Working Groups 'Call to Action' - The Town Needs You!
Interested in taking an active part in the Eco-Living Project? Well, here's your opportunity!
The Eco-Living Project Team is setting up the first of a number of working groups that will be vital to the success of this major project. Some working groups will go for the three year life of the project, others will be shorter-term.
The first working groups and group leaders include
| Working groups and group leaders | |
|---|---|
| Community Garden | Sally Mann, 03 5798 1765 OR Robbie Rae 03 5798 1631 |
| Project Launch | Robbie Rae, 03 5798 1631 |
| Arts & Community | Helen Keighery, 03 5798 1381 |
| Education | Kate Stothers, 03 5763 3315 |
| Pizza Oven | Howard Myers, 03 5798 1381 |
So, take your pick and get involved - whether it's with one group or more, for the life of a project, for a couple of days, or for an hour here and there.
Whatever group you work with, you'll be making a great contribution to the success of the project and the sustainability of our town.
Solar Neighbourhood Update
Congratulations to VTAG for taking on the Eco-Living Committee's recommendation to initiate the Solar Neighbourhood Program.
As at August 11:
- 106 residents were registered with the program - 53 VT neighbourhood; 12 Warrenbayne; 11 Marraweeny; 10 Earlston/Koonda; 6 Strathbogie; 4 Caniambo; 4 Euroa
- 100 inspections were scheduled (with a potential conversion rate of 75%)
The level of response to this program demonstrates a real desire in the community to do something positive and practical in response to climate change. Feedback from those involved in the program confirms that people feel collectively proud of our community for embracing this initiative.
Community Garden Working Group Visit to Edi Upper Primary School
Members of the Eco-Living Committee, Community Garden Working Group, and Peranbin VT campus recently visited Edi Upper Primary School to learn more about its involvement in the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Foundation.
The foundation's objective is for students to develop life-long, healthier and happier habits through engaging in growing, harvesting, preparing and sharing delicious, healthy food at school. At the same time, the students develop a greater understanding of the realtionship between growing things and caring for the environment.
In addition to the vegetable garden, the school has a chookyard, small orchard and a soon-to-be refurbished hot house for next season's plants. Two days a week are allocated to working in the garden, and family and friends are keen supporters always ready to lend a hand.
A real highlight of the visit was watching students cooking their lunch in the purpose-built, well-appointed school kitchen. The children clearly enjoyed preparing and sharing the food - very little of which was left on their plates after lunch! Parents report on the improvement in their children's eating habits and enthusiasm for growing and preparing food.
The VT group decided to into Whitfield Primary School on the way home to have a look at the impressive pizza oven they've built.
The local community regularly gets together at the school to share pizza they've made with ingredients from the school garden.
In fact, the pizza oven gatherings are so popular that a large undercover area is under construction to enhance the facilities for the community.
The Eco-Living Committee congratulates Peranbin Violet Town for supporting the idea of a community garden at the school and for freeing-up John Spencer to join in the trip to Edi Upper.
The trip reinforced how schools and the wider community can benefit in both the short- and longer-term by working together to grow, prepare and share food.
The travellers were inspired by what they saw on the day, and came back with further ideas for the Eco-Living Project. Special thanks to Howard, Sal and Shelagh for organising the day.