BILPIN organic farmer Aaron Brocken is helping staff at Westmead Children’s Hospital eat the best stuff they can.
Staff at the hospital were asked by management what improvements they would like in their work environment and the biggest response was a farmers’ market. Aaron was one of the farmers approached and he jumped on board with gusto.
He has organised the first farmers’ market for October 11, and thence fortnightly. He also offered to provide boxes of organic fruit and veg to staff for the season.
Staff pay $280 and get six fortnightly seasonal fruit and veg boxes grown on his farm, and from next month they can also buy them from the farmers’ markets out the front of the hospital.
The box scheme was so popular he got 40 takers straight away and had to close the books for the moment.
He has also started a crowdfunding campaign for those who couldn’t afford boxes so they wouldn’t miss out, and has offered to talk to the children at the hospital school about farming.
He will now grow more produce so he can provide 120 boxes a fortnight.