Our community has always provided a keen focus on gardening, healthy eating, and sustainability. While allowing us to enjoy the products of our efforts, gardening also enables us to exercise, beat everyday stress and relax, while getting a valuable dose of Vitamin D (in moderation, of course!). Gardening also gives us the opportunity to engage with nature, enjoy our surroundings, and also the company of others who may be in our garden space. At Yarra Plenty Regional Library, we have community gardens where you can meet and enjoy all these benefits, and so much more.
Our libraries offer regular programs with guest speakers who are professionals in the fields of gardening and sustainability. Throughout our region, we offer everything from food swaps and home recycling workshops, toddler garden play and nature play sessions, solar power talks, and even lessons on making your own kombucha. The topics are endless, as are the experts in our local councils and communities, and beyond.
Diamond Valley Library is a member of the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Foundation, which aims to foster a love of gardening and healthy eating practices in children. The Foundation regularly offers kitchen garden demonstrations at the branch. There are also a loyal band of volunteers at both the Diamond Valley and Watsonia libraries who visit the community gardens to weed, chat, share their knowledge, and plant and harvest the produce.
We are excited to be rolling out Seed Libraries throughout the region, where saved seeds can be shared with others in the community. It’s all about our old-fashioned values of sharing, preserving our heritage, learning, and working together to improve our collective carbon footprint.
For more information, visit our Growing Community page, and keep an eye on our events section, which will be updated with upcoming workshops and events as they are made available.
We also suggest looking at the following resources that are available in the catalogue.
Find these sustainability and gardening titles in our catalogue:
This title offers us all new ideas and products to change the way we relate to one another and to our environment, as well as the way we define and fulfil our needs. It creates opportunities for experimenting and learning, which can help us all transition towards greater sustainability.
Sustainable Escapes by Lonely Planet, 2020
We love Lonely Planet's guide to the world's best eco-friendly resorts and experiences. From eco-lodges with cutting-edge sustainability initiatives to tours designed to protect wildlife and empower communities, you'll discover remarkable places where you can feel good about spending your time and money. Each escape is labelled with the key sustainability features you can enjoy while staying at the hotel or participating on the tour— whether it's wildlife spotting, sustainable dining, conservation opportunities, homestays, expert talks and more.
Sustainable & fashionable Melbourne: a guide to ethical local makers by Greta Lukavic, 2020
This local guide focusses on sustainability and ethics of mass production with 80 Melbourne makers offering a gentle – and beautiful – alternative. From clothing and shoes, jewellery to hats, this guide showcases the incredible talent of the Melbourne creative scene. The rich photographs and intimate interviews with local makers show us how we can be all be more sustainable in our communities.
Composting by Puffin Books, 2020
This title is one that works in well with our little library gardeners – it shows that you’re never too young to learn about gardening and sustainability. If you, or someone you know, is a little environmentalist who is curious about composting, then “delve into the dirt” with Puffin Little!
This comprehensive guide will help you to build an affordable, eco-friendly energy and water-efficient green home for the future. This title has a great connection with Nillumbik’s Sustainable House Day program which visits local homes focussing on sustainable living.
Step-by-step veg patch by Lucy Chamberlain, 2020
In this book, you’ll find simple instructions for growing common vegetables, fruits and herbs that will thrive in our Aussie climate. It offers yearly planners and information on planning and preparing spaces at home or in our library community gardens too!