Learn Grow News

Learn Grow and Food Plant Solutions Rotarian Action Group represented at Rotary International Assembly in San Diego

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 10:19:00 +1100

Learn Grow and Food Plant Solutions Rotarian Action Group combined to man a booth at the Projects Fair, as part of Rotary’s International Assembly in San Diego, California from 15-21 January 2012.

An annual event, the purpose of the International Assembly is to educate, motivate and inspire district governors-elect to lead Rotarians in their districts. Through plenary sessions, group discussions and fellowship activities, future governors gain the hands-on information they need for the coming year.

The activities of Learn Grow mesh very well with the Rotary theme of Peace Through Service for 2012-13 announced by Rotary International President-Elect Sakuji Tanaka, at the Assembly. “Violent conflicts often lead to hunger and reduced food production. And the reverse is also true. Hunger and lack of access to essential facilities often lie at the heart of violent conflicts”, Learn Grow Chairman, Buz Green said. “Drawing on its extensive database of some 24,000 edible plants, Learn Grow seeks to share knowledge about using local food plants with international food aid providers, helping to bring hope to the hungry and malnourished.”

International Assembly offered a great opportunity to share the Learn Grow vision and show district governors-elect from around the world how clubs in their districts can become involved and make a difference. Strong interest was expressed in the project, with 27 districts signing up to become actively involved and many others collecting literature to become more informed.

Special thanks is extended to our friends in Australia and overseas who most ably manned the display and spread the message.

Learnâ��Grow in Rotary Down Under

Sun, 18 Dec 2011 12:16:00 +1100

The December issue of Rotary Down Under has a great article on Learn◊Grow.

The article is titled "From Little Things, Big Things are Starting to Grow". It gives a good summary of our aims and outlines several areas where Learn◊Grow can use additional support. These are:

Journalism
Agonomy/botanical/technical support
Marketer of discs
Project managers
Facebook manager
IT and marketing support

For more details please see the article.

Newsletter offers latest news

Fri, 09 Dec 2011 15:26:00 +1100

The Learn Grow Newsletter for December 2011 provides information on the latest news and developments with the project.

Obtain an update on international forums that Learn Grow and the Food Plant Solutions Rotarian Action Group will be attending in the first half of 2012. And learn about a practical activity that you can undertake that is sure to give you much "food for thought"!

It's all covered in the December 2011 edition.

Download December 2011 Newsletter

Learn Grow Chairman wins prestigious award

Thu, 08 Dec 2011 11:06:00 +1100

Horticulture Australia Limited (HAL) recently announced Learn Grow Chairman, Buz Green, as the winner of the Graham Gregory Award.

This award has been the horticulture industry’s most prestigious accolade, recognising outstanding achievements from all sectors in horticulture. Buz is the Executive Chairman of Serve-Ag Pty Ltd, a leading provider of agronomic advice, technology and inputs to farmers. He has been a significant influence on Tasmania’s earned reputation as a reliable supplier of both processed and fresh market horticultural products over the past 35 years.

Buz has travelled extensively throughout the world’s agricultural areas. As a result of this experience, Buz chairs Learn Grow which provides information from the world’s largest database of over 24,000 edible plants to assist food aid providers in their humanitarian work in developing countries. Learn Grow is a project of the Rotary Club of Devonport North, Tasmania.

Buz has led a number of delegations to Rotary International conferences, including a field team to Solomon Islands to implement the adoption of the Learn Grow program.

Named for the late Graham Gregory AO, the first Chairman of the former Horticultural Research and Development Corporation, this award recognises Buz and his considerable achievements. His expertise will help Learn Grow continue to achieve its aim of helping the hungry around the world to feed themselves.

HAL Chairman Selwyn Snell congratulates award winner Buz Green - Photo courtesy of HAL

The Permaculture Research Institute of Australia highlights availability of information on edible food plants

Wed, 30 Nov 2011 11:44:00 +1100

The Permaculture Research Institute of Australia is currently highlighting the availability of what it describes as the "excellent, growing resource" of Learn Grow on its website - http://permaculture.org.au/2011/11/26/learn-grow-edible-plant-information-resources/.

It is referring to the comprehensive edible plant list information for a number of specific regions of the world (a work-in-progress) and two plant disks - Edible Plants in Tasmania and Food Plants in Australia.

The disks are available by contacting Learn Grow under a modest donation-purchase arrangement.

Learn Grow and Food Plant Solutions Rotarian Action Group to be featured in breakout session at the 2012 Rotary International Convention in Bangkok

Thu, 17 Nov 2011 10:28:00 +1100

With the challenging title, End Malnutrition Now: The Evergreen Revolution, Learn Grow and Food Plant Solutions Rotarian Action Group will be delivering a dynamic breakout session at the 2012 Rotary International Convention in Bangkok. This follows approval just received for one of the limited breakout sessions from the Convention Committee.

Chefs around the globe are discovering the “lost” food plants of the world and presenting them on television. Nutritionists are highlighting the food values of overlooked traditional food plants. Front line agriculturalists are again focussing on the less well-known food plants of the world to produce the “evergreen revolution.”

Moderated by PRID Dr John Thorne, Chairman of Food Plants Solutions Rotarian Action Group, the breakout session will feature Bruce French, agricultural scientist. He will present an overview of the comprehensive database of the world’s food plants that he has developed over a lifetime and demonstrate how this information can be used as a tool for elimination of malnutrition in an “evergreen revolution”.

Buz Green, agricultural scientist and Chairman of Learn Grow, will then present a framework for action. He will explain how Rotarians everywhere can be actively involved in delivering this solution to eliminate malnutrition in South-East Asia and the developing world.

Put the date in your diary now – Wednesday, 9 May 2012 from 2.30 pm to 4.00 pm in room Sapphire 8 at the IMPACT Centre. (Note: date and time will be subject to final confirmation). It’s an opportunity not to be missed!

Visit by Henry Gwao from Solomon Islands publicised in The Advocate of 3 November 2011

Tue, 08 Nov 2011 11:19:00 +1100

Henry Gwao from the School of Natural Resources at Solomon Islands College of Higher Education is currently visiting Tasmania. He is working with the Unversity of Tasmania and Tasmanian Institute of Agricultural Research to become conversant with the database of food plants of Solomon Islands before returning to his home country in December.

With thanks and appreciation to The Advocate (photograph courtesy of Jason Hollister), read the article published on 3 November 2011.

Newsletter offers latest news

Wed, 26 Oct 2011 13:55:00 +1100

The Learn Grow Newsletter for October 2011 provides information on the latest news and developments with the project.

Obtain an update on the pioneering program in Solomon Islands, learn about the continued development of the Food Plant Solutions Rotarian Action Group and be inspired, and challenged, by the fundraising efforts of one Rotary District in Australia. It's all covered in the October 2011 edition.

Download October 2011 Newsletter

Volunteer opportunities

Thu, 29 Sep 2011 15:40:00 +1000

We are in the market for volunteers to join us in working on this inspiring project. Please check out our listing of varied opportunities at http://www.learngrow.org/support-us/volunteers-wanted/

We look forward to hearing from you.

Food Plant Solutions website is now live!

Mon, 19 Sep 2011 11:08:00 +1000

The official website of the Food Plant Solutions Rotarian Action Group is now live!

We invite everyone to visit the site at http://www.foodplantsolutions.org/

Join the FPS social networking site to connect with other members - click here to join the website. to

We would also encourage you to become official members of the Food Plant Solutions RAG. By doing so you provide valuable support to Learn Grow. Click here to become an official member.