CERES is a place to fall in love with the earth again. This former landfill tip is now an award winning sustainability education centre, organic farm, community hub & centre of social enterprise in Victoria. Your team is invited for one-off or consecutive volunteer days! CERES can host groups of 7 – 150 in Brunswick East or Coburg. 

What is involved?

Kick off the day with an exclusive site tour to welcome your team to CERES including the organic farm, nursery, cafe, chickens, community gardens and the beautiful Merri Creek, before dusting off your boots for volunteering.

CERES volunteer activities can include gardening, weeding, painting, landscaping, composting and masonry across the 4 acre site (or Joes Garden). Wet weather options are also available if required on the day.

About the opportunities:

Garden Brunswick East

The main site in Brunswick East activities include gardening, weeding, painting, landscaping, composting and stone masonry across the 4 hectare park.

Honey Lane Market Garden

Honey Lane Market Gardening activities include gardening, weeding, landscaping, composting and other tasks guided by Urban Farmer Caitlin

Joes’ Market Garden, Merri Creek, Coburg

The offsite location, Joe’s Market Garden, located on the lovely Merri Creek offers corporate volunteering bookings most days of the week. Joes Garden is a beautiful, historic market garden, located on the banks of the Merri Creek in Coburg cared for by CERES. Activities are all farm-based – including planting, watering, weeding, harvesting.

Make a Day of it!

• Lunch Catering through the onsite Merri Cafe! Available at the main Brunswick East site (only – not available at Joes Garden. Joes Garden volunteers are invited to bring a picnic for lunch by the Merri Creek.
• Book a Meeting Room: A home base for the day! Your team is eligible for a 20% discount on the usual venue hire fees for full day bookings in the meeting rooms. The team can store their possessions, have a rest and cup of tea from the kitchenette and / or host a team meeting / workshop in the meeting rooms. To book a meeting room, please contact the Venue Hire team and note your Corporate Volunteer day booking to claim the discount.
• Visit the Nursery, Organic Grocery, nearby Merri Creek & chickens.

A Typical Day:

• 10:00am Meet your host at the Visitor Centre for an intro, tour and induction to the day’s activities.
• 10:30am Get stuck in! Volunteering activities might include gardening, painting, landscaping and stone masonry (or indoor work in inclement weather) all under the expert guidance of our trainers.
• 12:30pm Take a well-earned rest. Lunch & catering is available at The Merri Cafe or CERES Organic Grocery (both on site)
  on site – bookings on (03) 9389 0166. Or bring your own picnic and eat under a shady tree.
• 1:30pm Put those workboots back on for the afternoon.
• 4pm Knock off time.

Additional requirements:

• – Volunteers are asked to wear sturdy covered shoes and clothes that you don’t mind getting a little ‘farmy’ in!
• – Please bring hat and sunscreen, a water bottle
• – Please bring an umbrella or raincoat.
• – Please bring a packed lunch. There is a cafe available at Honey Market Lane

Contribution:

CERES facilitators are expert CERES staff with years of experience leading environmental education programs and services. They’ll oversee your day, provide direction and oversea your safety. You may even pick up some gardening or handy-person tips! The financial contribution is a cost per head, covering CERES running costs-  paying your facilitator, OH&S, training, co-ordination of your booking and ongoing strategic development of our volunteering programs. Please contact CERES for more information.

Locations:

Garden Brunswick East and Honey Lane Market Garden:

Stewart St &, Roberts St, Brunswick East VIC 3057 – Melbourne

Joes’ Market Garden:

Stewart St &, Roberts St, Brunswick East VIC 3057

Contact

Contact: https://ceres.org.au/

Ph. (+61) 3 9389 0100

Website: https://ceres.org.au/