Grow it Local Free Seeds

Healthy Loddon Campaspe has partnered with Grow It Local to encourage and educate residents across the region about healthy ea ng, cooking and growing local food.

To celebrate the partnership, Grow It Local, Healthy Loddon Campaspe and Central Goldfields Shire Council have launched the Autumn 2023 edi on of the Grow It Local Seed Service – a ‘patch-to -plate’ adventure that makes free heirloom seeds and instruc onal content available to local residents

Paul West, Grow It Local cofounder said, “Grow it Local was born of the belief that if everyone grew their own food, we’d be happier and healthier A vibrant community life is essen al for health and wellbeing Grow It Local is the perfect way to connect to like-minded folk in your neck of the woods, share some food, some gardening ps and to have a bit of a chin wag”, said West Central Goldfield wonderful to see the Grow It Local campaign launched locally here in the Central Goldfields.

“What a fantas c opportunity for local residents to get involved in growing their own food and choosing healthy ea ng op ons

“Thank you to the Victorian Government’s Healthy Loddon Campaspe ini a ve for this unique partnership which supports the health outcomes of our local residents ”

This instalment in the Seed to-spanakopita’ adventure and celebra on of Australia’s favourite gardening guru Costa Georgiadis. That’s right, we’ll be learning to grow Costa’s great grandma’s delicious spanakopita!

There is a limited supply of free seeds which will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis To register, residents need to visit h ps://www.growitlocal.com/ stores/free-seed-service to receive a package containing heirloom seed varie es including kale (black Toscana), rainbow chard and spinach (Bloomsdale) Par cipants will then learn to grow with Costa alongside a na onal community of backyard, community, and ‘wherever there’s some space’ gardeners.

This includes instruc ons and inspira on for each stage in the grow-along journey from ‘patchto-plate’.

Support is also available via Grow

It Local’s garden guru who can help troubleshoot any issues in your patch

Eligible families vouchers of up t them at a regist Kids Voucher A without having upfront costs.

Member for Hayle welcome that will support pay for spor uniforms, and m range of ac vi e swim classes for t

“No ma er what the Get Ac ve Kids Voucher Program will make it easier for local families to be involved ” Ms Hayle said

There are currently more than 1,600 ac vity providers registered across Victoria Local Clubs, associa ons, and organisa ons can register as a Get Ac ve Kids Voucher Ac vity Provider to be able to redeem a voucher

Families can also con nue to claim reimbursement for any expenses already incurred from 28 November 2022 to 10 May

Almost 80,000 vouchers have been snapped up in previous rounds of the program, with nearly a quarter of those helping children join a local sports club for the first me

Importantly, about half of yed indicated they ve been able to heir chosen sport ut the voucher. kids must be aged er, a Victorian ed on a valid , Health Care Card ncession Card and lid Medicare Card pplica on. dera on stream is support children rian Care Services, temporary or provisional visa holders, undocumented migrants and interna onal students aged 18 and under at the me of applica on

Applica ons for this round of vouchers close on 10 May For more informa on go to: https://www.getactive.vic.gov.au/ vouchers/