Going Green in Ramingining
The Ramingining Hydroponic Greenhouse is creating an opportunity for locals to gain part time employment from the sale of produce and to learn about new methods of sustainable green farming using technology.
The Ramingining community wanted to grow local produce, and looked at a greenhouse to retain water, control the climate and importantly, provide comfort for workers to plant and harvest their crops.
The Ramingining Hydroponic Greenhouse Project is a collaboration between the Arnhem Land Progress Aboriginal Corporation (ALPA) and not for profit organisation Food Ladder, with placement for job seekers through the Government’s Community Development Programme (CDP).
“This project has the potential to deliver wide ranging benefits for the Ramingining community,” Lisa Somerville, ALPA Innovation and Sustainability Projects Specialist said.
“It is enabling the community to rebuild their primary industries and to create new employment and educational opportunities tailored to the needs of Ramingining.”
“This system is the first of its kind in a remote Indigenous community in Australia. It makes a real comfortable climate to grow all sorts of different things that would not survive in the bush and the Ramingining climate otherwise.”
One hundred per cent Indigenous owned, the Ramingining greenhouse is helping build the local economy through the introduction of a primary industry venture that creates ongoing casual employment. From a pool of 15 trained CDP participants, planting and harvesting crews of up to seven people are employed, depending on the harvest size.
The hosting arrangement with CDP also allows space to be used for training with the delivery of Certificate II in Rural Operations. The greenhouse will be used to train the 15 CDP participants.
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The Australian Government’s Community Development Programme is designed to help people find work, and allow them to contribute to their communities and gain skills while looking for work.
ALPA began as a co-operative of community stores in Arnhem Land but is now Australia’s largest Aboriginal corporation, operating across the Northern Territory and Queensland.