YIMBY (Yes in My Backyard) has three purposes:
To reduce methane emissions by diverting organics from landfill and using localised transport
To close the loop on (re)cycling food organics in our local community and to grow the availability of good soil, with compost.
To build community resilience by connecting people in neighbourhoods
YIMBY exists because we value community-led solutions to global problems and trust that, with support, communities are more adaptive and responsive when we work together.
YIMBY is a community-run backyard composting project based in Castlemaine, Victoria.
YIMBY is a dedicated group of volunteers, and partially paid employees of The Hub Foundation, who coordinate the program.
To our knowledge there is no other program like this in Australia.
After the successful pilot project, we aim to double our efforts in 2023
We are in the process of training 14 new composters to recruit another 140 new households.
How does YIMBY work?
The YIMBY team attract and train composters
Composters connect to neighbours and sign them up to become weekly organics contributors to their compost ‘hub’.
Food scraps are collected weekly from non-composting households, data is entered to central data base (weight of food organics and temperature of compost).
The food waste is hot-composted to EPA standards in the yards of dedicated, trained and well-resourced (volunteer) composters, compost health is monitored remotely by YIMBY team by reviewing data.
Composters are supported with regular check ins and resources as needed.
High-quality compost produced is used to grow food in backyards.
Building Community resilience through YIMBY climate action.
“Extensive research reveals that resilient and prepared communities are more likely to withstand the negative impacts of natural disasters and that strong social capital correlates to a more effective recovery.” (Australian Local Government Association 2022)
Our community composters, are community connectors, supporting our composters, which supports the wider community.
What our composters say
Sometimes, when I’m feeling low, or just can’t decide what to do, I go to my compost, check how it’s going, check the temperature, stir it up, it’s a welcome break from all the other stuff going on, I never imagined when I agreed to be part of YIMBY that this would become my mental health time!
During the last floods, I was able to text everyone on my list, ask if they were OK, it felt so good, knowing we could reach out to each other’
When I was sick with COVID, my composter noticed I had not out my bucket out, they texted me, found out I was sick and subsequently offered to do some shopping and baked me a cake!
I’m sharing the produce of my very productive garden in my neighbourhood
I became a YIMBY composter to improve my soil, I didn’t realise how much more I would get from growing my connections in my street
I love seeing the (YIMBY) buckets lined up in the street on bin night, I feel warm inside, knowing that we are all working together to do good things
YIMBY is a project of The Hub Foundation, a not-for-profit based in Castlemaine with a long history of supporting local action on climate and empowering community-led action.
Founders of The Hub Foundation Heather and Neil Barrett received the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in 2021 for their contributions to environmental work and continue to be leading change makers in the Mount Alexander Shire.
Meet the Yimby Team
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Mikaela Beckley
Born and raised in Castlemaine. Mikaela has Bachelor degrees in Science (Microbiology & Human Genetics), Arts (Anthropology) and Applied Science (Nursing). 16 interesting years working in the healthcare system, both in Australia and East Timor, has consolidated her perception on the important role community and connection with nature has on our health. Through growing her own food, Mikaela has developed a deep respect and fascination with soil and has dedicated many hours getting to know these microscopic creatures living in our soil and compost. Now certified as a Soil Food Web Laboratory technician, Mikaela is assisting with compost testing and program coordination, as well as composting for 16 neighbours, as one of our Yimby Community Composting Hubs.
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Joel Meadows
The Green Hand institute
Joel is an environmental educator, energy auditor, building designer, sustainable transport consultant, illustrator, maker of things of steel and wood, grower, cooker and preserver of food, avid gardener and musician. Joel has studied Sculpture, Blacksmithing, Renewable Energy Technology and Permaculture, he has worked for private, government and not for profit organisations and runs the Green Hand Institute.
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Lucy Young
The Hub Foundation
Lucy lives in Castlemaine with her family and is co-parenting two young people into adulthood and exploring possibilities for a sustainable future. Lucy has over 20 years experience in Community Development in Castlemaine, using skills acquired through a Bachelor of Social Work (RMIT) to bring an Action Research model to her approach to behaviour change projects. Lucy worked at the Castlemaine Community House for 15 years and was involved in many local projects. Growing Abundance was initiated and coordinated by Lucy in 2010 and continues to support local food security She is passionate about Nonviolent Communication and lives in deep gratitude for our natural environment.
