Kingsville Organic Group (KOG) …

History of KOG

In December 2009 the Seddon Organic Collective (SOC) held a meeting of Kingsville and Footscray residents who were on the SOC waiting list.

Participants from Kingsville and West Footscray decided to form a Kingsville vegetable group. The Committee’s first meeting was in January 2010. After lengthy negotiations with the Market, the Committee made its first purchase at the Market and first boxes were delivered in July 2010.

The Kingsville Organic Group (KOG) model was based on other local models including SOC, the Western Organic Co-op and the Newport Organic Co-op. However, KOG is an incorporated association, not a co-op as such.

Our early philosophical principles included buying local, organic and seasonal and creating social connectedness. All members are required to volunteer 2 to 3 hours per month to meet our philosophical principles and keep costs low.

KOG was built on the idea of creating positive good social networks between neighbours, and within neighbourhoods.

How does KOG work?

The KOG boundaries are divided into three main areas. West Footscray north of the railway tracks, West Footscray south of the railway tracks, and Kingsville.
Buyers are rostered into a team of two. Sorters are rostered into a team of four or five including the sorting house host. Each week there is one sorting house and five pickup houses.
The buyers purchase the produce from the Footscray wholesale market and deliver it to the rostered Sorting House. The sorting team will meet at the sorting house and sort the produce into boxes and deliver to the pickup houses for collection by the KOG members.
We also have a system for collecting and returning the waxed or polystyrene boxes to the Wholesale Market.

Dry goods run

In conjunction with Seddon Organic Collective, (SOC), KOG organises a quarterly bulk purchase of dry goods. This enables KOG members to purchase foods for the pantry, eg. flour, dried fruits, nuts, honey, olive oil, rice and grains at wholesale prices minus all the packaging. Almost all of the products listed are organically or biodynamically grown.

Social gatherings

Throughout the year, the KOG Committee organises informal gatherings at local venues which are a great way to meet our neighbours. They also provide us with a chance to update members on our progress, get their feedback, and most importantly of all, enjoy good company!

KOG has a facebook page which can be viewed here .

KOG Committee Roles

All KOG members have the opportunity to nominate for a Committee Role on an annual basis. Current roles include:

PRESIDENT
VICE-PRESIDENT
SECRETARY
TREASURER
ORDINARY MEMBER: ACCOUNTS OFFICER
ORDINARY MEMBER: DRY GOODS ORGANISER
OTHER VOLUNTARY ROLE: BOX RECYCLING

[updated October 2011]

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