Grow It Local Meet Up
More than 50 people attended the Burnside Town Hall on Sunday 9 October as part of the Grow It Local Festival. They heard from Grow It Local co-founder, author, broadcaster, chef and master grower Paul West. Paul shared his thoughts and beliefs on why growing food is such a powerful force for good, how it can help address so many of society's big systemic issues and how anyone can start to grow a bit of their own food. Paul is an avid lover of all things homegrown and is on a mission to turn everyone into a gardener.
“I’ve never met a gardener I didn’t like” said Paul, addressing Burnside growers ranging from beginners to master gardeners, “so you’re all in the good books already!”
According to Paul, “gardening makes the world a better place” and everyone can start right now to make the world healthier, happier and more delicious. He believes that through getting your hands in the soil and growing a bit of your own food, it’s a great thing for yourself, your community and the planet.
“You don’t need a quarter acre of land to be a gardener,” said Paul. In fact, even if you just have a pot of parsley growing on your windowsill, you’re a gardener.
Some lucky residents even walked away with free seed packs and one resident won a signed copy of Paul’s latest book. Homegrown: A Year of Growing, Cooking and Eating. Residents also shared some plants, seeds and knowledge with one another at this exciting event.
Darryl Nichols, co-founder of Grow It Local, shared with Burnside residents some interesting statistics that show how Grow It Local is making an impact across LGAs all over the country. According to Grow It Local data, almost a million square metres of private land are being used across Australia for growing food. These private gardens are all contributing to providing food security, sequestering carbon and fostering community spirit across the country. Grow It Local currently has over 19,000 members nationally and members are diverting just under 40,000 kilograms of food waste from landfill per week.
The meet up left Burnside residents feeling inspired to get stuck into their gardens and gave Grow It Local Members a chance to meet and have important conversations about growing, sharing and eating food.
Sign up to the Grow It Local online platform for free to gain access to a suite of resources delivered by master growers such as Paul West, Sophie Thomson and Costa. Monthly live online workshops allow members to ask experts questions directly in relation to their own gardens and receive answers and advice on the spot.
You can grab a copy of Paul’s new book Homegrown at any good book store in Adelaide.
Pic L – R: Nat Giffney from Green Adelaide, Darryl Nichols, Paul West, Ella Coleman, Community Engagement Administration Officer and Sarah McConaghy-Beasley, Council’s Environmental Sustainability Officer.
