By Leonie Shanahan, Queensland HMAA
On May 17th, the Queensland branch of HMAA made its way to the Sunshine Coast to visit a project that left us all deeply moved and inspired. Tucked away in West Woombye, we were warmly welcomed by Mark and Gay Forbes, co-founders of endED, and Danny Middleton, Social Programs Coordinator and Gardener for Food Harvest.
From the moment we arrived, it was clear this wasn’t just another community initiative. Mark, Gay, and Danny exude a rare combination of passion, heart, and humility. Their unwavering commitment to helping others—especially those facing the pain of eating disorders and social disconnection—was both humbling and uplifting. It was impossible not to feel a strong connection to these heart-centred people who are devoting their lives to creating safe, healing spaces for others.
The roots of endED (www.endED.org.au) run deep. After their own daughter battled chronic eating disorders, Mark and Gay took action. What began as small support meetings in their living room has grown into something extraordinary. Through relentless fundraising, personal sacrifice—including mortgaging their own home—and sheer determination, they built Australia’s first dedicated eating disorder clinic. Later, the House of Hope was created to offer a sanctuary for individuals on their recovery journey. It’s a true testament to the power of love and community action.
Now, a new chapter is unfolding on the endED farmland: a vibrant, hands-on market garden and food-growing initiative where lives are being transformed from the ground up.
Set on a picturesque one-acre, chemical-free garden, Food Harvest takes young people beyond the classroom and into the soil—teaching them practical skills in propagation, planting, crop maintenance, and harvesting. But the real harvest runs deeper.
Each week, fresh, organic produce grown in the garden will be delivered—free of charge—to community centres across the Sunshine Coast, nourishing families facing tough times. It’s food with purpose: grown by youth, for the community. Every basket tells a story of resilience, growth, and the healing power of connection.
What truly sets Food Harvest apart is its heart: social inclusion. While many garden programs focus solely on horticulture, Food Harvest digs deeper—creating a nurturing space that welcomes and empowers often-overlooked members of the community through tailored, meaningful engagement, including:
- Disengaged youth – gaining real-world skills and, more importantly, a renewed sense of purpose, value, and belonging. They know their efforts matter—and that they’re making a positive difference.
- People with disabilities – finding connection and support in a welcoming, inclusive environment.
- Families impacted by eating disorders – experiencing the therapeutic power of nature-based sessions.
- Women and children recovering from domestic violence – rediscovering peace, stability, and self-confidence through hands-on connection with the earth.
- People living with dementia – creating joyful, memory-rich moments through intergenerational gardening activities alongside toddlers.
This is more than just a garden. It’s a sanctuary. A classroom. A safe haven. A community hub. A lifeline.
Danny Middleton, building on his experience running land-based youth and disability programs in NSW, is expanding the Teens Take Control initiative into this space with vision and compassion. With boundless energy and a deep belief in the young people he mentors, Danny is the guiding light of the project.
The garden is still in its early stages, but the vision is clear: a 2,500 square metre site, a 20m x 6m hot house, fruit trees soon to be planted, and a whole lot of heart. Soil tests were taken on the day of our visit by Des Warnock, and I had the chance to get hands-on with the penetrometer—true field work for the HMAA team!
Each week, the teens will proudly harvest the produce they’ve grown and deliver it to Sunshine Coast families struggling with the rising cost of living. Some of the fresh produce also supports the endED kitchen, used in therapeutic cooking sessions that nurture both body and spirit. For many of these young men, it’s not just about gardening—it’s about pride, purpose, and contribution.
With Danny’s integrity, enthusiasm, and magnetic belief in the people he works with, the momentum is contagious. Like all grassroots projects that matter, ongoing support is welcome—donations are still needed to help the garden flourish and expand fi you can help.
For us as horticulturists, this visit was a powerful reminder of how growing food can be a vehicle for healing, empowerment, and lasting social change. When you bring together compassion, community, and cultivation—hope truly grows.
We’ll be back to see their progress, and Des will have the soil results ready soon.
To support or learn more:
📧 harvest@teenstakecontrol.org – Danny Middleton
🌐 www.endED.org.au – Mark and Gay Forbes
