Produce with purpose: Growing hope in Timor-Leste

Did you know your Saturday shop at the Capital Region Farmers Market is helping grow more than just fresh food here at home?  

That’s right – shopping at Market makes a very real difference to the lives of many. In fact, when you shop with us, you are not only supporting local farmers and their families, you’re making an often big difference to the lives of many people both in Australia and overseas.  

This month, we’re proud to share that thanks to Market proceeds, the Rotary Club of Hall is funding the operation of the Belola School Garden in Timor-Leste for the entire 2025 year—an initiative with life-changing impact. 

Located in the small village of Belola, just outside Balibo, the local school was destroyed in 1999 during unrest. But thanks to a powerful collaboration between Spend it Well, Balibo House Trust, and the Rotary Club of Port Phillip, a new school for Prep to Year 2 children was built in 2018. By 2020, a school garden was added to support the fight against childhood malnutrition—an issue that affects 50% of children under five years old in Timor-Leste. 

 Today, that garden—maintained by dedicated gardener Sebastian—produces a wide range of nourishing crops including spinach, corn, beans, sweet potato, cassava, bananas, watermelon, and the remarkable moringa tree, known as a “superfood” for its exceptional nutritional value. The garden supplements the limited government-funded school lunches, which often lack fresh fruits and vegetables. The children now enjoy porridge enriched with moringa leaves, which are packed with vitamins, protein, and minerals like iron and calcium. 

And Rotary Club of Hall is funding the garden for all of this year. It’s a project that embodies the spirit of Produce with Purpose—connecting our local Market community with global efforts to build a healthier, more sustainable future. 

 So, thank you. Every apple, loaf of bread, or bunch of spinach you buy at Capital Region Farmers Market helps fund meaningful projects like this—turning fresh produce into fresh hope, one garden at a time.