In a unique collaboration with the Department of Agriculture, North Regional TAFE’s Broome campus has been trialling the growth of coffee plants over the past 12 months — and the results are looking promising.
With support from the Department, the coffee plants were initially cultivated in the campus nursery and have recently been planted into the College’s model community garden. The project has been brought to life by students enrolled in Tuesday evening horticulture classes, who have taken a hands-on role in nurturing and transplanting the coffee seedlings.
This exciting initiative not only explores the potential of coffee as a viable crop for the region but also highlights the power of partnerships between government agencies. It provides a valuable learning opportunity for students, giving them real-world experience in sustainable horticulture practices while promoting the benefits of community gardens across the region.
The project is led by Kim Courtenay, who teaches AHC20422 Certificate II in Horticulture(opens in a new tab) and AHC30722 Certificate III in Horticulture(opens in a new tab) at the Broome campus. Kim is well known for running a variety of innovative, hands-on horticulture projects that engage students and contribute to community wellbeing.
Kim recently spoke to ABC Kimberley about the coffee planting project and its exciting potential for the region. You can listen to the interview here,(opens in a new tab) fast forward to 42 mins to listen to Kim.
With the coffee plants settling in well, this project is just one of many ways North Regional TAFE continues to grow knowledge, skills, and community connections — one plant at a time.