Page Sections: Community Gardens | School Kitchen Gardens | Food Aid and Donation
Permaculture Design Certificate Application
Applications close 14 June 2011
We're looking for 12 people who are committed to sustainability to undertake a Permaculture Design Certificate course (PDC) in 2011.
The course will be funded through the Illawarra Biodiversity and Local Food Strategy for Climate Change (IBLFSCC) project.
For more information on how to apply, please download the Permaculture Design Certificate Application Package below.
Application Package- Permaculture Design Certificate
Food Issues
Climate change poses a real threat to local food security, whilst unsustainable food systems make a significant contribution towards climate change. Council is working with the community, schools and a range of community organisations to improve access to locally grown fresh food and to make more sustainable food choices.
The Illawarra Biodiversity and Local Food Strategy for Climate Change is a joint project of Kiama, Shellharbour and Wollongong Councils supported by a grant from the NSW Environmental Trust’s Urban Sustainability Project. The project is a multi-level response to the emerging and urgent sustainability challenges posed by climate change and peak oil to local food security and biodiversity conservation.
The project will provide a regional framework for local food security. Community based activities and creative partnerships will support on-ground projects to actively engage the community in working towards a more equitable and sustainable local food system. It seeks to promote food production and consumption opportunities for local people that protect and promote health, are ecologically sustainable and socially equitable.
Current Council projects include supporting community gardens and school kitchen gardens.
Community Gardens
A community garden is a not-for-profit, community based enterprise producing food primarily for the consumption of the gardeners. Community gardens play a role in improving access to fresh locally grown food, as well as providing valuable recreational activity, social interaction and educational benefits for the local community. Community gardens make a valuable contribution in responding to the challenges of climate change as one means by which to reintegrate edible food plants into the urban landscape.
The utilisation of appropriate open space for community gardens is valued by Council for its contribution to the health and well-being of the wider community and the sustainability principles on which it is based.
Find Your Local Community Garden
There are a range of community gardens within the Illawarra on public and private land. The Illawarra Community Gardens Directory provides contact details for local community gardens.
Starting a Community Garden
There are a lot of things to consider when thinking about starting a community garden, including where appropriate and available land can be found, who else will want to be part of your gardening group and the availability of skills within your group to develop and maintain the garden. Ideally a good site is accessible for all user groups, close to public transport and has access to sunlight and water.
Community Groups can apply to Council to use community land for the purpose of a community garden. The application process involves the Community Group assessing site suitability for a community garden, preparing a garden Plan of Management and demonstrating an appropriate group and garden management system. For more information, a factsheet and the relevant forms can be found below.
The Australian City Farms and Community Gardens Network website has fact sheets and guides about how to start and maintain a community garden.
School Kitchen Gardens
Schools are integrating edible landscapes into their playgrounds to create outdoor classrooms and learning spaces. School kitchen gardens that involve children in the design, maintenance, cultivation, harvesting and cooking process have been demonstrated to be excellent platforms for sustainability education and personal development.
The Illawarra Biodiversity and Local Food Strategy for Climate Change project is supporting exciting kitchen garden projects in the Illawarra.
Three new 'Living Classroom' school gardens, one in each local government area, are demonstration sites and receive funding to support the design, construction and teacher training.
A comprehensive Expression of Interest process was used to select the successful schools:
1. Kiama Public School was the successful applicant in Kiama, and has completed construction of the garden. Training is now well underway with the 'Garden Ambassadors', and a launch of the project will take place to coincide with the school's 150th birthday celebrations in November 2011.
2. Mount Terry Public School has been chosen as the Shellharbour site, and will commence construction of the garden in Term 2, 2011.
3. The application process for the Wollongong site is now underway, and an announcement will be made about the successful school in mid-July.
The Wollongong Botanic Garden is establishing a demonstration food garden adjacent to the Discovery Centre, with excellent composting and worm farming systems. There is a cost of $7 per student for a facilitated excursion. Follow up visits to your school with advice on your particular project is also possible. Contact Council on 4227 7111 for more information.
External Links
Government Websites
Office of Environment and Heritage - Eco-Schools grants available of up to $2500 each.
Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency – Educational resources, factsheets and grant information.
Sydney Water - Rainwater Tank rebates and teaching resources on water.
Junior Landcare – Grants of up to $1000 for bushtucker, waterwise or food gardens.
Healthy Active Australia Community and School Grants Program - $10,000 - $200,000 available for not-for-profit organisations to undertake healthy eating and physical activity initiatives to benefit the whole community and target at-risk groups.
Education Websites
Growing Kids
Edible Schoolyard
Junior Master Gardeners
Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program
Consumer Victoria - lesson plan on the ‘Real Cost of Food’.
Seed to Seed – Food Gardens in Schools - covers everything from seed raising, vegetable beds, composting, materials, mulch, seasonal planting calendar, lesson plans and useful websites.
Australian City Farm and Community Gardens Network - This is a great website for the affiliated activity of community gardening, and offers some great how-to advice which is transferable to the school setting.
National School Gardens e-mail group - Subscribe to the network as a means of sharing stories and seeking support from other school gardens.
Occidental Arts and Ecology Centre - School Garden Training
Waste Education - waste education teaching resources and activities sheets
UK Websites
Growing Schools UK
Food and Agriculture Association of the United Nations - setting up and Running a School Garden manual
Food Aid and Donation
The Illawarra Councils have partnered under a NSW Environmental Trust grant to completely revise and update a third edition of the popular Low Cost and Free Meals Directory. The directory provides information on where to go to find a low cost or free meal, where to donate unwanted food, how to volunteer, and a summary of the legal liability issues for donating food for donors.
OzHarvest is a charity that rescues excess food that would otherwise go to waste and distributes to it to those in need. Visit the website or call 02 9516 3877 to find out more about donating unexpected leftovers.