earth goddess welcomed

What an honour it was to be invited to 'welcome' the Earth Goddess to Yarra Ranges as part of Yarra Valley ECOSS' Eco Food Fest.

The Eco Food Fest was a great day, celebrating and promoting all things sustainable living. 

Artists Sioux Dollman and Dakini Maddock
with Cr Samantha Dunn about to 'dress' the goddess.

The Earth Goddess is a beautiful community created 'green' sculpture, funded by a Shire of Yarra Ranges grant with the project led by fabulous local artists, Sioux Dollman and Dakini Maddock. Created from soil with a clay fired face, once the plants on her grow she will become a lovely living green sculpture

The Earth Goddess symbolises the nurturing and healing powers of the goddess. It was wonderful to be able to officially welcome her to the Shire of Yarra Ranges among a throng of local community members.

Familiar face around ECOSS, Peet, plants
 up the Earth Goddess.

I congratulate ECOSS, the day was a wonderful festival covering a diverse range of topics. For those of the culinary persuasion there was fig pickling, curry cook ups and cider home brewing. Gardeners were also catered for with Winter Vegie Preparation, Composting for Magic Soils and No Dig Gardens. 

Festival goers were entertained by a great range of local artists on the main stage. The chat tent was constantly abuzz, starting the day with the Poet's Breakfast, continuing with Bushfoods, Edible Weeds, Backyard BeeKeeping, ECOSS updates, Backyard Chook Chat and Pesty Weed & Kill tour. 

Kids and families had plenty of activities to choose from. There was saw dust a plenty for the youngsters to play in, the Earth Goddess 'dressing' where community members were encouraged to help plant the final dressing on the ECOSS earth sculpture. There was drumming, mosaic making, yoga, drama, creative dance, big community sing, circus skills training and the ever popular face painting.

It was a great day out, the ECOSS Committee are to be congratulated for their efforts to build a sustainable community and provide opportunities for people to connect. It is wonderful to see their commitment to ensuring the local community of the Upper Yarra are more prepared to meet the challenges of climate change and peak oil into the future. Well done on a wonderful, sustainable event.

sustainable ideas and food fest - wesburn

Yarra Valley ECOSS (located in the heart of the little yarra valley in Wesburn) are running a Sustainable Ideas and Food Fest. .............................................................. The day includes ....................................................................... Inspiration - sustainable food and ideas market Skills Sharing - practical sustainable food workshops Engage - sustainable food/changing climate forum ........................................................................................................................................................................ Be part of the Sustainable Food Future. .......................................................................................................................................................... Where: ECOSS, 711 Old Warburton Road, Wesburn ............................................................ When: 30th April from 9am to 5pm ................................................... ................................. More info: yarravalleyecoss@gmail.com Web: www.ecoss.org.au

earthships and the art of zero carbon living

Creative Climate Community Upper Yarra is presenting Michael Reynolds and Earthships and the Art of Zero Carbon Living at two dynamic events in Upper Yarra.

This is a great opportunity for locals to meet and learn with Michael Reynolds. At the workshop you'll be able to watch, learn and participate in a creative building exercise followed by a planning discusion about restorative andsustainable design at ECOSS and in the Yara Valley.

At the forum, participants will be inspired by Michael's story of building sustainable housing and his experimentation with advanced methods of carbon-zero housing for disaster relief and economically autonomous communities.

Details:

What: Sustainable Building workshop

Where: ECOSS Community Enviroment Park, 711 Old Warburton Hwy, Wesburn

When: Tuesday 22nd Feb, 1 to 4pm

Cost: $20 per head, space limited - bookings essential on 5967 2416

What: Evening presentation and open forum

Where: Little Yarra Steiner School Music Hall, 206 Little Yarra Rd, Yarra Junction

When: Tuesday 22nd Feb, 7pm
Cost: $10 per head, call 5967 2416 to book