Produce swap a community affair

A produce swap born out of a Sunbury resident’s plenty continues to grow.

Polly Woodward started Harvest Sunbury almost 18 months ago, eager to share her homegrown fruit and vegetables and ensure nothing went to waste.

The monthly event proved so popular that its scope was expanded to include other items such as eggs, seeds, probiotics and seedlings.

Ms Woodward, who last year took part in Hume council’s Enviro Champions program, says that while fresh produce is attraction enough for some, for many the swap is about making connections.

“It’s as much about meeting other gardeners as it is about getting produce,” she says. “It’s great to watch people connecting. It’s real community.”

Between 25 and 30 people are attending the free swap at Sunbury Community Garden every month, up from an average of 15 earlier this year.

Ms Woodward said children were welcome to take part in the council-supported initiative, with a ‘‘little green thumbs’’ gardening club having been added to the event’s line-up to keep small hands busy.

Harvest Sunbury is held at the community garden, on the corner of Rolling Meadows Drive and Melbourne-Lancefield Road, from 10am on the last Saturday of every month.

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