Crowd Farming: Garden for ANZACs Unprecedented times call for Unprecedented measures. Victory gardens! We are in a battle against an unseen virus. Planting a garden, just as Europeans did post WW2, will feed your family confined to home all through the winter time. It will also be packed with nutrients to keep a family strong. In fact, a home vegetable garden may produce enough that you are able to share with neighbours who find themselves in self isolation for 2 weeks, or have lost their jobs. In the years just after WW2, all allied nations encouraged all citizens with land, to dig up their lawns and plant a food garden.  These were called 'Victory Gardens'. I recall my English Grandparents telling me that those with homes, dug up their lawns to plant food to give to those whose homes had been bombed. Australian governments planted apple and plumb trees in the nature strips so that those without food would have something. It was ANZACS that did this for us, now it's time to do it for them. We now face a time where millions of Australians are loosing their jobs. While there are measures in place to increase financial social security supports, the generosity of those of us that can garden will lift spirits, build community and feed the hungry. It's time to dig up our lawns and plant for neighbourhoods. Plant for yourself, your family, your churches, your sports clubs and your neighbourhood if you can. Please wear gloves and a filtered gardening mask while harvesting and delivering any donation in the 2020 season. Only do so if you are well, and have sufficient crop for yourself as we live as if on a wartime footing. So this Crowd Farming is in honour of the ANZAC spirit. People are already getting onto social media and talking about their hardships, so if we can grow, we may save a life. Stay well everyone! Maintain social distancing. The Obama's did it while in presidency: https://www.sgaonline.org.au/victory-gardens/ This Youtube video is fairly good. https://www.google.com/search… If you are a novice, it is best to plant in raised beds and buy good quality potting mix, as any residuals in the soil may poison the crop, and then the consumer. Raised beds, wicking beds, and pots are a great looking way to get produce. If you are a gardener, plant double this season - for your neighbours! By the time the crop is ready, public restrictions may have been relaxed. Otherwise, leaving crop in 'Grow Free' carts, neighbourhood houses, and 'Little Street Libraries' or 'Little Street Pantries' will be options. For a full list of Grow Free Carts can be found here: http://www.growfree.org.au/ Find seeds here:https://www.diggers.com.au/ Enjoy the sunshine, while it lasts  Facebook Page:  https://www.facebook.com/tinytrowel/ Planting food for neighbours who may have suddenly fallen on hard times. So we plant in our own backyards for a later date. Financial hardship impacts individuals and families for at least 2 years. Any home planting now, is for the long haul in all our local neighbourhoods.

Crowd Harvest: Tomatoes for Easter Amended Crowd Harvest: Tomatoes for Easter The Prime Minister has announced more levels of social isolation in the battle against COVID 19. We are now advised against going out in public unless it is for an essential service. Any excess tomatoes can be dried, made into passatta sauce, chutney or treated as "sotto olio". Dried: https://www.food.com/recipe/make-your-own-sun-dried-tomatoes-oven-dehydrator-or-sun-263929 Under Oil: https://www.food.com/recipe/italian-oven-dried-tomatoes-in-olive-oil-68023 Passata: https://www.delicious.com.au/recipes/tomato-passata/gOyOAkHb Chutney: https://www.taste.com.au/recipes/tomato-chutney-2/8olmph7n If then you find people near you are isolated in their homes and unable to go and get groceries, you will have a home abundance to share while they pass through self isolation. If you choose to do this, then please wear gloves and a gardening mask, to deliver, leave outside the door and alert the recipient to collect once you have left the premises. There are Grow Free Carts in some communities. If you exit the home for essential services only, and one of these carts is on your route, you may like to leave some there for your community. Please wear gloves and a mask if you choose to do this. Please follow all government advisors in your jurisdictions. Individual excess = Community abundance During 2020, you may like to donate excess to a neighbour in need or unwell. Please wear gloves and a filtered gardening mask while harvesting and delivering any donation in the 2020 season. Only do so if you are well, and have sufficient crop for yourself as we live as if on a wartime footing. Stay well everyone! Worm Farms Worm Farms Can be purchased at most Bunnings stores. Worms can take care of kitchen scraps, and generate great fertiliser for your food garden, while reducing the affects of gases on the environment. https://products.tumbleweed.com.au/collections/worm-farming Don't Waste The Crumbs Many vegetables bought at stores can regrow at home.  Have a look at this website for more details: https://dontwastethecrumbs.com/regrow-food-water/