A NEW social enterprise will focus on creating more youth employment opportunities and make food growing more accessible.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Go and Grow Gardens are portable, water efficient vegetable gardens, which utilise a wicking technique and are created entirely from recycled materials.
The initiative is the brainchild of sustainability consultant Sara Hill, who developed the project together with Future Employment Opportunities, Eaglehawk Community House and kitchen garden specialist Brian Hosking.
Ms Hill said motivation for the initiative came from her involvement in the Eaglehawk Community House and the completion of a social change course.
"I was a home mum for quite a while, and after working full time for 10 years and deciding to raise a family, I had to re-engage with the community through volunteer work," Ms Hill said.
"It really helped me reconnect and gardening is an awesome activity - it has all types of health benefits.
"I wanted to make gardening more accessible for more people. There is the issue of water cost and these garden beds are designed to be very water efficient."
It really helped me reconnect and gardening is an awesome activity - it has all types of health benefits.
- Sara Hill
Ms Hill said the enterprise was in its early stages of set up and had employed two part time employees.
She said depending on the demand for garden beds, it was unknown how many job opportunities the enterprise created.
"Any revenue raised will go to starting up 3556 Community Food Growers Network - a social enterprise that supports organisations and businesses that are interested in growing fresh food," she said.
ING Direct Dreamstarter has pledged $7800 towards the social enterprise but the initiative needed to raise a minimum of $15,600 to receive the funding.
Ms Hill said support from the community was vital if the initiative was to go ahead.
"We really need people to get online and start ordering their garden beds," Ms Hill said.
To help the Go and Grow initiative get off its feet, visit www.startsomegood.com/goandgrowgardens
Alternatively, check out the Go and Grow Gardens Facebook page.