Sharing Food
Community Carts, Fridges + Cupboards
Grow Free Carts are a sharing idea that originated in Adelaide, to enable people to gift produce to the wider community, and for people to access what they need, with no need for reciprocation or acknowledgment.
www.facebook.com/groups/growfree
Find your nearest cart on the Grow Free Cart Map:
Or start your own cart following these simple instructions:
How to Set up A Grow Free Cart (pdf)
Grow Free Cart Guidelines (pdf)
www.abc.net.au/news/2017-06-13/growfree-community-food-sharing-program-takes-off/8605826www.shareable.net/blog/grow-free-improving-food-access-in-australia-one-cart-at-a-time
Community Fridges and Cupboards work on a similar basis to Grow Free carts – leave what you can, take what you need. There are special considerations around safety and management, particularly for items that require refrigeration.
How to Set Up a Community Fridge
www.forgerecycling.co.uk/blog/community-fridgeAbout Community Fridges
www.takepart.com/article/2015/07/03/community-fridgeLittle Free Pantry
www.littlefreepantry.orgInternational Examples
Community Fridge, Mumbai, India
www.hindustantimes.com/mumbai-news/food-for-thought-how-mumbai-s-community-fridges-are-feeding-the-needy/story-mAeNVsBIXSE4SCMP4u01KL.htmlCommunity Fridge, Auckland, NZ
www.lovefoodhatewaste.co.nz/everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-community-fridge
www.stuff.co.nz/environment/87078016/Community-fridge-installed-in-the-middle-of-Aucklands-CBDCommunity Fridge, Galdakao, Spain
www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jun/25/solidarity-fridge-spanish-town-cut-food-waste-galdakao
www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2015/08/13/431960054/to-cut-food-waste-spains-solidarity-fridge-supplies-endless-leftoversCommunity Fridge, Brixton, UK
www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/community-fridge-food-waste-cut-brixton-open-south-london-lambeth-peoples-fridge-a7583821.html
www.positive.news/2017/society/26135/10-lessons-month-1-londons-first-community-fridgeCommunity Fridge, Frome, UK
www.wehatetowaste.com/community-fridge-frome-food-waste/Community Cupboard, Winnigpeg, US
www.shareable.net/blog/couple-builds-community-cupboard-in-one-of-winnipegs-poorest-neighborhoodsFood Swaps
Food swaps are events where people get together at an agreed location, date and time to share and swap locally grown surplus backyard produce through gifting or exchange. Dozens of food swaps operate across Adelaide and South Australia. Check with your local swap directly about how it is run.
How to Set Up and Run a Food Swap
Guide to establishing and running a food swap produced by the City of Charles Sturt and based on the experience of the West Croydon swap: mcp.charlessturt.sa.gov.au/emags/fruit&veg/files/assets/basic-html/toc.html
Food Exchange Facebook Groups
There are Facebook groups where you can access and directly exchange or trade surplus food, including:
Food is Free
www.facebook.com/groups/1583812885202985Adelaide Community Food Network
www.facebook.com/groups/foodinthebellyYou can also find, or list excess produce on RipeNear Me
www.ripenear.meInternational Examples
In Todmorden UK, citizens have mapped all the backyard egg producers:
Todmorden Egg Map
How to Host a Babyfood Swap
Community Gardens
Community gardens are organised by keen gardeners who either don't have their own space to garden, or who like to garden socially. A typical garden is productive, with a variety of foods being grown, though non-edible plants may also be part of a garden. Different gardens have different norms and expectations, such as how space, costs and what is grown is shared. Community gardens contribute to food security in cities and towns by producing food locally.
Growing Community: Starting and Nurturing Community Gardens - How to Start a Community Garden
www.communitycentressa.asn.au/documents/item/26
Australian City Farms and Community Gardens Network
www.communitygarden.org.au
Edible Gardens Discovery Circle
www.discoverycircle.org.au/projects/edible-gardens/
Australian Examples
Verge Gardens, Brisbane City Council (QLD)
www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/brisbane-city-council-guidelines-allow-residents-to-plant-gardens-along-footpath-20160830-gr4syt.html
Verge Gardens, Bayswater Council, Perth (WA)
www.watoday.com.au/wa-news/get-out-there-and-do-it-perth-council-ditches-street-verge-rulebook-20170226-gulpuh.html
Verge Garden Guidelines, Bayswater Council, Perth
www.bayswater.wa.gov.au/cproot/7347/2/Verge-Greening-Guidelines-24022017.pdfVerge Garden Guidelines, City of Brisbane
www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/environment-waste/natural-environment/plants-trees-gardens/verge-gardens
Verge Gardens, Sunshine Coast (QLD)
www.abc.net.au/news/2016-04-22/food-street-feeding-off-the-kerbside-creates-close-community/7343456
