Fresh food forum

CASEY residents exchanged experiences and ideas on growing their own fresh food at a forum at Myuna Farm recently.
The Fresh Food forum was held in response to growing interest in community food gardens across the municipality, with the aim of developing strategies for healthier food options for residents that were identified in the Casey Public Health Plan.
Casey mayor Colin Butler said the forum aimed to increase and strengthen efforts by households and communities to grow their own fresh food in various settings.
“While the nutritional health benefits of this are obvious, it is recognised that community gardens also bring many other benefits to individuals, neighbourhoods and communities.
“These include physical fitness, learning, social activity, community building, improvement of the urban environment, and improved relations between local government and citizens,” Cr Butler said.
He said the Doveton farm was an ideal location for the forum as it showcases a range of community gardens supported through Casey.
Participants in the forum were also invited to tour the farm’s established gardens to learn the processes involved in establishing and maintaining community gardens and the related benefits.
The forum was an initiative of the Casey Nutrition Working Group.