Jiwah – Indigenous Rooftop Farming

Four storeys above the South Eveleigh precinct in inner Sydney sits Australia’s first Indigenous rooftop farm: a 500m² garden on top of a community building. Closed to the public since the pandemic, the farm grows Indigenous edible, medicinal and cultural plants including a variety of bushfoods, many of which are harvested and used by restaurants in the neighbourhood. The garden brings to life South Eveleigh’s rich Aboriginal culture and heritage for the community.

Clarence Slockee of Jiwah leads a two-hour guided tour of the Indigenous rooftop farm including an introduction to Indigenous plants with tastings. The tour is an opportunity to discuss First Nations knowledge, permaculture, land management and design, and includes a hands-on workshop in which Slockee shares insights from years of working with native plants in the field of environmental education.

Jiwah – Indigenous Rooftop Farming is part of Sydney Design Week’s urban food program, curated by chef Xinyi Lim (林心仪) who through her venture Megafauna uses food as an artistic tool for social justice, community-building and the exploration of culture and heritage.