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Claudia Lang
Claudia comes to YIMBY with a background in community development, food justice and climate activism. Whilst studying a Bachelor of International Studies (Arts), Claudia developed an interest in food sovereignty, and studied international movements to reclaim democracy in our food systems. She has coordinated various community-led food initiatives, including community gardens, children's cooking programs and 'no-waste' cooking workshops, utilising surplus produce. Claudia's attention has more recently turned to the more-than-human world that makes our food possible - gaining hands-on experience as an organic market gardener and learning about the crucial and magical role of soil in sustaining life. Claudia is inspired by projects that remind us of the collaboration and harmony that is possible between human systems and ecosystems, and beauty and abundance that can unfold in that intersection.
Reference Group
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Bill Grant
Bill Grant has worked in the environmental and waste management field for over 20 years. With a background in agricultural and environmental science, Bill has multi-disciplinary and applied knowledge of ecology, economics, business management, sociology, town planning, communications, conflict resolution and systems thinking. Bill has extensive experience on projects ranging from waste audits and small business waste management plans through to detailed strategic analysis and planning, greenhouse risk assessment and environmental management systems development.
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Katie Finlay
Katie’s a third-generation orchardist and grew up in Harcourt on the family farm, then headed to Melbourne to get a Bachelor of Science at Monash Uni majoring in botany and genetics—which came in very handy when she came home to the farm 15 years later.
After years of running Mount Alexander Fruit Garden, Katie become passionate about making abundant, free organic fruit a reality for all, using her experience of organic fruit growing to empower others.
With her partner Hugh, they operate Grow Great Fruit business and are also founding members of the Harcourt Organic Food Cooperative, turning their family farm into an innovative collaboration of diverse organic farmers, sharing land and vision.
Katie has a long history of supporting innovative farming and community initiatives and in 2015 was Victorian Rural Women's Award Winner. She has been in involved in community banking, being on the board of Maldon and Community District Bank.
The list of Katie’s achievements and involvements are too many to complete and we are incredibly honoured to have Katie on our team. Katie has always called herself a soil farmer and understands the importance of compost more than most!
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Alison Hanly
Ali is the producer and host of award winning podcast, Saltgrass.
Saltgrass is a fortnightly radio show and podcast highlighting and celebrating what people are doing about the climate crisis in their own communities.
Allie has a background in the arts and community radio. She started in radio in 2013 with a weekly arts news show co-produced with friend Robyn Walton called Art Swank, which they hosted for 3 years. She has also worked with the local aboriginal community to make Dja Dja Wurrung Radio series and has been the breakfast show host, station content producer and has worked on many other small projects at MAINfm.
Ali also worked with the Mount Alexander Sustainability Group for a number of years, designing and implementing behaviour change programs.
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Jess Drake
Jess is a neurodivergent policy researcher and environmental scientist. She has worked in policy research for Government and NGOs in areas of waste, chemicals, soil and groundwater including work for PFAS NEMP V1 and EPA Victoria Environment Reference Standard (previously SEPP Waters). I have previously undertaken research in soil and environmental science at ANU and Monash University, and worked in scientific roles for government, NGOs and industry.
Jess has a strong interest in the role that wellbeing approaches can have in transforming systems for just futures. I enjoy spending time in the dry eucalypt forest of Djaara Country and diversifying their garden.
Jess is interested in applying regenerative/wellbeing economics, environmental justice, and earth centred law in my work. I am committed to decolonisation, a path of (re)conciliation, and working to centre First Nations voices.
Jess originally started her career in soil science, and has a PhD on soil rehabilitation. She also have expertise in organic waste use on land, erosion, land management, systems thinking, and land rehabilitation/restoration. She has a passion for education, communication, open and accessible science.
Jess is a Certified Environmental Practitioner in Environmental Policy and Regulation, Soil Science and Environmental Science.
