On the surface, healthy eating and educating our community on the many benefits of growing your own food and preparing meals using fresh local ingredients, seems to have a decent foothold across Indigo Shire. Could we call it a “local food system” though? 

There are a handful of community gardens, a few primary schools run the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden program or similar, we have some prominent market gardens and retailers who stock local produce. We have monthly farmer’s markets in a few towns. Our neighbourhood houses link with Albury-Wodonga Food Share, of which Indigo Shire Council makes an annual donation.

In this episode of Eye On The Shire, Scott and Sally speak with prominent market gardeners Chris McGorlick of Yackandandah’s “Happy Underground” and Dan Regli from “Chiltern Farm To Plate”. We explore issues around the viability and sustainability of current business models as well as gaps and opportunities when it comes to offering an integrated local food system.

To further explore this topic, please check out the Instagram pages of:

• Diving Beryl Yackandandah
• Goldfields Grocer Beechworth
• Chiltern Farm To Plate
  • Check out their GoFundMe page to raise funds to install a kitchen at Chiltern Farm To Plate to provide a wider range of healthy offerings from soups to smoothies.

All scripts written and authorised by S Landells, PO Box 6, Chiltern Vic 3683