In my first post one of the things I highlighted was the inability of some to buy food that doesn't support destructive farming practices. So in this post I'll talk about some ways that people have tried to address this.
When a meal comes together and it didn't cost money!
Guerrilla Gardening:
When I started looking into how we could get good organic food to all, I was pleasantly surprised to find some initiatives already gaining traction. First I heard about Ron Finley, the guerrilla gardener. He started growing food on the verge outside his house, when he got fed up of having to drive for 45 minutes just to be able to buy an apple that wasn't covered in toxic substances. Many people in his area didn't even have this option because they couldn't afford to do this. It's a fantastic story that has grown in more ways than one and hasn't been without it's fights, but now his neighbourhood is a food growing community, growing wherever they can find some soil. The food is there for everyone and the etiquette is, if you pull something out plant something else in its place.
Grow Free:
Closer to home for me is the Grow Free initiative started by Andrew barker in South Australia.
One of the Grow Free carts in Adelaide
Andrew came up with the idea of having a cart where growers could share seeds, seedlings and excess produce in order to help others start up gardens and swap good, healthy produce. It would be available to everyone to take whatever they needed whether or not they had something to give in return. He started out with a Facebook group with tips on setting up your own cart and a list quickly started growing of carts across South Australia, spreading to Melbourne and then interest in the concept came in from other countries. Recently a website has also been set up so even if you don't want to touch Facebook you can keep up to date with where all the carts are.
These carts are enabling people to reach out in so many ways to others, whether it's like minded people or people in need. However, Grow Free is about more than just the carts as Andrew so often says. He also rallies volunteers to cook for people in need at a salvation army cafe.
At the time of writing this website is still a work in progress, but still with a look: http://www.grow-free.org/
Food is Free:
The first mention I heard of the Food is Free concept was when someone asked me if I'd heard of the Food is Free Laneway in Ballarat, Victoria, Australia. This is an access way between houses where locals have got together and they fill up racks with produce, seeds, seedlings and plants for anyone to use. They even have a tumbling composter where people can bring any organic waste to be composted. Lots of volunteers keep everything organised in all weather.
See their Facebook page here.
When you've got surplus growing why not share it?
Like Andrew, the Food is Free project seems to run on the belief that food should be as free as the air we breathe and like the air we shouldn't have to endure it polluted.
Read more about the project here.
The Pros and Cons
I love everything about all of these projects and as they continue to expand they should come within reach of more and more people. It's something anyone can do, just reach out to neighbours and friends and share. We shouldn't have to pay to live and we shouldn't have to eat chemical laden food to live if we can't afford real food. The reason for hunger is not lack of food in the world, it's a lack of the ability of some to pay for it.
They bring fresh seasonal produce back to us and nothing from supermarkets tastes better than that. Unfortunately we are a culture used to getting what we want, whenever we want. Will seasonal ever be enough for some? Seasonal can also mean lean periods, especial in areas where you can't grow year round. My concern with this is that people will feel they then have to turn back to cheap chemical covered foods to fill in the gaps. Although I suppose for some growers with enough space a greenhouse could help extend growing seasons.
The last note is that this addresses the plant side of food, but apart from eggs occasionally, not the animal side of food as due to their perishable nature and the risks of food poisoning they are not something you want to be risking leaving out in these sorts of situations. So while projects like this have the potential to make a huge impact on how our fruits and vegetables are farmed, they don't have much, if any, impact on the animal farming industry.
You can read my first post on this subject here:
https://steemit.com/homesteading/@minismallholding/taking-back-control-of-our-food-production-what-s-already-being-done
You can also find us on:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/minismallholding/
Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/minismallholding/
YouTube: https://m.youtube.com/channel/UCBwcsmyIkW_hIEJdLUSd44g
sadly, here in the U.S we have more of the problem of folks not caring if their food is clean, ignorance prevails and to grow a garden would take work. We are among the few in our area who really care or bother to care. Even after cancer strikes families they still refuse to give up their junk...sad really
on a happy note ...Peace and Joy!
Melissa
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
It can make you feel a bit defeated sometimes can't it? It's similar here too if you talk to the people around you. It's only the internet through social media where we're managing to connect with similar people here, but we are often far apart. The connection does help you to realise you're not entirely alone though.
Unfortunately some people don't want to be helped. Junk food is addictive and for some addiction is too hard to fight.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
so very true @joearnold
I know someone who NEVER EVER cleans the fruits and vegetables she gets from the grocery store and produce department. Makes me shutter!
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
There are some groups set up in the states for hunters and fishers to donate their catch to food pantries (since a food pantry usually has some refrigeration). Of course, getting help from a pantry is different, there are often qualifications or church-related "you must be preached to in order to eat," or there is a stigma attached to going there, or you can only go at certain times and you work or something at that time. Also, having used a pantry a couple of times, there is almost never any protein and it's mostly processed junk food I couldn't eat with all my food allergies. But. Some people do try and get them fresh veg (there is also a group called produce for pantries where you can donate from your garden), and the hunter/fisher group, and such.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Its a shame these things can come with strings attached, but a good idea all the same. A possible step towards being able to provide perishables for others. Do you know if the meat is prepared (ie: gutted) first or if its something the one who takes it had to do? I know there can be a lot of regulations in that area if you are giving/selling food to the public.
It's a shame about the processed foods too. I guess some are just glad to get what they can, but like you say, for some the additives can make them very ill. That's why I'm on a bit of a mission to get real food to everyone.
Thank you so much for your input.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Yeah, as far as i know they have to gut it and whatnot because most people nowadays don't have those skills.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
This post received a 20% vote by @mrsquiggle courtesy of @choogirl from the Minnow Support Project ( @minnowsupport ). Join us in Discord.
Upvoting this comment will help support @minnowsupport.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Great post, really inspirational! I wonder if there is anything similar in the UK, brilliant idea for us growers who end up with mountains of one thing!
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
The beauty of the Grow Free and Food is Free is that anyone anywhere can start some like it up. Even simply sharing with your neighbours is a good way to start making connections I've found. I'm not the most confident of people, so our extra eggs were a good way to reach out.
I heard about a shared food fridge in London I think. So the concept is certainly happening, if only to avoid food wastage.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Interesting groups and organizations you have brought to the forefront.
Usually when I have more than I can use, I call up family members and give away. But it's nice to see actual organizations that work towards the common goal of feeding others with one's surplus!
@originalworks
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
The @OriginalWorks bot has determined this post by @minismallholding to be original material and upvoted it!
To call @OriginalWorks, simply reply to any post with @originalworks or !originalworks in your message!
To enter this post into the daily RESTEEM contest, upvote this comment! The user with the most upvotes on their @OriginalWorks comment will win!
For more information, Click Here!
Special thanks to @reggaemuffin for being a supporter! Vote him as a witness to help make Steemit a better place!
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Sometimes even with family and neighbours I can struggle to distribute the surplus! Lol
The people who have started these projects seem to have such huge hearts. They put so much work into helping those around them and those in need. It's a little way for everyone to be able to try a chip away at farming methods they don't like and more chance to eat good food.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
There's definitley some good schemes around to share the wealth
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit
Yes. I'd love to see more things in Adelaide like Ron Finley's verge gardening or the Ballarat laneway. It sounds like Andrew has something bigger going where he is, but it's a bit of a travel for us.
Downvoting a post can decrease pending rewards and make it less visible. Common reasons:
Submit