Victoria city council will vote this week on a motion to make the city’s “Get Growing, Victoria” seedling distribution program permanent.
The motion has been brought forward by councillors Ben Isitt and Jeremy Loveday, the original architects of the program, which began in April 2020.
Since it started, the initiative has grown and distributed 81,000 vegetable seedlings to residents with a goal of increasing local food security.
“The Covid-19 pandemic has demonstrated gaps in our local food system and in our social and economic fabric,” Isitt said in a statement.
“Get Growing, Victoria has been a big success, supporting community members in building a more resilient local food system.”
Seedlings were distributed in two seasonal rounds: a Spring/Summer distribution in May and June, and a Fall/Winter distribution in August.
Isitt and Loveday’s motion calls on council to implement “Get Growing, Victoria” on an annual basis and asks for input from Urban Food Table and other stakeholders in the continuation of the program.
“Food security isn’t just an issue we should care about during a pandemic,” says Loveday.
“Municipalities can play an important role in ensuring people have access to everything they need to begin to grow their own food.”
The motion will be voted on Thursday at the Committee of the Whole meeting.
