Tidy Towns Alumni - Yarra Valley ECOSS

The KABV Team with Chelsea McNab from Yarra Valley ECOSS

As we encourage entries into the 2025 Tidy Towns and Sustainable Cities Awards, we reflect and shine the spotlight on some of our amazing entrants from years past!

Yarra Valley ECOSS (Ecological and Social Sustainability) is a not-for-profit community organisation based on a 7.4 hectare permaculture designed farm at Wesburn, on Wurundjeri Country. On this beautiful property ECOSS demonstrates sustainable living solutions for the community of the Yarra Valley and beyond.

The KABV team took a trip out to Wesburn to check it out, and were blown away by the wonderful set up they have. An incredibly beautiful space, full of culturally diverse and creative projects that represent their diverse community. Local groups they partner and co-locate with include Permaculture Yarra Valley, Yarra Valley Bee Group, Warburton Environment, Upper Yarra Landcare, The Pottery Studio, Bushwood Creations, Silvertine Biodynamic Farm, Tonantzin chocolates and Sweat Lodge and Tipi Ceremonies, Beans and Bananas Food Co-op, The Dreaming Space Circus, The Pottery Studio, and numerous other local groups and businesses.

There are activities and events throughout the year, and new projects popping up all the time. It truly is a magical corner of Victoria. The team enjoyed eating freshly picked apples off the tree, talking with growers and tinkerers and enjoying the positive atmosphere that permeates the space.

Get along for the ECOSS Valley Market every Friday, supporting local growers and the community to access locally grown organic and biodynamic produce, or Ecotopia Earth Festival, Rhythms of the World, Children’s Week, Ngulu Indigenous Festival, Earth Kids Play Day, and the Twilight Market when they are on.

We are consistenly blown away and inspired by our amazing Tidy Towns network, individuals, organisations and places that are contributing to the sustainability of people and place across Victoria.

If you are looking for a great day out, check out what is going on at https://ecoss.org.au/ grab some friends and head down for a fantastic experience.

If you know anyone who is doing great work in the community themselves, we encourage you to direct them to this years Tidy Towns and Sustainable Cities Awards to enter their project and be a part of our 43rd year, celebrating the best that Victoria has to offer. With 10 categories, there is sure to be one that fits!

Special thanks to Chelsea and the team for having us, showing us around and doing such great work.

Yarra Valley ECOSS

711 Old Warburton Road, Wesburn, Victoria, 3799