Community flocks to urban farm for sustainability showcase

Green Connect Farm delivered a worthwhile Waste of a Saturday last weekend when dozens of visitors pulled up a hay bale to hear sustainability tips.

The team opened their farm gate on Anna Avenue in Lake Heights to provide an education in waste management. Experts shared their knowledge via discussion panels, composting demonstrations and worm-farming workshops, while visitors shopped for fresh produce, baked goods and second-hand books at market stalls.

The second A Waste of a Saturday festival went down so well that organisers plan to make it an annual event.

Green Connect Farm CEO Robert Servine said the festival showed people why sustainability was important.

“It means an opportunity to come see the farm, to come and learn about what we do, but also to learn more about waste and the problems that it's causing and the things they can do to change it,” Robert said.

“Food waste is actually one of the biggest problems, and that's why the FOGO bags are such a big thing, but they’re not being used, and composting is so easy. If you don’t want to put it in a FOGO bag and send it to the tip, compost it at home, get a worm bin – there are lots of options.

“I don’t think people understand how important it is."

Robert said the wider problems with waste are overlooked. "Everywhere is struggling with waste but people aren’t talking about it.” 

Visitors enjoyed talks by businesspeople and sustainability experts including Flagstaff's David White, Crooked River Winery's Joel Walsh and Lindy Cheetham of Woonona Community Garden.

Isobel Foye from The Hair Lounge, a sustainable salon in Fairy Meadow, shared her tips in a panel titled Business Stories – Doing Waste Well.

“Keep it simple. Do things you can set and forget, we're all busy, passion can waiver,” Isobel said.

“If you can do things like change your banks [to more environmentally friendly companies], change your electricity to carbon-neutral electricity – those sorts of things you do once and then it's sorted, and you're making a very positive impact.”

One panellist, Balinese Spice Magic head chef Juliana Mitry, talked about how the event allowed her to share the culture of her homeland and the benefits of growing your own fruit and veg.

“I’m from Bali, and where I’m from, gardening is a way of life, a way of us sustaining ourselves because we need to grow our food mostly, so sharing our information with the people rather than that knowledge being lost,” Jules said.

“I think many people in the modern world are getting food from pre-packaged plastic things. Just go around and set up your own pot or plant boxes at home; it doesn’t need much space.

“The joy of growing things from seedlings up into beautiful flowers, herbs, fruit or vegetables is actually quite rewarding.”

Warrawong resident Shenae Rosser said the festival was a chance to connect with the community and teach her children about the environment.

“It's showing the kids where stuff has come from, like food, animals, lots of stuff,” Shenae said.

“Honestly, it doesn't take much to have a little community and get some fresh food, to catch up with friends or family.”

Lake Heights local Charlie liked the focus on positive environmental acts.

“We’re big on recycling and composting," she said. "We’ve just put in a large amount of natives… we are trying to put in natives so that it's good for climate change with the incoming drought."

Charlie said the festival was a great addition to the region.

“The fact that this exists is great… also the amount of green space; there is so much green space down here, lots of parks and things like this little initiative.

“I have noticed the Illawarra seems to have good environmental things in place such as the free compost bins at the library, smaller red bins that encourage you to recycle and things like that."

Green Connect Farm volunteer Lili Zlojutro shared her knowledge during composting demonstrations.

“My tip would be compost: keep some worms if it's easier – worm farms or worm buckets or a little box of worms on your balcony. Keep worms; they will eat your scraps, and you will have some castings to put through [your soil],” Lili said.

The next step could be investing in backyard chooks.

“Definitely start with worms and then can go to chickens," Lili said. "If you can build a compost, you’ve got it covered.”

Green Connect Farm will next open its gates to the public for a picnic day on 12 September.

A Waste of a Saturday will be back next year.