CERES Community Environment Park facts for kids

CERES Community Environment Park is a special place in Brunswick East, Victoria, Australia. It's a big environmental education center and a business that helps the community. CERES is about 4.5 hectares (or 11 acres) in size.

The name CERES (pronounced series) stands for Centre for Education and Research in Environmental Strategies. It also connects to Ceres, the Roman goddess of agriculture (which means growing food).

CERES started in 1982 on what used to be a rubbish dump. It's run by a not-for-profit group. This means they use any money they make to help the environment and teach people. CERES offers many cool things. These include learning programs, an urban farm, community gardens, a cafe, and a grocery store. They also have a plant nursery and other businesses that help the community.

The main goal of CERES is to protect nature. They also want to teach people how their actions affect the environment.

How CERES Started

CERES is located next to the Merri Creek. This land was once home to the Wurundjeri people. For many years, the creek area was used by factories. The CERES site itself was a quarry for bluestone. Later, it became a dump for household and building waste. This made the water in the creek very dirty.

In 1982, some local people had a great idea. They suggested using the land to grow vegetables and make compost. This was part of a program to help people find work. Soon after, schools were invited to learn about new green ideas. These included recycling and organic farming.

CERES, along with other groups, planted hundreds of trees and shrubs. They also asked the government to clean up the creek. In 1994, something amazing happened. The first Sacred Kingfishers, beautiful birds, returned to the land!

Since then, CERES has been a place to learn about the environment. It's also a spot for people to gather and have fun. The very first tree was planted on the site in 1981. It was planted by Dr. Barbe Baker, who started the "Men of the Trees" group.

What You Can Do at CERES

CERES offers many fun and educational things for visitors. Here are some of them:

Plant Nursery

• The nursery at CERES specializes in plants for permaculture. This means growing food in a way that works with nature. They also have native plants and bush foods.
• Their goal is to help people grow food in their own backyards. They offer many types of plants. They also share knowledge and support to help your garden grow. They believe gardening is a great way to stay healthy and help the planet.

Organic Grocery

• This grocery store offers a special shopping experience. You can find snacks from local bakeries. You might even hear a band playing!
• Local craft makers sell their goods at a weekly market. You can even get fresh eggs from their chickens!
• The store tries to use no plastic. You can bring your own reusable bags if you need them.

Community Gardens

• Do you love gardening but don't have much space at home? CERES has about 50 garden plots. People can rent these plots each year to grow their own food.
• They also have social events for gardeners. It's a great way to meet others and talk about shared interests.

Merri Café

• The Merri Café is a very popular spot at CERES. It's open every day for breakfast and lunch.
• They offer meals for different diets, including vegan options.

Community Kitchen

• This is a large kitchen that can fit up to 12 people. It's great for cooking for big events or just cooking with friends.
• Companies can also rent the kitchen. They might use it for charity events or to show off new food products.

Learning and Nature Trails

• You can explore CERES on special walking trails. These trails teach you about nature and the environment.
• The Energy Park shows how we can use clean energy.

CERES Bee Group

• This group is for anyone interested in bees! It's a long-standing group that teaches people about beekeeping. They also speak up for bees.
• They meet once a month to talk about beekeeping and bee equipment.

Chook Group

• This group started in 1986. It's made up of local people who take care of a flock of chickens. They make sure the chickens are treated well.
• There can be up to 50 chickens in the flock. Each member volunteers to care for them one day every two weeks.

The Bike Shed

• The Bike Shed is a group at CERES that encourages riding bikes. Volunteers fix up old bikes that people donate.
• This stops bikes from ending up in landfills. The repaired bikes can then be used around the park.

The Eco House

• The CERES Eco House is a real house that shows how to live in a sustainable way. It has ideas that you could use in your own home.
• Some features include good insulation and solar power systems. It also shows how to use energy-saving appliances.

Events and Visits

• Many events happen at CERES. These include guided tours on weekends and private parties.
• There are three regular festivals each year. These are Harvest in March, Beautiful Darkness in winter, and the Return of the Sacred Kingfisher festival in November. This last festival celebrates when the kingfishers returned after the land was cleaned up.
• CERES is a popular place for school trips. About 60,000 students visit each year to learn.
• You can easily get to CERES from the Merri Creek Trail. Entry to the park is free.
• CERES also looks after Joe's Market Garden. This is another garden located a bit north of the main park.
• CERES gets some money from its own programs, cafe, and events. They also get grants from the government and other groups. While the park is free to enter, donations and memberships are always welcome. You can also volunteer your time!

Park Design

The main CERES park has several important areas:

• A visitors' centre where you can get information.
• A cafe and a community kitchen.
• A nursery for permaculture and bushfood plants.
• An organic market, grocery, and coffee stall open every day.
• Two certified organic market gardens: Honey Lane Market Garden and Merri Creek Market Garden.
• Community gardens for people living nearby.
• An Eco House that shows the latest ideas for sustainable living.
• Portable worm farms made from recycled bins.

Awards

• CERES won the Victorian Premier's Sustainability Award in 2017 for Education.