By MELISSA MEEHAN
WHAT started as a small seed has grown into a flourishing garden of community collaboration.
Sarah Court Preschool will host its first annual Healthy Harvest Festival on Saturday 13 September, and is bringing much of the Montrose community along for the ride.
The event is a celebration of healthy local living and its aim is to inspire people to buy locally, grow edible food, and learn ways to prepare fresh, healthy meals.
The festival’s celebration of all things local piqued the interest of the Montrose Traders Association and after several brainstorm sessions, a unique partnership was formed.
“The Festival Committee members approached us to explore ways this event could support both the preschool and us as local traders,” chairperson of the Montrose Traders Association and owner of Montrose Meats and Smokehouse, Rob Earney said.
“They presented innovative ways we, as traders, could partner with the festival and that is how the Local Rewards Card was born. We were immediately on board.”
The Local Rewards Card, designed by Sarah Court Preschool, offers a diverse mix of promotions from 10 Montrose businesses.
The card will be distributed to the first 500 attendees at the event and is a way to inspire local residents to shop locally.
“We have been absolutely delighted with the level of support we have received from the community to put on the Healthy Harvest Festival,” President of Sarah Court Preschool Kate Garnsworthy said.
“The Montrose Traders Association is generously sponsoring a free planting activity for children on the day and it is our goal that the Local Rewards Card will support them in return, not to mention us as residents with great offers,” Ms Garnsworthy said.
The school’s Healthy Harvest Festival will include a line-up of horticulture demonstrations, live music, local food, market stalls and children’s activities, all centred on gardening, cooking and local living.
All are welcome to attend on Saturday 13 September from 9am – 1pm.
Details on the event, a schedule of gardening demonstrations and a list of stallholders can be found on www.healthyharvestfestival.com
