Sustainable Food
- Eat Organic – Grow Organic
- Growing Healthy Food at Home
- Backyard Chook Keeping
- Community Gardens
- Food Co-ops
- Farmers Markets
- Sustainable Seafood
- Factsheets & Downloads
- Links & Contacts
- Recommended Reading & Viewing
Did you know that food makes up a massive proportion of our ecological footprint? Almost 60%!
Globally, the trend towards large scale industrial agriculture has had a very negative impact on local ecology and communities. Large areas of the Amazon are being cleared to grow grain, to feed cattle, to turn into hamburgers. A bewildering variety of chocolate biscuits are available at the supermarket, whilst literally thousands of traditional varieties of fruits and vegetables and heritage farm breeds of animals are quietly becoming extinct.
The figures are staggering…for example, it takes about 2000 litres of water to make one hamburger! Beef has a high ecological footprint because of the large areas of land cleared for grazing. Eating one less serve of beef per week would save 300kg of greenhouse pollution over a year.
Similarly, dairy farming requires large amounts of water to produce the pasture required by the cattle and to manufacture and recycle packaging of dairy products. Eating 2 cups less milk per week would save the equivalent of 13 000 litres of water or 250 kg of greenhouse pollution over a year.
At the same time, Australians are spending millions of dollars every year on food that is never eaten, and ends up in our landfills.
Don't worry! Meat and dairy can be part of a healthy, sustainable diet and we're not trying to stop you enjoying the foods you love. The message is not to overdo it, avoid highly processed fast foods where possible, and look for opportunities to support local, sustainably farmed products.
Of course, it's important to eat a well-balanced diet with a wide variety of foods. The National Health and Medical Research Council have produced simple dietary guidelines for adults which you can download at
The good news is that one of the simplest, most rewarding ways to start reversing these trends is to change the way we eat.
- choose sustainable, locally grown, organic foods
- minimise food wastage – shop with a list, and learn to compost or worm farm
- don’t over-consume conventionally grown meat and dairy products
- minimise food processing and packaging
- choose only sustainable seafood
Eat organic – Grow Organic
Nowadays, more and more evidence is emerging of the effect that chemicals in our food have on our health including the rise in asthma, eczema and allergies. Cancer patients are also advised by doctors to eat organic food. Children are particularly susceptible to additives in food, as all the safety levels of chemicals in food are set at an adult level. It is what hasn't been added to organic food that makes it good for you. And importantly, certified organic food cannot be genetically modified.
Look for ‘certified organic’ written on food labels and packaging at the Supermarket. The word ‘organic’ on its own can mean a number of different things and does not necessarily mean that a food product has been made organically.
The Certification logos to look out for are:
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Biological Farmers of Australia |
NAASA (Australian and International Organic Certifier) |
Demeter Certified Biodynamic |
Growing Healthy Food at Home
Our backyards can provide us with herbs, fruit and vegetables without us having to break our backs or commit our Sundays. Once it is up and running, about an hour a week is all that’s needed. What could be more convenient than being able to pick your green groceries from your own backyard? It’s also cheaper, healthier, and much, much better for the planet. And, you can swap your surplus food crops with neighbours and friends, so it’s good for our community all round.
For all you need to know about growing your own food in the Illawarra, download the GROW LOCAL Illawarra Edible Garden Guide, developed under the NSW Environment Trust Funded Illawarra Biodiversity and Local Food Strategy for Climate Change Project.
Click on the image above to download the GROW LOCAL Illawarra Edible Garden Guide.
Sustainable garden designs that can enhance the productivity of our suburban back yards include:
Herb Spiral
Build yourself a herb spiral near the kitchen door and plant it out with your favourite herbs including rosemary, basil, coriander, sage, parsley and mint. Add some marigolds for colour and pest control. Place a stepping stone on the outer layer of the spiral to help you access the inner herbs.
Key Hole Bed
Raised key-hole bed, densely planted with companion plants: marigolds are inter-planted with basil and nasturtiums.
