upwey grassroots makes it mark

This weekend saw the second running of the Upwey Grassroots Market and it was a wonderful success.

People flocked to the market which focusses on locally grown, made and produced food and wares.

The community harvest group were there with all their home grown produce, the rhubarb took my fancy. Food Swap is a great idea and being facilitated by Transition Sherbrooke who have been set up by some committed community members in response to climate change and peak oil. It's focus is to create a sustainable and resilient community whilst transitioning to a low carbon future.

Peter Cook, president of the Dandenong Ranges Renewable Energy Association was there with DRREA solar oven and information aplenty about renewable energy. Peter also had some postcards promoting Container Deposit Legislation, a campaign he's been supporting for some time.

TVAG (Tecoma Village Action Group) were there too. TVAG have recently been contacted by a consultant working for McDonalds about the potential for a McDonalds on the site of Hippie Haven and Saffron Cottage in Tecoma. McDonalds met with me and shire officers earlier this month and I recommended they speak to community groups, particularly TVAG, about the proposal. I also emphasised to them the importance of broader community consultation on this proposal.

TVAG are gauging the community response to the expression of interest by McDonalds. If you'd like to give some feedback to TVAG you can find more details by clicking on this 'stop press'.

a bountiful harvest coming to a library near you

It was terrific to see another great initiative from the Community Harvest Project in Yarra Ranges.

The group launched a set of DVDs available for loan from Eastern Regional Library branches at Belgrave, Lilydale and Healesville.

The Community Harvest Project invested $1,500 received via a Shire of Yarra Ranges Community Development Grant to provide information to Yarra Ranges residents on food-related issues associated with climate change, peak oil and other issues.

Me, pictured with ERL CEO, Joseph Cullen and Community Harvest mover and shaker Michelle Jones.

Designed as a self-paced learning program which in time will work in conjunction with materials available on the Community Harvest website, the DVDs will be an easy way for people to learn about the issues and gain food-related skills to help build resilience in our community.

The DVD sets will include a number of commercially available DVDs in three distinct areas:

1. Issues - includes the highly acclaimed documentary Home - detailing the effects of climate change and Crude Impact - detailing the effects of peak oil.

2. Models for Change - include Permaculture Principles by David Holmgren, Gourmet Farmer, the Transition Towns and How Cuba Survived Peak Oil .

3. Re-Skilling - includes videos on cheese making, preserving food, vegetarian cooking, growing food and much more.

It is a great initiative, well worth supporting, if you’d like to know more visit your local Belgrave, Lilydale and Healesville library.