Gallery: ‘We’re growing food, and futures’: inside the Teens Take Control Farm at Woombye
Only months ago it was just weeds in a paddock. Today, neat rows of broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower and lettuce are being harvested by teenage boys who, not long ago, were struggling at school and drifting from community.
“They’re engaged now,” says project lead Danny Middleton.
“And the beauty about this project is they know what they’re doing is benefiting the community. It’s given them an avenue to productively participate.”
The Food Harvest Project at Woombye is run by Teens Take Control in partnership with local charity endED, which has provided farmland on a peppercorn lease.
“Their founders, Mark and Gay Forbes, donated this land to us for $10 a year,” Mr Middleton said.
“They’re also planning eight tiny homes for their clients who can’t afford accommodation while they’re in treatment. When those homes aren’t in use, there’ll be scope to support emergency situations as well. What a location – rolling hills, fresh veggies, healthy food.”
Everything grown on the farm is donated to Urban Angels, the Sunshine Coast food charity that cooks thousands of meals each month.
“The boys grow vegetables and those vegetables are delivered to Urban Angels,” Mr Middleton said.
“They also get to take some home and say to mum and dad, ‘Look what I grew.’ It’s a proud moment.”
The transformation has been rapid and tangible.
“Twenty weeks ago those garden beds were just dirt and weeds,” he said. “Now they’re producing food and the boys are already harvesting. They love the feeling that they’re contributing productively in the community. It’s a win-win for everyone.”
The project is intentionally chemical-free. “I’m not saying we’re organic certified, but we’re chemical-free here,” Mr Middleton said.
“It’s not easy being chemical-free. It’s really hard but it’s worth it.”
He also believes good food supports good mental health, especially for young people under stress.
“There’s a direct connection between eating fresh vegetables and better mental health. Eating good food like this can actually help you.”
‘They’re fantastic kids who just need some guidance and some male role models’
For Mr Middleton, the farm is about pathways, not university entrance scores.
“School’s not for everyone,” he said. “We’re prepping these boys for the workforce, not university. I failed school. I excelled when I left. There’s hope for everyone.”
Practical learning: turning soil, planting, watering, harvesting, delivering. It becomes a scaffold for showing up, working with others and finishing what you start.
“They’re learning life skills,” he said. “If they can pass it on to their family and their community, it’s a win-win.”
The initiative already includes young people with disability and is planning therapeutic garden activities for endED clients staying in the tiny homes. Mr Middleton has seen the power of intergenerational gardening before.
“At a previous food garden, I brought dementia sufferers and toddlers together for activities and the results were amazing,” he said.
“We’re only 16 weeks in here. We’ve got our model, we just need time to roll it out.”
‘People believe in it because they can see it. And they can see results’
While the labour is youth-powered, the backbone is community-powered.
“The Sunshine Coast community has been overwhelming,” he said. “Our irrigation bill was $21,000. I had two conversations with a local businessman and he rang me and said, ‘Right, Danny, what do we need?’ I said ‘irrigation’s $21,000’. He said, ‘Done.’ Our fertiliser costs are covered. Our crushed mineral rock is covered. People believe in it because they can see it – and they can see results.”
The stakes, he argues, are high and very human.
“They’re fantastic kids who just need some guidance and some male role models,” he said. “If we can get a dozen, two dozen of these kids away from jail later in life and being productive people in the community, Australia is saving millions. Give me the resources and I’ll make a difference with it.”
