Do you have big ideas but few dollars? If you've got an environmental project you think deserves to get off the ground, please apply for a City of Casey Community Grant. Local groups and organisations can earn up to $5000 for projects, programs and events that benefit the local community. One of the funding areas is environmental sustainability. We aim to encourage eco-friendly practices and a more climate-resilient municipality. And if you need help with the application, sign up for a free grant writing workshops to make the best of your ideas - Round opens: 9:00 am Monday 18 March 2024
- Round closes: 5:00 pm Friday 26 April 2024
Read on for more about buyers guides and bandicoots. What to plant now, why you should introduce river mint into your garden and the many benefits of kangaroo grass. And a saga 12 years in the making - Hedgerow Jelly! (yes, we don't have hedgerows, but you get the idea.) Join the Green Living in Casey Facebook group for even more tips, activities and ideas.
Paddle for Patterson Join Parks Victoria and partners for the inaugural Paddle for Patterson community clean up. Saturday 23 March, 9.30am-1pm, National Water Sports Centre, Bangholme Let’s unite our lower Dandenong Catchment communityJump into one of our kayaks. We will navigate the tranquil waters, collecting storm-gnerated litter from the reed beds. This will prevent it polluting Western Port.
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Family recycling days - a new Green Living initiative Sit in a real recycling truck, do a free craft activity and chat about waste and recycling. Drop in for a Recycle Right information session or come along to Home Composting 101.
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Free coffee when you bring your own cup!
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Cranbourne West - Saturday 20 April 9:30 am – 1 pm, Cranbourne West Community Hub Narre Warren - Saturday 18 May 9:30 am – 1 pm, Litllecroft Family & Community Centre Doveton - Saturday 15 June 9:30 am – 1 pm, Autumn Place Community Hub
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Love Food, Hate Waste Join us for a fun session that’s part cooking demo, part info session, and includes lunch! Learn simple food storage tricks, what to do with leftovers, and how to slash food waste. Tuesday 26 March 10.30 am – 1.30 pm Balla Balla Community Centre
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Green Living at Berwick Show T-shirts were turned into bags, colouring was done and badges, magnets and keychains completed. Our pledge tree was full of leaves and best of all - TRUCK RIDES. The Green Living team's first year at the Berwick Show was the event's 75th and we were delighted to celebrate with them. Like the rest of Casey's bins, our mascot was due for a makeover and lots of kids love the new yellow lid.
Casey Unearthed - Brookland Greens Reserve One of Casey's attractions is its proximity to wildlife and open space. But here's one spot you may not know!
You heard about it last month, but now you can check out the on the road Have you spotted the new HVO100 (hydrotreated vegetable oil) truck driving around town?! Share your spotto with our Facebook group.
Sustainable home series Orana Community Place in Clyde North is hosting a three-part sustainable home series. Join us for session two - All Electric Homes this month on Thursday 7 March 2024 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM. Going all-electric is an essential step in making your home sustainable. This session explores the importance of selecting the right heating, hot water and cooking appliances to create an all-electric home. Learn about the many benefits to you and your family by choosing all electric appliances.
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This session is designed for people who are looking to renovate, are in their design phase of building a new home or are going to be building in the future. Light Supper will be provided.
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Introducing Casey’s Youth Climate Action Committee Congratulations to the thirteen passionate young people ready to represent the Casey community! They'll be working together on projects that will help reduce Council’s emissions and raise awareness of the impacts of climate change. NOTE: Photo does not reflect our cohort but is another type of fledgling - baby girl Buddy, a tawny frogmouth hatched at Moonlit Sanctuary.
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Various species - suborder Symphyta within the order Hymenoptera
Casey flora and fauna spotlight – Sawfly larvae Have you ever been greeted with yellow goo from these mysterious ‘caterpillars’ or ‘spitfires’ that gather in clumps on eucalypt branches? These are, in fact, the sawfly larvae. Female sawfly can lay eggs without a male - but only live for around 7-9 days.
Cranbourne Growing Friends Autumn Sale The Growing Friends Autumn Plant Sale will be held on Saturday 23 & Sunday 24 March 2024, between 10 am and 4pm each day. With a great range of indigenous and native plants available why not pick up some beauties to create a wildlife garden at home. Image: Native Crowea growing in the Australian
Garden.
