They came with baskets of homegrown produce and left with baskets bursting with other’s fresh food and new ideas at Warrnambool’s inaugural produce exchange on Saturday.
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The CWA hall tables were filled with fresh, brightly-coloured produce, including herbs, fruit and vegetables and eggs which the more than 60 attendees shared and swapped
Organiser Sandy Vanrenen said the morning was exactly how she’d had envisioned it.
Ms Vanrenen came up with the idea after attending the Koroit Community Produce Swap which has been running for almost two years.
“It takes it back to a community level of caring and sharing and I thought we should have one in Warrnambool,” she said.
No money changes hands at the monthly event, which is auspiced by the Warrnambool CWA.
Dennington’s Ruth and James Damman brought rosemary, rhubarb, tarragon and radicchio from their kitchen garden and left with onions, tomatoes, potatoes and apples.
“We’ve been going to the Koroit one. It’s such a great idea. You get lots of gardening tips too,” Ms Damman said.
“It’s lovely to cook with and everything is locally produced. It’s not going to Melbourne and back, and it shows what we can do.”
Warrnambool’s Barbara Skilbeck selected rhubarb from the table which she plans to use to make jam for the first time.
“There’s something about growing your own food. It’s fresh, it’s pollution free, it’s healthy and you get out in the fresh air. It’s a wonderful hobby to have,” Mrs Skilbeck said.
“It’s a great idea. I don’t want money for my food but for others to get the benefit of it. It’s wonderful.”
Warrnambool mayor Kylie Gaston said it was a great initiative.
There’s something about growing your own food. It’s fresh, it’s pollution free, it’s healthy and you get out in the fresh air. It’s a wonderful hobby to have.
- Barbara Skilbeck
“The fact that we’re here as a community, sharing beautiful produce from our region just ticks so many boxes for me; of health and sustainability and eating well,” she said.
It’s on the first Saturday of the month from 10am to 11am.
For more information contact 0409 185 066.