Sustainability group Transition Creswick is creating outlets to ensure residents have access to locally grown food during the coronavirus pandemic.
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The group has redesigned its approach to a monthly produce swap event, created new operating systems at the Creswick Wholefoods Collective and is re-launching the Creswick Market as a weekly 'shop and go' event.
Transition Creswick group facilitator Tim Drylie said food security in Creswick was a focus issue for the group and members were working to promote re-localisation for a resilient food system.
"We are very keen to promote people growing their own food and buying food from local producers for our own resilience and for the health benefits," he said.
RELATED COVERAGE: How is Creswick coping during the coronavirus pandemic?
The Creswick Market is set to re-launch on May 16 from 9am to 12pm at the Creswick Neighbourhood Centre as a weekly 'shop and go' event for local food and produce, with COVID-19 procedures in place.
Swap It! has previously run as a monthly event at Creswick Neighbourhood Centre where residents can bring excess produce, plants, seeds and homemade goods to share or swap with others.
As the event can not run due to COVID-19, Transition Creswick has launched Swap It! On Albert Street, where people can leave excess items and take what they need in a no contact setting.
Mr Drylie said the Creswick Wholefoods Collective had experienced a 'surge' in interest during the coronavirus pandemic and had adapted to offer an online ordering service to purchase local food in a not-for-profit setting.
Secondbite, a program that rescues food from supermarkets, has been supplying bread and vegetables to the Creswick Neighbourhood Centre share cabinet.
A community garden at the centre also provides food for community members and community dinners.
Mr Drylie said Creswick residents were increasingly calling out for opportunities to purchase locally grown food.
"There is a lot of boutique, local suppliers of good quality vegetables and smallgoods that really need support from the local people," he said.
"People are actually calling out for it a lot more, to have that choice, because they realise the benefit of having food from a local source.
"Having a relationship with the supplier of the food you are eating does make a difference in the networks we have in the community."
Mr Drylie said Transition Creswick food programs also promoted the sharing of ideas and knowledge, particularly about growing your own food.
"There is so much history and knowledge within the community around what to grow and when to grow it. That information is really valuable," he said.
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