Charles Sturt University (CSU) will host the 2009 Education for Sustainability Conference at the Bathurst Campus on Friday 30 October, with a second optional day on Saturday 31 October. Conference co-organiser, Ms Jan Page, from the CSU School of Teacher Education at Bathurst, said the event will focus on how individuals and families can live more sustainably by growing food in kitchen gardens at schools and in the wider community, and is intended for educators from pre-school to tertiary level and members of the Bathurst regional community. “Food is the largest component of many individuals’ ecological footprints, so growing your own food not only helps to address health issues but also develops knowledge and skills to reduce our environmental footprint and foster sustainable living,” Ms Page said. The conference is being staged in conjunction with the Bathurst Community Climate Action Network (BCCAN), and will include a keynote address by Ms Ange Barry, CEO of the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Foundation. There will be a number of presentations, including one by Ms Rachel Conolan, a parent with children at South Bathurst Public School, speaking about the school’s community garden.