Grow it Local thrives on saving food during Covid
NSW households wasted less food during the peak of the COVID-19 shutdown and these good habits are set to continue, according to a new study. Now, hot on its heels is the blooming ‘Grow It Local’ movement.
Gardening guru Costa Georgiadis supports Grow it Local
Social research conducted by the EPA’s Love Food Hate Waste team showed 86% of people are glad to live in a country like Australia that grows its own food and 70% appreciate farmers more.
Program manager Amanda Kane said the research showed adversity had helped NSW households appreciate food and where it comes from significantly more, since COVID-19.
“We found that as a result of the shutdown, people are wasting less food, they’re making the most of the food they buy and they are really valuing the role of our food producers and our country’s food supply chain.
“They also feel more encouraged now to buy local or even grow their own.”
That’s great news given a new partnership between the Love Food Hate Waste program and Grow it Local.
Renowned gardening guru Costa Georgiadis is lending his voice (and beard) to Grow it Local and will be hosting a discussion as part of the annual Grow it Local Festival.
The Grow it Local Festival runs from 1 September to 30 November 2020 and features weekly live, digital sessions to help educate and inspire both experienced and aspiring growers. Register at growitlocal.com
“This is one of our first partnerships under a new program launched in May and we are immensely excited about the opportunity to connect food waste avoidance with growing your own,” Amanda said.
“Grow it Local is teaching and engaging local communities about how to grow your own food and this partnership is all about making the most of it by sharing, cooking, pickling and enjoying!”
Grow it Local’s co-founder Darryl Nichols said the program also helps enable positive health and wellbeing during what can be a stressful and isolating time during COVID-19 restrictions.
“Grow it Local is also introducing a new marketplace feature that will enable local growers to make gardening their side hustle by listing produce, space, mentoring services, homegrown flowers and used space for sale and or sharing,” Darryl told EPA Connect.
Costa agrees: “Who doesn’t like it when a neighbour or community gardener offers some herbs or veggies over the fence?” he said. “At a social distance, of course,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Macarthur Centre for Sustainable Living on the outskirts of Sydney has become the first Love Food Hate Waste ‘Community Partner’. With $1,000 funding, the partnership will see food waste avoidance and the Love Food Hate Waste brand incorporated into the Centre’s activities, including the adult food preparation workshops.
As a model for the promotion of sustainable technology, the Macarthur Centre is a community-focused charity that educates on renewable energy production, energy and water efficiency, waste management and recycling, biodiversity and chemical-free vegetable production.
Follow these links to:
- find out more about Grow it Local
- Join the online and social media action
- Find out more about partnership opportunities with Love Food Hate Waste
- Download the full Food Management Report
'Food Management in COVID-19’ study was commissioned by the Department of Industry Planning and Environment for its Love Food Hate Waste program. It was undertaken by social research company Instinct and Reason over the weekend of 15-18 May 2020 and involved 415 households.