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SAGE NSW Inc is getting down to business thanks to a $50,000 grant from the Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal.
The not-for-profit Moruya-based organisation secured the grant to develop and implement a sustainable disaster-proof business plan to help achieve its mission of creating and supporting a local sustainable food economy.
With around 100 volunteers and its members, SAGE manages Moruya’s Tuesday Farmers Market, the SAGE Community Garden, and the commercial market gardening training facility Stepping Stone Farm. It also runs education programs and a catering enterprise, grows food for worthy community causes and hosts social and community events.
SAGE president Cath Reilly said the funds enabled SAGE to hire a business manager to help increase the group’s organisational capacity and promote food security in Eurobodalla.
The business plan will include business models and practical actions to identify revenue streams and improve the organisation’s capacity, ensuring its ongoing financial sustainability and resilience.
“The pandemic, fires and floods have really highlighted the need for a local, secure food economy and now more than ever SAGE is committed to making this vision a reality,” Ms Reilly said.
“We’re pleased to be working with the locally-based founder of Urban Rewild, Sharlene Cohen, to deliver our business plan, which will build on our Strategic Plan, developed in 2021.”
“Over the past 13 years SAGE has achieved many positive outcomes – we want to ensure our organisation can continue to expand on these achievements and deliver for our community for decades to come.”
For more information about SAGE, including coming events, initiatives and how to become a volunteer, visit sageproject.org.au
Caption: SAGE NSW vice-president Peter Heyward, president Cath Reilly, Urban Rewild’s Sharlene Cohen and SAGE committee member Sandra Makdessi.Media contact:Cath Reilly - 0467 333 878, president@sageproject.org.au
Shani Keane, a local grower from Left Field Farm and Stepping Stone Farm, and a regular seller at the SAGE Farmers Market, attended this year’s Deep Winter Agrarian Gathering.
Shani kindly provided an interesting report for SAGE readers, including the Deep Winter Statement which was developed following consultation with the gathering.
President’s report from Cath Reilly
Treasurer’s report from Jan Maitland
Stepping Stone Farm report from Mark Barraclough
Farmers Market report from Peter Heyward
Farmers representative report from Eliza Cannon
Education and Events report from Sandra Makdessi
Community food report from Alda Rudzis
Food share report from Alda Rudzis
SAGE Garden report from Stuart Whitelaw (on behalf of Adrian Cram and Wendy Jones)
