Get Involved

Community Garden

Crops for Community

The crops for community’s program offers opportunities for tending a garden in a beautiful setting, whilst developing knowledge and skills, connecting with others and contributing toward greater food security in the Yarra Valley. One third of the produce grown is donated to the local Koha Community Café, whose aim is to promote inclusion and community self-reliance. One third is donated to OONAH Indigenous Services, who run a Tucker Bag Programme for anyone requiring extra support and One third is grown for Ecoss use. 

For information contact Mel at allabilities@ecoss.org.au

Membership

Volunteers & Inclusiveness

Corporate Volunteering & Wellbeing Program

ECOSS welcomes corporate groups of all ages and abilities to come and discover the riches of ECOSS and enjoy facilitated team building and skill building sessions and our unique Wellbeing Program. 

We are a Community Hub, including Community Garden, Food Forest, Native Nursery, Co-farming area, Pollination Place, and many more projects around the site. 

Come and be inspired by the beautiful grounds while learning about sustainability and simple practical ways you can reduce your ecological footprint and help us with the many tasks needed such as Bed preparation, Composting, Weeding, Mulching and Pruning.

• Choose one or more sessions to put together a program from 1 hour to half or full day experiences
• Activities are held on site in the inspiring permaculture designed Yarra Valley ECOSS Community Environment Park. 
• Each session is fully facilitated by a specialist educator in their field and takes approximately 1 hour. 
• Sessions offer unique, practical, creative and hands on sessions where participants are engaged and inspired while learning
• Price on Application

Volunteer Program:

ECOSS Farming

ECOSS is undertaking various innovative farming techniques and volunteering in this space offers interesting educational opportunities including the Food Forest, BioChar, Community Viticulture, Garlic growing, land management, composting, organic farming and more.

Volunteering in this space offers interesting education opportunities including the Food Forest, BioChar, Community Viticulture, Garlic growing, land management, composting, organic farming and more. 

Community Gardening

ECOSS Community Garden is a beautiful space at the centre of the ECOSS site. Volunteering in this space supports our Crops for Community program, and includes propagating plants in the Native Nursery, composting, weeding and harvesting produce for our food relief agencies. Activities are seasonal in this space. 

Community Garden, Crops for Community

Native Nursery

Volunteering in the Native Nursery offers deep educational experiences, led by a senior Horticulturist. Activities include propagating plants, seed saving, nursery management. 

Native Nursery, Pollination Place

UpCycles

We collect discarded bicycles and parts and work with community members of all abilities to refurbish the bicycles for both charity and sale at ECOSS. The Upcycles space provides a hub and community space for people to gather to reduce landfill, whilst increasing connectedness, promoting fitness and positive mental health.

Volunteer activities rotate with our Seasonal Calendar of Events, and include passive and active roles. We value your skills and would love to create opportunities that interest you. We like to provide co-learning opportunities for skill sharing.

UpCycles

Wellbeing Program:

Hands on Clay Pottery

Enjoy making your own creation under the guidance of the artists at Community Pottery Studio Yarra Valley.

• Includes all materials, clay and access to a fully equipped studio
• Firing is possible for an additional cost or take home un-fired
• Includes instruction and creative guidance

The Pottery Studio

African Drumming Workshop

Kofi Kunkpe is an Ewe master drummer & multi-instrumentalist from the Volta Region of Ghana. A multi-skilled, celebrated performer and teacher, creating custom made programs or performances to suit your needs.

With extensive background teaching people of all ages and abilities, Kofi offers drum, dance, singing and African Culture workshops for large or small groups.

These one hour sessions are facilitated by Kofi and participants have the opportunity to learn and play in a practical and dynamic environment.

Mental Health and Well-Being, Team Building Workshops in the Circus Dome

Challenging groups in a fun and comedic environment to work together. Learning unique new skills to problem solve physical challenges, to directly affect participants abilities to manage challenges in social and work environments. 

We will develop a program appropriate for the abilities and interests of your team. 

With a range of Sports challenges, Public speaking, Dance, and Circus Skills such as Juggling, Plate spinning, Hula hooping, Aerial Yoga, Stilt Walking and Acro balance. 

Research shows juggling improves productivity, develops plasticity, releases endorphins and lowers stress levels. When used in the workplace it can give a reboot of energy and focus. 

Try something unique! All sessions held in the Dreaming Space Dome.

Dreaming Space Dome, Colocators

Meeting Spaces for Hire & Catering Options:

We also have meeting spaces available and options of catering (Wood Fired Pizza Oven on site) or BYO.

ECOSS Facilities & Equipment Hire

Please contact Chelsea for more information, to get a quote and to make a booking:

Chelsea on: chelsea@ecoss.org.au

Cultural Diversity is important to ECOSS.  We welcome all genders, rainbow people, all abilities and all cultures to work together in peace at ECOSS.

Jobs @ ECOSS

Currently looking for volunteers to help support the market on Friday afternoons. 

Opportunities are available to help with setting up the Market and assisting at stalls, including chai, dhal & soup making and serving.