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World Wildlife Day Sunday March 3 is a day to celebrate our world's Wildlife. Why not do something for the wildlife that call your neighbourhood home and create a wildlife friendly garden! Check out our guide here. Image: Common Bronzwing on a novelty bird bath. Credit - E and R Kowal
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Sea Week 5-13 March is Sea Week. This week is to celebrate our connection with the seas and looks at the influence we have on the ocean and how it influences us. Why not pop down to Blind Bight, Tooradin or Warneet and soak in the sea air?
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STEAM Lab at Bunjil Place Library - Wetlands and Waterways This month discover more about the biodiversity found in the waterways of City of Casey. Casey is home to many different species of bird, insect and fish. Casey’s Sustainability and Environment team will be in the library to teach us all about the animals you can find in our wetlands and water systems. We'll also design our own home-made water filters! Thursday 14 March, Bunjil Place Library
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Buyers' guide - Sustainable whitegoods, new and second-hand Energy & water efficiency- higher star efficiency will save you money and reduce your energy and water use over the life of the product, be prepared to pay slightly more now for long term savings. Research your options & read other users reviews. Follow the manual and use the item correctly to increase its lifespan and optimise efficiency.
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Buyers' guide - Toilet paper Last month we had the wrong link! Please see this updated article on TP. Try to pick toilet paper that is made from sustainable or recycled materials and comes in minimal and recyclable
packaging.
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FOGO - or Food Organic and Garden Organics - is still a go. However, we still get frequent questions on how and why we have this service. If you haven't already, please check out this video for a quick explanation.
FOGO is a go-go! There are a couple of reasons we don't accept compostable bags. Where our material goes for processing is a fairly quick compost process and there has been incidents of bags (coming from other council's) not breaking down in time.Secondly, based on information from other Councils, once bags are in use contamination worsens.
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Why are our FOGO bins fortnightly? 1. Bearing in mind that if the FOGO bin is emptied weekly, the rubbish bin would be emptied fortnightly (like some other councils are currently doing - the bin services swap). So then rubbish bins will be waiting the fortnight and getting stinky rather than FOGO bin.
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Edible natives - River Mint Mentha australis This fast-growing mint can be used the same as any other mint variety. Who can resist a rich minty chocolate fudge brownie? Fresh or dried, it’s a great and easy
to grow native herb. Like any mint, under the right conditions it can take over in the garden, so grow it in a pot. They do well in a moist and shaded position in the garden. If you'd like to share your edible native photos with us to be in the running for a Green Living prize, please post them via the link below.
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What to plant It's allium time! Pretty and pungent, oOne of the most commonly-used groups of food plants are the alliums. Whether you prefer robust elephant garlic, delicate shallots or chives or chunky sweet leeksIt's allium time! Pretty and pungent. Whether you prefer robust elephant garlic, delicate shallots, chives or chunky sweet leeks these also bring all the pollinators to the yard ...
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Use it up recipe - Abbie's Hedgerow Jelly Sick of watching other critters eating your rosehips, elderberries and blackberries before you can? After 12 years, the Green
Team's Abbie Lane has bitten the bullet. Click on the photo for the whole saga! The recipe that inspired the journey is below.
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Unearthing the nutritional potential of Australia's sovereign grassesWhile working with the Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation, Melbourne Water has found that the native, or sovereign, kangaroo grass is more nutritious than wheat.
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Community Grants (City of Casey) closes 26 April 2024
These grants support community organisations to deliver projects, programs and events that help Casey residents to be healthy and active, celebrate diversity, support arts and culture and environmental sustainability.
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INSPIRATION: Proud fishermen with one of the five carp caught at the Catch a Carp Day at Rivergum Creek Parklands in February 2024. Despite the warm weather the event was well attended and all had an enjoyable day - whether they caught a fish or not 🐟
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SilverChef Community Grants Program closes 31 March 2024
SilverChef provides certified used hospitality equipment and cash grants to support community groups that offer hospitality and food services to vulnerable communities. Circular Economy Innovation Fund – Capacity Building (Sustainability Victoria) closes 31 March 2024
Incorporated organisations can apply for funding for projects that improve awareness and understanding of circular economy or contribute to circular economy innovation in Victorian businesses. Community Service Organisation Funding (City of Casey) closes 26 April 2024
This grant is designed to help community service organisations deliver vital social support services for Casey residents. This grant is aligned with Council objectives and addresses community needs in the areas of wellbeing, safety and security and connectedness. Funding can be used to cover administrative and operational costs.
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