Growing Healthy Lives

If you want to learn more about how to get the most out of your own backyard and live more sustainably, check out our free workshops, and learn more about everything sustainable, from beeswax wraps to recycling at home, and from worm farms to preserving your own produce.

Our local areas have many wonderful resources available through councils, community groups and organisations. Local Transition Groups regularly offer sessions so you can meet and learn new and valuable skills. Our libraries will also offer sessions on nature play, toddler garden play, kitchen garden sessions, community garden groups and a huge range of gardening and sustainability talks and workshops.

In 2021, in partnership with environmental teams at our member councils, YPRL launched Seed Libraries, which are now housed at various branches. This community project was designed by local artist Ravi Sommerhalder and visitors are welcome to donate or take available seeds. We encourage children and adults visiting our libraries to get involved in programs around seed saving and planting, and envelope making with pages from withdrawn picture books.

A great way to meet people and get in touch with nature and earth is to join a community garden. Diamond Valley, Watsonia and Thomastown libraries each have their own community gardens with active volunteer groups to maintain them. Local Community Garden groups will welcome you along and often join with the library to present information events.

With an increasing focus on healthy living, YPRL offers free meditation and yoga sessions in partnership with YMCA. Other events exploring a healthy lifestyle are part of our regular program. We also offer digital training sessions on using your My Health Record to securely store medical records. In support of a safer society, we support various initiatives including Week Without Violence and RUOK?

YPRL have an extensive range of resources for you in our collection, including recipe books that cater to all tastes and skill levels, resources related to gardening, landscaping, recycling and reuse, exercise and healthy living books, articles and video content and access to online cooking programs.

Videos to explore

• Science Week: Floating Garden
• School Holiday Program: Worm Farms
• Healthy Eating on a Budget with Ben McMenamin
• Create a terrarium with Mei from Mei’s Mini Gardens
• Makerspace: DIY Vertical Garden Wall Hanger
• Homegrown: Cooking with Kate!
• Homegrown: Cooking with Ash & Kelly Vola
• Homegrown Summer: Planter Pots