Companion planting
Companion planting creates a diversity of species within the garden. It involves carefully arranging plants so that they assist with each others growth, by reducing pest numbers and creating favourable growing conditions.
Backyard Chook Keeping
As well as being wonderful pets, keeping chickens in your backyard is a great way to:
- Help manage pests in an organic garden
- Produce healthy, nutritious food at your backdoor
- Recycle your food scraps
- Support ethical food production by having happy, healthy chooks
- Help maintain the genetic diversity of chooks. Traditional breeds can be chosen for characteristics of egg laying, meat, friendliness or even digging up the garden.
- Reconnect people and children to the source of their foods (yes, eggs come from chickens!)
It’s important to note local councils have different regulations about keeping chickens in your backyard. There is no restrictions on the number of hens that can be kept in the Kiama Municipal Council areas.
Regulations about poultry houses are set out in the Local Government General Regulation 2005 Schedule 2, and include:
- A poultry house must be at a least 4.5 metres from a dwelling, public hall, school or premises used for the manufacture, preparation, sale or storage of food.
- The floors of poultry houses must be paved with concrete or mineral asphalt underneath the roosts or perches. However, this subclause does not apply to poultry houses: (a) that are not within 15.2 metres of a dwelling, public hall or school, or (b) that are situated on clean sand.
Information on Kiama Council guidelines can be found in the following fact sheet:
Kiama Councils Keeping Chooks fact sheet [PDF 111kb]
There are many different kinds of chickens, and the right chook for you depends on how much space you have for them, and what characteristics you are looking for (whether that be a good egg layer, or an easy to handle chook that’s good with kids).
Like all animals, chickens need proper care, so be sure to do some research into appropriate housing, feeding and care before bringing some chooks home. Some helpful resources are:
Books (remember to also check our local library!)
- Backyard Poultry Naturally by Alanna Moore
- Jackie French’s Chook Book
- Chook Wisdom by Earth Garden
Websites
- www.backyardpoultry.com
- www.daptopoultryclub.com (local poultry club, monthly meetings)
- www.rarepoultry.net
- www.rbta.org (Rare Breeds Trust of Australia)
- www.rentachook.com.au – Dave Ingham, based in Ryde, Sydney, can deliver flat packed coops to the Illawarra, as well as organic chook feed.
Documentaries
Rare Chicken Rescue - www.rarechooks.com.au (Blue Hills Poultry Stud)
Community Gardens
Community gardens are popping up all over the country as people increasingly value their role in sustainable living and healthy communities. There are a number of community gardens in the Illawarra. Work is underway to establish a new garden at Blue Haven Retirement Village, Kiama.
- Keep update to date with the happenings at Kiama Community Garden – check out the Blog: http://kiamagardens.blogspot.com
A great way to learn more about community gardens is to visit and take part in regular working bees at existing sites. For example, The Garden at the North Wollongong PCYC has monthly working bees, and a monthly fruit and veg swap.
- Visit http://thegardennorthgong.blogspot.com/ for more information.
Cringila Park Community Garden has recently won awards from Keep Australia Beautiful and the Local Government and Shires Association in recognition of its contribution to sustainability and multicultural health. Gardeners meet every Thursday.
Dapto Community Farm is a certified organic site renting plots to commercial and community gardeners. For more information call 4227 1057 or see
this flier about Dapto Community Farm [PDF 215kB].
The Illawarra Councils have received support from the NSW Environmental Trust for a new three year project called the Illawarra Biodiversity and Local Food Strategy for Climate Change. This project will explore options for locally produced food, support school and community gardens, encourage people to make more sustainable food choices through education and training, as we prepare for the decline in availability of cheap fossil fuels. For more information, call 4227 7111.
For more inspiration see:
- www.communitygarden.org.au
- www.northeystreetcityfarm.org.au
- www.ceres.org.au
- www.cultivatingcommunity.org.au
Community Gardens Start-Up Guide [PDF 4.9Mb]
Landshare
Landshare Australia brings together people who have a passion for home-grown food, connecting those who have land to share with those who need land for cultivating food. The concept of Landshare began in the UK, launched through the River Cottage television program in 2009, and has since grown into a thriving community of more than 57,000 growers, sharers and helpers across the country. Now that Landshare is here in Australia, you have the opportunity to take part in this fantastic initiative.
