Innovation in Sustainability

Last week Green Connect won an international award – the Commonwealth Secretary-General’s Award for Innovation in Sustainable Development. It’s a pretty big deal. It means we are one of 15 initiatives across the 54 countries in the Commonwealth seen as leaders in sustainability.

During the virtual ceremony, the Secretary-General talked about how “human genius has got us in to this mess…” (referring broadly to social inequalities and environmental havoc around the world) “…and only human genius can get us out of it”. She went on to say that the winners of this award give people hope for a better future at a particularly bleak moment in history.

I hope that’s the case. I hope people within our community and around the world look at Green Connect and see that you can run a business and do right by both people and the planet. That’s what social enterprise is all about. It’s the best of business and charity brought together to solve the biggest issues our communities face.

I hope people see the wisdom in permaculture ethics (Earth Care, People Care, Fair Share). Every time we are faced with a big decision at Green Connect, we ask ourselves: Is it good for people? Is it good for the planet? Is it financially sustainable? Generally, it’s pretty clear what our course of action should be.

And I hope people see that when a community comes together and continuously strives for something, anything is possible. When thanking the Secretary-General, I said to her that “ideas are easy; implementation is hard” and she agreed wholeheartedly. Initiatives like Green Connect are an accumulation of ideas, efforts, energy, investments, and collaborations from our whole community.

It really does take a village. So thank you, thank you, THANK YOU to you, our veg box customers, for being a vital part of our village. This award belongs to us all.

Enjoy this week’s produce!

Kylie Flament
General Manager

In your box:

Note: We sometimes need to make changes to what we pack in your veg box based on the quantity or quality of produce that we can harvest and source. If you have any questions about what is in your box, don’t hesitate to contact us at [email protected].

Did you know?

Rainbow chard and silverbeet are both varieties of swiss chard, a multi-coloured leafy relative of beetroot. They boast many health benefits and are packed with heaps of nutritious vitamins and minerals, including vitamins K, A, C and E, fibre, riboflavin, manganese, magnesium, potassium, iron and beta-carotene. Store them wrapped loosely in a reused plastic bag to help them stay fresh for longer. The leaves and stems of rainbow chard and silverbeet can be sauteed with a bit of salt for an easy side dish, or can be added to a huge range of meals, including stir fries, pastas, soups or smoothies. Enjoy!