Support Grow Lightly

I AM writing in support of Grow Lightly having its lease reinstated for the premises it has been operating from outside of Coal Creek. 

Grow Lightly has been an impressive community organisation – making important contributions in numerous ways to the people of the surrounding areas. It provides an exceedingly important social function – bringing together people from all over the region. Its present facilities outside Coal Creek are crucially important for it to provide this service. Considering the growing mental problems occurring in our communities these days the importance of activities which bring people together in productive co-operative endeavours is increasingly vital.

Grow Lightly brings people together through their involvement in food – either producing it or consuming it. Its work has set up an infrastructure for food security in the region which has been an inspiration to communities throughout Australia. It brings producers – both small and large – together. Likewise with consumers – meeting at the very accessible and congenial Grow Lightly Hub. It plays an important part in social cohesiveness – linking together young and old, rich and poor, country and city. It would be difficult – if not impossible – for Grow Lightly to achieve the great work it does without such appropriate facilities. Of course, Grow Lightly have expended considerable effort in improving the facilities (e.g. commercial kitchen, solar power, repainting) – which is an impressive contribution for a community organisation to make.

Grow Lightly has also made an important contribution to environmental awareness and practice. With its emphasis on organic produce and on local self-sufficiency it is demonstrating practical steps towards a more sustainable future which we are all transforming towards.

As a local resident observing the excellent work Grow Lightly has been doing over many years – I believe it is to the whole community’s benefit that they are allowed to continue to operate at their current location outside of Coal Creek.

Noel Blencowe, Kardella