South Brisbane’s The Roastery Cafe has long been a natural beauty to behold, but now the local coffee roaster and cafe has upped the ante with the construction of a closed-loop aquaponics system. The Rouge Plantation was officially welcomed into the world a few weeks ago, as collaborators and community members celebrated the sustainable garden that will nourish local diners with some of the freshest produce available.

The project saw folks from Seven Positive, Foodqube, Graffiti Murals, MadeForward, EcoUrbanistix and Rouge Coffee coming together to dream, design and build a seven-metre-long edible garden crafted entirely from upcycled materials. Boasting more than 100 jade perch and 150 herb and vegetable plants, the garden embraces aquaponics principles, which essentially combines the best of aquaculture and hydroponics. This method of gardening creates a mutually beneficial relationship between fish and plants, as the nutrient-rich water feeds the plants, which in turn filter the water for the fish. Conceived with the intention to reconnect local diners to the growing process and reduce the cafe’s food miles, the garden comprises a 1000-litre tank, several garden beds and a giant vertical garden wall. The urban garden’s harvest will make its way on to the cafe menu, meaning guests can eye the fresh goods they’re noshing on.