FOR Rita O’Sullivan, when it comes to fruit and vegetables, fresh is best. A passionate advocate of home-grown produce, the Hoppers Crossing resident despairs at the sight of fallen fruit rotting on the ground and going to waste.
With this in mind, she established the Wyndham Community Food and Garden Swap.
Held on the first Sunday of the month in Werribee, backyard growers are encouraged to bring along their fresh produce, jams, preserves, herbs, breads, plants or even recipes to trade with like-minded others.
Ms O’Sullivan said the event, which began last year, proved so popular a second swap was launched in Point Cook with a third, in Tarneit, to be added early next year.
“The atmosphere is very casual, it’s like a community gathering and families bring picnics and stay into the afternoon,” she said.
“It’s not just about fruit and vegetables, we’ve had people come along with coffee grounds, which are great to use on the garden as snail repellent. There are no hard and fast rules, but there’s no money involved, it’s about passionate, like-minded people coming together to share their produce, tips, ideas and recipes.”
Ms O’Sullivan said the meets operated on a trust basis, with fair and balanced exchanges the key.
The back-to-basics approach has been embraced by the public, with similar meets popping up across Victoria. “The concept of sustainablity and healthy living is growing and it’s something people are really embracing,” she said.
“I love my herbs and have chickens, and I also make jams and relishes, so I would be happy to swap some free-range eggs for something like figs, because I don’t have the space at home for large fruit trees.”
Other non-edible items such as worm castings, jam jars, seedlings and plant cuttings could also be swapped. “Some people come down with nothing to swap, but they might have baked a cake or have copies of their favourite recipe to share. There’s a real community spirit. If somebody is having trouble building a chicken coop or removing a tree stump, there’s usually somebody willing to help.”
Swaps will be held from 10-11am on October 28 at Kingsford Reserve, Kingsford Drive, Point Cook and November 4 at Mambourin Gardens, Recreation Close, Werribee. Details: 0418469598 or ritaosullivan@bigpond.com.
— Cameron Tait
