We stroll past rows of sprouting carrots, spring onions, rocket, parsley and dill, relishing the earthy, farm-like smells.
Brunch buddy, Professor Ken, and I have brunch on our minds and we’re headed for genuine organic produce, plucked off the same city patch.
We are on the fringe of the city, cheek-by-jowl with Claisebrook Station, just two stops from Perth Central. This is about as close as you can get to farm life without being on a farm.
City Farm turned 30 last year with a makeover that is a credit to its creators and its army of dedicated volunteers.
In a delightful, freshly swept, barn-like environment, we take a table in the café which offers generous undercover seating and expansive spaces outdoors for eating alfresco.
The vine-clinging and plant-lined environment includes barns resembling stables, a rustic office, toilets and mural-smeared walls, plus a pruned mulberry tree and a healthy fig tree.
City Farm is ideal for all-ages. There’s open spaces, gardens and farm-like attractions for kids to explore while adults mull over coffee and cakes or meals.
For brunch, a single meal size would serve two adults. Nourishment and nutrition are key themes at City Farm and culinary creativity dominates.
We opt for wild-caught smoked salmon crumpets – homemade crumpets, mushrooms, dill cream cheese and onion spread, smoked salmon, pickled fennel & cucumber, soft poached egg with crispy capers ($29).
A bowl of bircher muesli came next – apple and coconut bircher, vanilla yoghurt, roasted seasonal fruits, cinnamon granola, City Farm’s own honey with freshly-picked mint ($20) – sweet and fresh.
A cacao chocolate milkshake was a disappointment – especially for the price ($11) – with the chocolate taste barely discernible.
A better drink was green elixir – zucchini, ginger, mixed greens, spirulina, apple and lemon (a princely $10).
With a couple of large black coffees ($11.20), we shared a brownie ($7.50) from their appealing, modest range of cakes. Total bill: $86.56.
City Farm isn’t cheap but nor is high-quality, fresh-picked produce and creative chefs come cheap. City Farm is a welcome breath of fresh, farm-like, air on a busy city fringe.
Its stated core purpose is to provide information and education to the Perth community about the protection and regeneration of the natural environment.
Low emission, low waste and sustainable lifestyles are its ideals. Not bad from a disused and degraded industrial site.
All thanks to the aim of two young mothers, Rosanne Scott and Joanne Tucker, whose sustainability dream became a reality with the opening of City Farm’s gates in 1994.
4 Spoons
City Farm, 1 City Farm Place, East Perth
Farm opening hours:
Monday to Friday: 9am to 3pm.
Saturday: 7.30am to 11.30am,
Closed Sunday.
Café hours:
Monday to Friday: 6am to 1.30pm.
Saturday: 7am to 12.30pm.
Closed Sunday.
