10 years of growing together

ORGANISERS behind a local non-profit aimed at battling food insecurity and educating the region on environmentally-friendly growing practices are acknowledging a decade in operation.

October will be a busy period of celebrating for the team behind Food is Free, who will run a week-long program in anticipation of the initiative’s birthday bash.

Founder, Lou Ridsdale, said it’s surreal to be reaching the milestone.

“I’m also conscious of how long it’s taken for us to get here and of the amazing impact we’ve had which is attributed to the amazing volunteers we’ve had over the years, our board members, and everyone putting their shoulder to the wheel,” she said.

“We’re so proud of what we’ve achieved and the best bit is yet to come.”

The events will kick off on Saturday 12 October, with the first activity entailing a meet and greet with the Food is Free team at Green Space from 10am until noon.

Following a private event for past and present volunteers, Barkly Square will form the space for a mixed media exhibition detailing the past decade of the initiative.

“It’ll be a total time capsule of everything we’ve done over the years with photographs, videos, and posters,” Ms Ridsdale said.

“That’ll run from Monday 14 October through to Sunday 20 October.”

Food is Free’s two multicultural efforts, the Grow and Thrive Garden created with BRMC, and the Yarning Garden established for the region’s Indigenous communities, will both be officially launched.

The former will be via a meet and greet on Tuesday 15 October at the BRMC courtyard at 10.30am, while the latter’s launch will take place during the Sunday’s birthday bash.

Those curious about volunteering with Food is Free can get a taste of what the experience is like with a range of activities and a volunteering workshop at the Green Space on Saturday 19 October from 2pm.

The program will be capped off on the Sunday, 10.30am until 3pm, with an all-day birthday extravaganza at Barkly Square featuring special guest and ABC presenter Costa Georgiadis.

Ms Ridsdale said it’s humbling to look back on the impact the initiative has had.

“When it comes to impact management, you can go by the tonnes of organic waste we’ve captured, or by how many have benefited by the share basket,” she said.

“The true impact management is the conversations, the friendships that have been formed, the cohesion of community, and the feeling we’re all in this together.”