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Want to grow vegetables but don't have anywhere to do it
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Have a spare bit of land they're prepared to share
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Can help in some way - from sharing knowledge and lending tools to helping out on the plot itself
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Support the idea of freeing up more land for growing
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Are already growing and want to join in the community
To find out more visit the landshare website at Landshare Australia
Farmers Markets
Support local produce and have a great time doing it at one of the Illawarra’s wonderful local markets.
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Please note some markets may close over public holidays and holiday periods.
Know of another market for this list?
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Food co-ops
In the Illawarra, The Flame Tree Community Co-op provides bulk, local, organic wholefoods to the wider community. Anyone can buy from the co-op, and you can receive additional discounts by becoming a member or volunteering. The Co-op hopes to link local growers and producers such as organic farmers, market gardeners and community gardeners with consumers in their local area to boost the local economy, and decrease packaging and food miles.
The Co-op is located at 3/378 Lawrence Hargrave Dr, Thirroul 2515. For more information visit:
The Green Box regional food co-operative is a community based operation which is in the process of being set up in Gerringong. This organisation is being designed to support regional growers and food producers by offering them a retail and box delivery service of fresh foods to the local community.
Their aim is to offer wholesome dry goods, grains and legumes, as well as other local dairy and meat, organic where possible, but not restricted to this. They are hoping to be operational in September or October 2010, and are seeking interest in getting involved. You can contact the Green Box regional food co-operative at www.greenbox.org.au.
A list of food co-ops nation wide can also be found at
Sustainable Seafood
75% of the world’s fisheries are overfished. Do your part to ensure the health of the world’s oceans by following these simple steps:
- Avoid species like flake, orange roughy, Southern Bluefin Tuna and other long-lived species
- Avoid farmed prawns or shrimp
- Catch only what you need, and eat what you catch
Find out more by visiting the
Australian Marine Conservation Society
www.amcs.org.au
Factsheets & Downloads
Understanding Food Miles [PDF 1.78Mb]
Understanding Food Insecurity [PDF 1.85Mb]
Options for an Alternative Food System [PDF 2.1Mb]
What are Community Gardens? [PDF 1.6Mb]
People Gather Round Food [PDF 758kb]
Wasteful Consumption in Australia [PDF 136kb]
Links & Contacts
Food Fairness Illawarra
www.healthycitiesill.org.au/foodfairness.htm
A community-based network actively promoting solutions to ensure adequate and healthy food for all.
Sydney Food Fairness Alliance
www.sydneyfoodfairness.org.au
An alliance active in promoting a socially, economically and environmentally sustainable food system in the Sydney region. Great fact sheets.
Australian City Farms and Community Gardens Network
www.communitygarden.org.au
Inspiration from around the country from people making new friends, unwinding, learning and growing food together.
The North Wollongong PCYC Community Garden
http://thegardennorthgong.blogspot.com
Run by volunteers, they have a working bee and communal lunch on the first Sunday of each month.
Dapto Community Organic Farm
Here you can hire a certified organic veggie plot. Call Margaret (4272 5563) for more details or visit the farm at 29 Darkes Road
Dapto on any Sunday between 10am - 2pm
True Food Network
www.truefood.org.au
If you are concerned about the impacts of genetically engineered food, you can find out more information here.
Inspiring blogs of local backyard growers
- GreenChange www.green-change.com
- A suburban sustainability blog, featuring a Kiama ‘Super Challenge’ family
- Happy Earth www.happyearth.com.au. Follow a young couple from Unanderra on their Adventure in Urban Sustainability.
Australian Marine Conservation Society
www.amcs.org.au | 1800 066 299
Not-for-profit charity working to protect the oceans and make our fisheries sustainable. Publishes Sustainable Seafood Guide.
Permaculture Principles
www.permacultureprinciples.com
Find out about principles that allow us to creatively re-design our environment and behaviour in a world of less energy and resources.
