm.
- Our Management and Leadership Team has combined experience in public health, organic farming, environment, law, and business, and committed to social and environmental change, and committed to evidence based approaches.
- As a registered charity with the ACNC and a certified social enterprise, our commitment to social change and financial transparency is of the highest standard.
Partnerships and Collaborations
We welcome partnerships with organisations committed to health and environment, eager to collaborate and leverage resources to improve the health and wellbeing of families, children, and vulnerable groups across the wider Brisbane area, and be part of better climate solutions.
Financial support from philanthropic, government, and private sectors will enable us to establish a sustainable operational model, resulting in more community initiatives, enhancing accessibility, and scaling the impact of our work.
We are actively seeking partnerships with research institutions to contribute to a robust evidence base for our innovative educational farm model. This cost-effective and powerful intervention has the potential to be replicated in other areas. We are committed to sharing our learnings, including what hasn't worked, to build on these strong foundations.
Green Thumb Farm Association Inc. is a registered not-for-profit organisation,
an accredited charity with the ACNC, and proudly holds Social Traders Certification.
