Darwin ICC Regional CDEP Network

Workshop

Best practice and new opportunities - Local food

gardens, food systems and horticulture

Workshop Aims• To link/support CDEP food garden/hort projects• To enable CDEP people & other key stakeholders to

share info, experiences, ideas: to help build better outcomes

• New conversations, contacts & partnerships• Learn about & access useful resources• Help identify & address challenges & opportunities• Have your say! what practical & strategic actions

might we try to carry forward • Have a good time…

Approach to the WorkshopDAY 1: What’s underway: CDEP projects, CDEP/Industry

Food garden/horticulture project presentations, Q&A’s ‘Past projects, future directions’ industry panel discussion, Q&A’s New tools & strategies to build participation, Q&A’s

DAY 2: Effective project planning & partnerships Food security – issues and connections, Q&A’s Training issues & options, Q&A’s Effective project planning: strategies, models, funding… Q&A’sGarden to plate, Stories, breakout group discussions Feedback & wrap up

PLUS - Write it on the Wall ‘Key Topics: Ideas & Suggestions’ - The ‘Steam Box’

Write it on the Wall – Key Topics: Your ideas, suggestions, questions

• Your gardens: type, size, what grown, & why? • Building better participation & ownership – how? • Technical information – gaps, needs, tips?• New partnership ideas & opportunities • Bread & butter advice for new gardens & gardeners• Project & business planning for sustainable outcomes• Food stores & other local market ideas• Garden to plate – how to promote healthy food• Strategic local developments eg. Working Futures• CDEP Community D’Ment Officers & Mentors: new roles • OTHER topics to add?

Not a new idea… bush foods are great foods…

BUT • Possible loss of access to lands & traditional food stocks• Dietary & cultural changes• Impacts on food choicesMEANS NEW APPROACHES can help

‘FUSION GARDENS’ – bush foods, fruit and veggies….fishing, chickens? And what else?!!

EAT LOCAL – HUNT, GATHER & GROW LOCAL …Many ways to access & produce more fresh food &

use local knowledge & resources

Different types of food gardens & farms all have an important role to

play – different roles, objectives, time frames, investment, & criteria for success. CDEP a key player to build skills & participation, to help

create pathways to better livelihoods, enterprise & employment

Commercial farms - partnerships &/or

leases on Aboriginal owned land.

CDEP led ‘market’ garden & nursery training projects &

enterprises Homeland Gardens

– extended family activities

School Gardens – teaching &

learning, health & nutrition

Life Skills & Demonstration

Gardens – Community Programs

Home gardens – in communities &

towns

Landscaping & Landcare - ‘fusion’

plantings, food bearing plants

RIG Network

Local food projects - strategic context

• AMSANT Fresh Food Summit outcomes• Chronic disease and preventative health programs• NT Govt. new Agribusiness Strategy• Working Futures, Growth Town’s – Local Imp Plans• Indigenous Community Water Facilitator Network• COAG Food Security Strategy & food stores reform• CW Indigenous Economic D’Ment Strategy, 2010-18• RIG Network & NTHA ‘SCOPE’ project

FOOD GARDENS & HORTICULTURE...food for thought….

WHY? CDEP PROVIDERS: Engagement, Participation, Community Development, Training, Work Experience, Life skills, Jobs, Pathways to new training choices…

WHY?

PARTICIPANT GOALS

Augment income

Provide for family

Provide for community

Skills, jobs, interest, pleasure

Cottage Industry

Sole trader

Small business

Social Enterprise

Commercial business

Who is the market?- Self & family

- Neighbours & friends- Community services

- Local food stores- Local produce markets

- Regional & national

How will produce be used?- Self & family provisioning

- Share with community- Trade/barter

- Sell informally- Sell formally

Current & future markets? - What type & structure? - What transitional paths possible? - Local & regional food systems - New market support systems - New approaches, timeframes.

LOCAL ECONOMIES

&THE MARKET- Who How

- Options

WHAT IS RIG NETWORK?

RIG Network is an independent project initiative, that involves stakeholders from community, industry, training, research, and government and non-government organisations, to conduct activities in two core program areas:

1Network development and information sharing - via the RIG Network website, RIG newsletters, discussion groups, and email communications. 

1Strategic research, advocacy and policy development - via targeted research and outreach projects, to better understand and support more sustainable local food production initiatives in remote communities.

Visit: www.remoteindigenousgardens.net

Thank you & grow well…