Big Heart behind grow cart

The story behind Jan Juc’s Grow Free Cart is as refreshing as the cart itself.

At 31 years of age, Ryan Ogden experienced a series of life altering strokes, and after a gruelling rehabilitation where he learnt to eat and walk again, he turned to gardening.

“About five years ago I had three strokes. I was fit and healthy, surfing most days and running my own physio practice. I had two strokes out of the blue, deathbed kind of scenario,” he said.

“I had life saving surgery and had to learn how to walk, swallow and do everything again. After a year of rehab, I had the third stroke, by far the biggest of the three and that needed more life-saving surgery.

“I wasn’t expected to get better and most people including myself didn’t think I could. I was able to claw my way back with the help of my then-girlfriend Dee who went on to become my wife.

“We have two beautiful girls now. Addis whose nearly three and Elka, four months, I can’t surf, I can’t race mountain bikes, all the fun adventurous things I use to do, but the garden is something I can do.”

Mr Ogden said he wanted an activity to share with his eldest daughter Addis and despite the use of only one hand was able to become an accomplished gardener.

“I get lots of enjoyment from it. Before the strokes our backyard was lost to Yuccas. Now we have chickens, a vegie patch, a cubby and a pizza oven we built out of the mud,” he said.

“I’m back working as a physiotherapist, but I’ve only got the energy to work three days, so I’ve got time to spend in the garden with the girls.

“People are always impressed. We had a lot left over so I went online and did some research and discovered the Grow Free initiative.”

The Grow Free initiative allows people to register a cart where people can exchange or take an abundance of organic products.

“I had a bumper of a winter crop, loads of excess and I thought I’d put a table on the street to share with neighbours. I found Grow Cart and they’ve got around 150 carts around Australia but none in Geelong or Surf Coast.

“Instead of reinventing the wheel I thought I’d contact them and become a part of the family. Facebook has made it really easy, people have dropped off lemons, strawberry plants, free range organically fed chicken eggs, it goes like hot cakes.”

Mr Ogden said it’s based on an honesty system and so far, people had continued to give more than they’ve taken.

“A lemon in the shops is $1.50 and you get someone putting 50 on the cart, it’s fantastic. I’ve met so many more people in the neighbourhood and have left the cart out overnight. It’s good for the community, good for the neighbourhood and brings people together.”

For more information find Grow Free Jan Juc on Facebook.