AFTER 12 months of planning and training, construction of the Katherine Indigenous Women’s Association and Food Ladder collaborative community greenhouse has begun.
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Major works started last week when hydroponic experts from Perth arrived to assist with construction and training of project participants.
KIWA secretary Angie Siputro first got involved with the project as part of a work-find initiative.
“The last 12 months has been planning and we finally got the ball rolling,” she explained.
“The last few weeks, everything’s started happening.”
Food Ladder project manager Matt Abbott said the construction of the greenhouse would form only part of the experts’ visit to Katherine.
“We have hydroponic experts who have come up from Perth to train and teach us how it all works,” he said.
“Also, to help with construction as well, but we are using a lot of local labour as well.”
Ms Siputro said she had enjoyed being part of the Food Ladder project and had gotten involved when JobFind suggested it could provide multiple benefits.
“Sign me up for that, I really like this kind of stuff,” she recalled.
“It’s been a really good educational experience.”
The first crop from the greenhouse is expected to be only eight weeks away.
“The system is five times more productive than traditional farming and requires only six per cent of the amount of water,” Mr Abbott said.
While they are still working out the details and more will be known after the first crop is harvested, Mr Abbott said the plan was for the produce to be distributed locally.
“Our main priority is to look after the participants, so they will be getting produce,” he said.
“We’ll be selling produce at the markets and also on Facebook, so we’ll be using modern technology to say ‘we’ve got something for sale and who’s interested.’”
Over the past 12 months, staff from the Katherine Rural Campus have also visited the site every three weeks to assist with the training of the participants.
