Yesterday Seed Northern Rivers awarded its first community-funded environmental grants at a free public gathering, From the Ground Up, at the Mullum Gardens EcoHub (aka the Mullumbimby Community Gardens).
This is the first round of grants from the Seed Giving Circle grants program, a community-led funding model in which locals pool contributions and collectively vote on which grassroots climate and environmental initiatives receive support.
Members contribute from as little as $10 a week, creating a shared fund that backs regenerative projects across the Northern Rivers.
Three grants
Three grants have been awarded this round to: The Bundjalung Bush Food Alliance, a Bundjalung-led initiative to create a native bush food nursery in Mullumbimby; Local Address which looks at advancing regenerative regional building through low-carbon, locally-sourced material; and Save Wallum that is protecting the rare and culturally significant Wallum ecosystem in Brunswick Heads.
Seed Northern Rivers Director Techa Beaumont says the initiative reflects the Northern Rivers’ strong culture of collective action.
‘This region continues to face environmental pressures, but it’s also a place where people step up for each other and for the land. The Seed Giving Circle allows the community to pool resources and directly back local solutions. It’s community-led, fiercely local and grounded in care,’ said Techa.
The evening will also officially launch the Lilypad Stage – a new platform for music, storytelling, education and community gatherings at the gardens.
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