The Daylesford Community Childcare Centre has launched an initiative to raise funds for Joe’s Kitchen Garden, an inspiring project aimed at teaching children the invaluable skills of growing and cooking their own vegetables.

At the heart of the initiative is Joe Bonanno, an educator and passionate cook who has been inspiring young minds with his love of food and sustainability. “Joe’s Kitchen Garden will be a space where children can get their hands dirty and learn about the journey from garden to plate,” said Joe, educator of the four-year-old kindergarten program. “It’s about teaching them practical skills, fostering a connection to nature, and showing them the value of healthy eating.”

One of the local children, 4-year-old Ilse, will join Joe’s class next year and is already aspiring to become a chef.

The Centre is calling on the community to support the program by directing container Deposit Refunds to the Daylesford Community Childcare Centre. As a donation partner for the Container Deposit Scheme (CDS Vic), the community can collect and deposit eligible drink containers, with refunds going directly to this hands-on learning project.

Eligible containers can be deposited at the TOMRA Cleanaway Reverse Vending Machine (RVM), 37-39 East Street, Daylesford.

How to Support Joe’s Kitchen Garden:

  • Collect eligible containers and deposit them at a CDS Vic location.
  • Use the CDS Vic West app to find your nearest deposit site.
  • Select Daylesford Community Childcare Centre as your donation partner.

Launched by the Minister for Environment in Melbourne in early November 2023, residents are encouraged to collect and cash-in on eligible drink bottles, cartons and cans, for 10 cents per item at refund points including Reverse Vending Machines (RVMs), over-the-counter refund points, and bulk container refund points called Depots in their local areas.

CDS Vic targets beverage containers that are most commonly found as litter and are often consumed away from home, including plastic soft drink bottles, glass beer bottles, soft drinks and alcohol sold in cans, and small fruit juice cartons.

Over 1,200 charities, community groups, and organisations have registered as CDS Vic Donation Partners with TOMRA Cleanaway in the West Zone of CDS Vic and are embracing the opportunity to use the CDS Vic West Zone app as a fundraising tool. To date, TOMRA Cleanaway’s West Zone operation has collected more than 495 million eligible drink containers, and put $49.5 million back into the pockets of Victorian residents and community groups across the CDS Vic West Zone.