Growing in Mount Alexander: A community approach to healthy eating

Published on 19 May 2026

A community initiative, Growing in Mount Alexander, is set to inspire young children and their families to embrace healthy eating while building practical skills through hands-on vegetable gardening.

Children will take part in planting, nurturing, and harvesting vegetables, helping them develop practical skills and a stronger connection to where their food comes from. Participating families will also receive growing booklets and recipe cards featuring the vegetables grown during the project, building confidence in preparing healthy, affordable meals at home.

Harcourt Pre‑School and Maldon Pre‑School have been selected to participate in the project, which aims to support families to grow fresh produce at home. Additional support through membership with the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program, equipping educators and children with the skills to grow, harvest, prepare and share fresh, affordable and culturally diverse food.

The project has also provided wicking beds, tools and infrastructure to enable the successful growing of edible produce.

This initiative responds to significant local health challenges identified in the Active Living Census (ALC). Vegetable consumption in the shire remains low. Poor vegetable intake is strongly linked to increased risk of overweight, obesity, and chronic disease. 

Food insecurity is another pressing concern. According to the ALC, households in the Mount Alexander Shire have experienced higher levels of food insecurity than the Victorian average.

“By helping families grow their own vegetables, we’re not only building practical skills but also supporting lifelong healthy habits,” said Rosalie Rogers, Acting Director Healthy Communities.

“This project is about making healthy eating accessible, engaging, and achievable for local families- starting from an early age.”

Children and families can learn more about the program and explore helpful resources on the Healthy Loddon Campaspe website: www.healthyloddoncampaspe.au/growinginloddoncampaspe.

Growing in Mount Alexander highlights the power of local, community-driven solutions to improve health outcomes - supporting families to grow, learn, and thrive together. It is delivered in partnership with Healthy Loddon Campaspe and Mount Alexander Shire.