Seed Savers Network
www.seedsavers.net | 02 6685 6624
Dedicated to preserving the genetic basis of tomorrow’s food. Find your local seed saver groups to exchange seeds!
Recommended reading and viewing
Fabulous Food From Every Small Garden
Mary Horsfall (editor of Grass Roots magazine) shows you how to grow food at home in even the smallest of spaces. Includes instructions on successfully growing food plants from seeds, improving the soil, organic pest and weed control and efficient watering methods. Order on-line at www.publish.csiro.au/nid/20/pid/6089.htm
The Ethical Guide to Supermarket Shopping
A handy pocket guide that evaluates the social and environmental impact of different companies, and let’s you know which brands are a ‘better buy’ and which should be avoided. Available for FREE download from www.ethical.org.au or call 0403 899 338 to order your copy ($7 including postage)
ABC Organic Gardener magazine
An off-shoot of the popular ABC program Gardening Australia, filled with simple and inspiring ideas to get your edible garden blooming - without harmful chemicals. Bi-monthly $7.95
The Australian Fruit and Vegetable Garden
Clive Blazey. The founder of the Diggers Club lays out a garden design incorporating crop rotation, with extensive growers notes for 100s of species.
Discovering Fruit & Nuts
Susanna Lyle. An encyclopaedia of plants bearing edible fruits and seeds, this book is sumptuous enough to be a coffee table favourite.
The Seed Savers Handbook
Jude and Michel Fanton. The seminal guide to growing, selecting, harvesting and storing seeds of edible and useful plants in Australia.
The Permaculture Home Garden
Linda Woodrow. A great starting point for incorporating permaculture principles into your own backyard.
Lawns Into Lunch
Jill Finnane. Inspiration for turning that water-hungry ‘green cancer’ into a productive paradise!
Backyard Poultry Naturally
Allana Moore. Packed with all you need to know about keeping happy, healthy, chooks in your backyard.
Harvest for Hope, a Guide To Mindful Eating
Jane Goodall – A fantastic insight into the global food system and ideas on how we can best create a healthier, more sustainable food system.
Gardening Australia
Saturdays, 6.30pm on ABC1
Often have segments on growing fruit and vegetables
Costa’s Gardening Odyssey
Tune into SBS at 8:00pm on Thursdays for a fabulously inspiring show taking you to community gardens and backyard veggie patches around the country. You can also view past the episodes on-line at www.sbs.com.au/shows/costa/watchonline/page/i/1/show/costa
The Meatrix
www.themeatrix.com
A short, engaging animation exploring the realities of factory farming, and promotes ethical meat production.
Store Wars
www.storewars.org
An amusing five minute mini-movie following the adventures of animated organic vegetable heroes Ham Solo, Chewbroccoli and Cuke Skywalker.
Power of Community: How Cuba Survived Peak Oil
www.powerofcommunity.org
This 2006 film has become inspirational all over the world for its exploration of the Cuban response to the collapse of the Soviet Union. Through the hardships and struggles, Cubans made a transition from a highly mechanised industrial agriculture system to one using organic methods of farming and local organic gardens.
Future of Food
www.thefutureoffood.com
Provides an excellent overview of issues being raised by genetically modified foods. It is both a guide for consumers, and a critique of the global food production issues which are driving debate.
Black and Gold – A film about coffee and trade
www.blackgoldmovie.com
In this eye-opening expose of the multi-billion dollar industry, Black Gold traces one man's inspiring fight for a fair price for Ethiopian coffee growers.
Our Seeds: Seeds Blong Yum
www.seedsavers.net
In September 2008 Seed Savers released “Our Seeds: Seeds Blong Yumi” a fifty-seven minute film that celebrates traditional food plants and the people that grow them.
Homegrown Revolution
www.homegrownrevolution.com
Homegrown Revolution is a short informational introduction to an amazing project that has been called a new revolution in urban sustainability. In the midst of a densely urban setting in downtown Pasadena, for over twenty years, the Dervaes family have transformed their home into an urban homestead and a model for sustainable agriculture and urban living.
