FOR years, development has been eating away at Sydney's farmland but new land is about to be rezoned for urban farmers.

Farmers, goats, horses, cows - welcome to the city.

For decades, development has been eating away at Sydney's farmland but for the first time new land is about to be rezoned for urban farmers, with three leases out for commercial farms, market gardens, live stock and orchards.

The Western Sydney Parklands Trust is calling for farmers to return to the city.

It wants experienced farmers to lease three sites at Horsley Park as it proposes to change its planning policy with the state government to build more sustainable agriculture.

The trust has already signed two new farms, one for traditional market gardens and a $24 million glasshouse project which will create 110 jobs.

"This is about agricultural jobs in the city," trust director Suellen Fitzgerald said.

"As we see the next phases, we would like to establish a thriving market garden precinct, farm gate sales, pick and pay and even, in the longer term, a farmers' market."

She said the trust had a diverse plan for the 5280ha of parklands.

By 2020, it wants an 8 per cent increase in urban farmland, up to 415ha.

Ms Fitzgerald said the trust wanted to invite the public on to farms to see how they operate, appreciate their scenic quality and "keeping that as the city expands".

"It's not all about picnics and recreation; it's about bushland and farming. Our vision is to see a thriving agricultural precinct with trade market gardens, orchards and the high tech end."

The farms would also deal with the knowledge gap of city living, Ms Fitzgerald said.

"Kids growing up in the city might not know where food (comes) from. Some kids who come out have never planted anything before. They have an absolute ball," she said.

Horsley Park farmer Sam Grima's family has grown vegetables on site for 50 years.

"We were here first - the city came to us," he said.

He sees the new push for urban farmers as a boon.

"It's a big thing when the young fellas aren't staying in it. This might help them; they can farm closer to the Sydney area," he said.

"It also means less travel for the produce so the people get it fresher. The general public want to see farms and they want to know where food is coming from."

But he warned future farmers: "It's a lot of hard work; it's not something to go into half-hearted.

"Rain, hail or shine - you are out there, working."

Read more on The Daily Telegraph.