FOOD SWAPS are venues where home grown, community garden grown and
The Urban Orchard at Clarence Park Community Centre. Photo: Joel Catchlove, www.flickr.com/photos/donkeycart
gleaned surpluses can be swapped and shared.
Food swaps in South Australia:
CLARENCE PARK
The Urban Orchard
The first South Australian homegrown and gleaned produce swap was held on Saturday 3 November 2008, at the Clarence Park Community Centre. The Urban Orchard is a homegrown fruit and vegetable exchange, enjoying a brisk trade and much discussion over the morning.
The Urban Orchard is based on the exchange of backyard fruit and vegetable surplus. Participation is open to everyone, and participants are invited to take produce when they can use it, and contribute when they can.
The Urban Orchard is an initiative of Friends of the Earth Adelaide and the Goodwood Goodfood Co-op.
When: 10.00am-12noon, first Saturday of the month.
Location: Clarence Park Community Centre, 72-74 East Avenue, Black Forest
Contact: Joel 0403 886 951, joel.catchlove [at] foe.org.au
GAWLER
Urban Orchard
Location: Gawler Community House, 2 Scheibener Terrace (old ETSA depot).
Description: A group of community volunteers is transforming an old ETSA depot site adjacent the river into food production. Includes fruit trees, herbs, and vegetables. Links with Gawler Urban Orchard. Regular program of workshops and proposed art projects. New people always welcome, no experience necessary.
Open: Monday to Friday 9am – 3pm, first Saturday of the month 9am –12noon.
Contact: Jill Talbot 08 8522 4601 or 0408 084 129 gawlerch[at]bigpond.com
HENLEY BEACH
Henley Community Garden
Location: In the grounds of Henley High School to the west of the oval. Best entrance is via Cluse Street gate.
Description: Henley Community Garden is a collaborative project between an eclectic group of community gardeners and permaculturalists and Henley High School.
Combination of individual, communal and school plots. Communal orchards. Planning workshop program and permaculture courses. There are many ways to get involved — come and learn, organise or share your skills.
The garden also provides a venue for the fortnightly Henley Fruit and Veg swap, contact henley.fruit.and.veg.swap[at]gmail.com
Open: Access to the garden is available out of school hours. Meetings 11am on the first Saturday of the month (weather permitting in the garden). Interested gardeners welcome.
Contact: Deslie Gould jonk[at]three.com.au 08 8235 9926 or Jane MacArthur janemacarthur[at]ymail.com 08 8356 2613.
WEST CROYDON
Community Fruit & Vege Swap
10.00 – 10.30 am, Saturdays weekly from 9 January 2010.
Independently run by local residents
Location: Carnarvon Reserve, West Croydon (access from Carnarvon Parade, via Torrens Road, or from Rosetta Street or Brown Street).
Contact: www.myspace.com/vegeswap for more information.
Stay tuned for another homegrown fruit and vegetable exchange starting in Victor Harbor soon!
Start your own Urban Orchard
Communities around Australia are adapting the Urban Orchard concept to meet their unique local needs. Go to here to download Starting a homegrown fruit and vegetable exchange in your community, a do-it-yourself guide based on our own experiences starting a produce exchange, and some things you might like to consider.
We love to hear about new projects starting up, so let us know about your plans! Contact Joel 0403 886 951, joel.catchlove [at] foe.org.au
August 1, 2010 at 11:17 am
Hi Joel
I was really interested to find your group.
I live in a cottage flat in the housing trust – we have some big open front gardens which have been planted by the Housing Trust with plants that are hardy but not at all productive – my neighbour(75) and I have just made some frames to make raised beds. The sand here is about 4 feet and probably more deep than that.
We are trying to get the other residents interested in growing our own vegies in the space we have. So far, they are watching in interest!
It would be great of course to have the space enclosed in some way because of course any one walking by could help themselves once we get to producing things.
I would love to find ways of getting organic material for the garden – any ideas that doesn’t cost much (we are all pensioners)
Kind regards Sally
August 2, 2010 at 6:45 am
Hi Sally,
Thanks for getting in touch! It sounds like an excellent project.
There are a few possibilities for getting organic material that I can think of off the top of my head. One would be to start a compost pile or compost bin and add scraps from yourself and your neighbour’s kitchens. This could also be a great way of inviting other residents to get involved – you could put a little bin or crate in your front yard that they can dump compost material in and then you can move it to the pile to break down. You might also consider asking your local lawn-mowing service if they would like to donate their lawn clippings to your compost!
Another source is the Morphettville Racecourse. The stables surrounding the Racecourse often leave horse manure in sacks out on the footpath for people to take. Horse manure does require composting before use on the garden however, so add that to the pile and let it break down.
Local gardening guru Harry Harrison is running a workshop on composting at the Glandore Community Garden on Saturday 7 August, which might be worth going to for more information and ideas. It’s part of the Marion Learning Festival. Visit this website for more information and to book: http://www.marion.sa.gov.au/site/page.cfm?u=439
Good luck, and feel free to get in touch (joel.catchlove[at]foe.org.au) if you have any other questions.
August 7, 2010 at 10:03 am
HI,
I have quite a big block and would like to offer the back yard, or the front for that matter, to groups who want to grow veges and maybe even keep chooks there. I can’t do it much myself but would love to offer the space. I can’t do much myself and to be honest, don’t feel motivated to do it alone.
I wonder if anyone is interested?
Lyn
September 8, 2011 at 9:14 pm
Need to add the Brompton/Bowden Food Swap to the list….every SAt at 10am at Parfitt sq drayton st Bowden.