Co-op Highlights

We've had such a wonderful time watching our co-op grow and for families within our community forge friendships. We've celebrated the seasons, tended our garden, played in the sunshine and our very first camp. Here are a few highlights of the past year or so…

The neighbourhood garden...

We began tending our neighbourhood garden plot in earnest in February and we've been astounded at what a small group of enthusiastic children can do in such a short time! Working together, they've weeded...




Dug and composted...




And prepared our garden for planting. In just the last half hour of each co-op day we've managed to prepare a beautiful plot. The children have learnt lots already about soil, water and weeds... Last week they noticed that the compost felt warm under their feet and so discussion of the composting process, bacteria and soil began... But not only that, they're discovering the beauty of working together and all mucking in to create something co-operatively to be proud of... Tomorrow we plant our first seeds and watch our little garden grow food for us to share! Our hope is that each family will have some food to take home, and that we might harvest enough for a cooking day in the hall. So much to look forward to and share... we're looking forward to watching this tiny co-op grow and flourish too!

A little catch up...

Our co-op has been back in full swing this year, after a little break over the summer. Activities since last year have included ice-cream making, using an old wooden churn, Christmas crafts, spy club, art workshops and loads and loads of play in the playground and the open field.




Our meets are now weekly, every Tuesday afternoon from 12pm. The hope is that with continuity, or numbers will grow and a solid group of regulars will form and a strong little community will grow from it. Activities tend to be fairly low-key these days, with families bringing along interesting things for the children to participate in if they like. If a larger venue is required, the main hall is available to us and with this set-up our options are really without limit.

We now have a plot at the local neighbourhood garden, just behind the cottage. We've also started a small book-swap library where we can bring good quality used books that we've finished reading and read them at co-op, or take them home if they are useful or loved. No need to return the book, just replace it with another that you've finished with.

Do pop along and join in the fun. All are welcome and we look forward to spending some time with you!

Bread and Yoga

Apologies for the lateness of this post! Last fortnight's co-op was small but so much fun! We organised to use the space of the community hall and held a yoga class thanks to Carinda from Yoga Bugs! She took the children (and some adults) on a yoga journey or two with some very imaginative interpretations of traditional yoga poses, while managing to explain the history and relevance of them in a fun and engaging way. The kids were enthralled! We also made the most of having an oven for the afternoon and baked some bread! Lots of fun and yummo too.

Tomorrow we are having a simple play meet with some paper window star folding, possibly some ice cream churning and an outdoor game or two in the open fields. Hope to see you there! xx

Wildlife Carers at Co-op!

Last time at co-op we had the pleasure of meeting Stephanie and Wayne from Southern Wildlife Rescue.  They came and talked to us about all things wildlife. They even brought along a little furry friend or two!



Everyone was engrossed and entertained by Stephanie and Wayne's engaging presentation and we all learnt so much about our native wildlife. We learnt some amazing facts about what makes our wildlife special. We had a close-up look at wombat poo and a good laugh at some tales of baby wombat antics while patting a gorgeous baby wombat.



Best of all, we learnt how each of us can help our native wildlife if we come across any sick or injured along the roadside or in the bush. We have a checklist now to keep in the glovebox and some activity kits to take home and enjoy as we remember Stephanie and Wayne's words.



We were also lucky to see one of our co-op families taking the next step to becoming wildlife carers, bringing in a baby Bennetts Wallaby for us all to see. Thanks so much to Stephanie and Wayne and to Fran for organising for them to come along!

This Tuesday (October 2nd) , we will have YogaBugs along to give us a free trial class. The weather looks to be lovely, so we can do yoga outside, or I've organised for the big hall to be available to us for the class. If we like it, there's an option to make yoga a regular co-op activity. And of course, if your child doesn't feel like participating, that's totally ok. Please feel free to bring along an alternate activity to share with the group if you like!

See you at co-op of Tuesday! xx

Springtime Explorers at Co-op

We were blessed with the most perfect of spring days at co-op last week. Beautiful sunshine, just the right amount of breeze and lots of open spaces to explore. We went on a scavenger hunt. We collected furry, shiny, sharp things. Flowers, sticks, rocks and treasures...



Then we headed down to the beach behind co-op for a paddle and a play in the sand.



And back to the playgound again for a last play...



We didn't want it to end! In fact the play continued at our house until bedtime. We're looking forward to Tuesday!

This week we are meeting wildlife carer Stephanie. She'll be talking to us about how to become wildlife carers and what's involved... She may even bring a furry friend as a surprise! If you intend to come, please let us know before Monday night (that's tomorrow!), so Stephanie can prepare. Hope to see you then. xx

Book Week at Co-op

It was a quiet week at co-op this week. Many of our friends nursed colds and tummy bugs at home. But it was lovely to spend some time with those who could make it and read some favourite books. We had Audrey of the Outback, Fancy Nancy and Maisy Mouse for the day...

It would be fantastic to see more people come along to Co-op. If you've been meaning to come along, or you know a friend who might like to come to our Co-op, please get in touch.xx

Book Week!

Next Tuesday at co-op we are celebrating Children's Book Week. If you feel like it, come along dressed up as a favourite book character and bring along a book you'd like to share with the group. Those who are reading can read to those who aren't quite reading yet... This was one of our most popular activities last year, and a great indoor thing for cooler weather. Perhaps you'd like to bring along a game, activity or food to share from your book? Lets see where the inspiration leads us...

In other news... I'm still collecting names for the Marine Discovery Centre on the 28th. If this date doesn't suit, let me know and we can reschedule for another day later in the year. One family has already expressed a wish to postpone...

Also, Fran has very kindly offered to organise for a wildlife carer to come along and chat to us about what she does... she may even bring a little furry friend along! Stay tuned for more info... xx

Gadget dissection at co-op!

It was lovely to see some new faces at co-op last week.  We all had a great time pulling apart things to see what makes them work. Some of the adults had just as much fun. Who knew destroying things could be so much fun?! You can learn so much when you pull things apart - just ask my toddler ;)



There were type writers, remote control cars, keyboards, heaters, telephones, clocks... all manner of things. All pulled apart enthusiastically. For those too small to join in, there was playdough.



The useful bits from our deconstructive fun, were swept aside for next week when we'll turn them into inventions! Lots of us are looking forward to that.



After lunch and a play and a warm cuppa, we wandered through the community garden to check out the community beds we have been invited to tend while we wait for our own plot *. We managed to stay until 3.30pm, when the sun dropped down behind the hill and it became a little too chilly for the playground. All in all, a fun day!

If you'd like to come along next week and make an amazing invention, please bring along some bits and pieces you don't need anymore, to add to the left over gadget bits. Some glue, tape, hot glue guns, scissors... anything you think might be useful. All would be appreciated! See you then. xx

* There's a working bee at the community garden in a couple of weeks. Please let me know if you're interested and I'll forward the info to you.