Learning Objectives & my reflections
Become familiar with the organisation and understand the role of ‘Cultivating Community’ within Victoria/Australia
Key strategies (tasks):
Observe
Get involved within the Organisation
Ask!
Role of Cultivating Community in regional Australia/Victoria
While doing my internship with Cultivating Community and through observation, as well as asking, but most of all though participation, I have gained a better understanding of the purpose of the organisation and how it is operating within Victoria.
Through the work with them, I have also been introduced to other non-for profit organisations such as CERES, or Sustainable Table, that promote sustainable environments and food systems to improve the food security situation on a community level.
Learning Objectives II:
Gain insight into different sections within Cultivating Community and get involved in diverse projects within sections
Key strategies (tasks):
Helping out in the Community Gardens or school gardens – this may include assisting with garden related events and activities.
working with the Food Waste and Composting team to engage households and cafes
assisting the Food Waste and Composting team with weekend composting workshops
Shadowing, as well as actively participating
I have been able to gain an insight into many different section within Cultivating Community. I was mainly involved with the FoodKnowHow (FKH) Team, whose aim is to reduce food waste in the city of Yarra. By participating in promotion activities, such as letter boxing and social media, I helped engage new households for the program. Whenever possible I joined the garden support workers out in the community gardens for some hands on work! I helped plant seeds, mix compost into the soil, or had a chat with local gardeners. I really enjoyed the time in the gardens and have certainly improved my gardening skills. On Wednesday nights, I joined Peta from the Food Systems team, to cook with primary school kids in an afternoon cooking session.
I am glad that I got the chance to gain an insight in the different sections of Cultivating Community and to actively participate in so many different projects!
Learning Objectives III:
Contribute to projects with new views/ideas/perspectives/aspects
Key strategies (tasks):
Blogging
Impact of Community Gardens (Evaluation)
Reduce food waste – leftover cooking?
Importance of fruit and vegetable intake
Clean up Australia Day – 2 March 2014 ( is Cultivating Community involved?)
As I had mentioned before, I was very much involved with the FKH Team during my time with Cultivating Community. I helped (and still continue to do so) update the FKH facebook page, as well as publish blogs on their website. Through some research on the web I found many great articles relating to food waste, which I posted along with the 'Tip of the Day' once a week. I also took the lead on the Leftover Recipe Competition. We have asked current program participants, but also people who are not involved in the program, to write us about their favourite leftover creation. After a couple of weeks, we received many beautiful recipes and decided on a winner, who received a "Save with Jamie" cookbook! That was great fun!
By going out on different "field trips", such as the waste audit, visit the cafe or help out in the garden, I gained new experiences, which I was then able to post on Facebook or the FKH website and which were also included in our monthly newsletter! I feel that I have certainly contributed to the team and my suggestion and ideas have been incorporated wherever possible.
Even though I suggested to be part of Clean up Australia Day, we unfortunately didn't have the time to take part in it this year.
Gain valuable experience and knowledge and take ideas/inspirations back to DK
Key strategies (tasks):
Participate!
Learn about how to get a project such as a community garden started. What’s involved in the planning – how to empower people to engage in the project? – Community Development/Participation
Experience a professional working environment
Learn about urban agriculture initiatives to promote sustainability and food security
Blogging about what I have learned (way of sharing information)
This is my favourite learning objective and I can't wait to go back to DK and share my knowledge and experiences! I have learned so much about urban agriculture initiatives and improved my gardening and cooking skills. I have also learned more about how to use social media techniques to reach the target audience. I have seen that a professional work environment can be fun and I love the balance between office and outdoor 'hands- on' work.
I find it fantastic that Melbourne consists of many people who are working hard to create a better food future for Australia and when I come back to Denmark, I would like to find out what Copenhagen is doing in terms of urban agriculture initiatives.
