Eco Project @ Port Melbourne

'Simply Living'

Background

During the past few years there has been increasing interest amongst members of the congregation at Port Melbourne Uniting Church to look at our effect on the environment and how we use resources. We have been moved to consider how we as a Christian community should respond to the call to be stewards of the earth and good neighbours.

Our church is part of a community which is already working towards becoming more sustainable through the initiative of our local Council (City of Port Phillip) and other local groups. The Uniting Church Synod of Victoria and Tasmania has a long history of supporting green initiatives through various Synod resolutions.

A generous donation allowed the congregation to engage a Project Worker for five hours a week to conduct an exploratory study for an ongoing project, develop community links, conduct and audit of the church site and develop a plan for implementng changes.

The project was launched in August 2007. The EcoProject Progress Report to April 2008 is now available to download (2.4mB).

One response to thi project has been the development of the Simply Living Community Garden, which has received funding through the City of Port Phillip Community Grants.

In January 2009 Port Melbourne Uniting became the first congregation to be awarded the Basic Five Leaf Eco-Award for churches working towards becoming more enviornmentally friendly.

Aims

1. As a Christian community to explore and engage in issues of environmental sustainability and stewardship in our inner urban community.

2. Examine our own behaviour and 'ecological footprint' and determine what changes need to be made.

3. Develop contacts with other groups in our community who are also tackling issues of sustainability.

4. Develop a program that meets a need in our community and contributes to the mission of South Port UnitingCare to strengthen communities.

What's On:

Simply Living Community Garden
Port Melbourne Uniting Church, cnr Nott & Bridge Sts, (Melway 2J F4)

Community working bees
3rd Sunday of the month,
11am - 12 noon
Come and work in the garden - share your gardening skills or learn some new ones.
Jobs include planting, weeding, watering and compost making.

Fresh On Friday
Gardening and cooking programs

Market Fresh
Ist Friday of the month, 10am - 2.30pm
Bus trip to Footscray Market for fresh food shopping, return to Port Melbourne, prepare lunch together with food from garden and market; assistance from dietician.
Cost: gold coin
Bookings:
South Port Uniting Church office, ph 9690 1188

Garden Fresh
4th Friday of the month, 11.30am-1.30pm
Make your own portable vegie garden or help grow vegies in the community garden. Share lunch with food from the garden.
Cost: gold coin