September Spring Events & News!

Welcome to Spring at Yarra Valley ECOSS!

The light has begun to change, and all life under the soil is waking up for the coming growing season. For some of us it is heartening to know that in the foreseeable future we can hang up our coats, scarves and gloves for the emergence of fairer weather. People have been asking us about what’s coming up through the year, so we’ve posted the program on our newsletter to keep you all up to date; see the program below.

First, we’d like to welcome Marco Sangiorgi to our Committee of Management and we look forward to sharing the ECOSS journey with him. Thanks to our nursery staff, who grew plants to contribute to Domaine Chandon’s billabong restoration project. We are so proud to be a small part of a very big environmental restoration project, with our first planting on Wednesday. We have delivered almost all of our Ribbons of Green orders for this year, which include local primary schools and local landowners; we’re very proud to be helping revegetate the shire with our natives. We do have some surplus tubestock available; for enquires please contact Melanie at nursery@ecoss.org.au if you’d like to see the stocklist. We’re also currently taking orders for larger revegetation needs for 2027.

On another note, our recent edible mushrooms event organised by the Yarra Ranges Council, attracted 100 people; the coop was buzzing with interest, and everyone enjoyed the delicious tacos by Tonantzin for lunch.

What’s on at ECOSS

Regular events:

African Drumming with Kofi Kunkpe: Mondays (school term) 5.30pm

ECOSS Valley Market every Friday 3.30-6pm

Food & Farmers Market 4th Saturday of the month, 10am-2pm.

Tonantzin Chocolate open every Friday 3.30-6pm,

Saturdays 10am-3pm.

September:

Saturday Sept. 5th: Celtic Knot Workshop

Saturday Sept. 26th; ECOSS Spring Market: Food, Farmers & Plants, 10am-2pm

Rabbit control workshop

October:

Wednesday Oct. 21st: Biochar Facility Tour, 3pm

Saturday 24th October: Food & Farmers Market, 10am-2pm

Earth Worm render workshop

Trash Puppets, YRC

November:

Friday 13th Nov: Queer Recycled Fashion Parade workshop, 5pm-7pm

Friday November 20th: Queer Recycled Fashion Parade workshop: Costume making & crafting, 5pm-7pm

Friday November 27th: Queer Recycled Fashion Parade workshop: Makeup and execution, 5pm-7pm

Saturday 28th Nov: Food & Farmers Market

Rabbit & Blackberry control Seminar

December:

Friday 12th December: Summer Twilight Market and Queer Recycled Fashion Parade

Friday 18th December: Last ECOSS Valley Market of 2026

How to be involved at ECOSS

We are often asked how people can get involved in ECOSS, so we’ve outlined our regular volunteer opportunities that anyone can be involved in. Generally, no prior experience is necessary; however, skills are always welcome. We are a Child Safe Workplace, so a Working with Children’s check is essential for all workers on site; we’re able to assist with applications if needed.

On Tuesdays, we run an all-abilities Crops for Community program, run by volunteers, who grow food for the two food-relief programs we support. For information on this, please contact Mel at allabilities@ecoss.org.au

Wednesdays we undertake general maintenance around the property, which is ongoing. We are currently building a disabled toilet and renovating an old portable.

Wednesdays is also the day when we maintain and develop the food forest, which is at phase 2 in its development and requires planting, weeding, watering and general care; for an expression of interest please contact Mel at allabilities@ecoss.org.au

We also test various crops grown in different ratios of biochar in plots at Pollination Place, which involves data collection and interpretation, sometimes propagation, maintenance and harvesting; for more information please contact Kylie on eartheducation@ecoss.org.au

Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, we are busy growing plants in our native nursery for revegetation projects all around the Shire and any support here is greatly welcomed. If this interests you, please contact Mel at nursery@ecoss.org.au

Fridays and Saturdays, we have our organic market stall at the ECOSS Market, and we could always do with more support to help run the stall, even occasionally; having a passion for good organic food is a bonus; if this could interest you, please contact MJ on accounts@ecoss.org.au

We run our UpCycles program on Saturdays, which brings together a community of mixed ages who up-cycle disused bikes ready for resale. This will resume on October 14th; for more information contact Damian on upcycles@ecoss.org.au

We host a range of festivals, forums and music events throughout the year, and without the ongoing support of volunteers, these would be difficult to offer, so if you’re interested in supporting any of these events- set up, pack up and everything in between- please contact Leila on events@ecoss.org.au

What we currently really need is a compost coordinator

If you have composting knowledge, a passion for growing worms and reusing our kitchen waste, we could do with your support. We have multiple composts around the site, and we need help in managing them better, organising signage and rotation and general education on compost systems, so if you’ve got a bit of free time and you’re able to support us, please contact Mel at allabilities@ecoss.org.au

Volunteering connects us with people; it offers opportunities to use our skills, or develop new ones, and sometimes gives us a sense of purpose. At ECOSS, it connects us to a beautiful location and a great team of people who are working with heart toward creating a more sustainable future for the community.

Welcoming in the Spring

Help us to welcome in spring at the ECOSS Food and Farmers Market, with garden seedlings, local fresh produce from surrounding farms, rich artisan treats from Tonantzin Chocolate, and a celebration of other delicacies. Or just have a specialty coffee in a relaxed and beautiful environment. We’re also offering a workshop on Rabbit Containment, presenting effective practical solutions for protecting your gardens; we look forward to seeing you there.

To read the full Newsletter: Yarra Valley ECOSS Newsletter September 2026