Matchmaking service for gardeners to launch Australia wide in early 2011
Early next year Landshare Australia will be launching to provide a social networking service that introduces people with spare land to others wanting to grow fruit and vegetables, but with nowhere to do it.
“Public concern for ‘food miles’, mounting food prices and a desire to get back to old fashioned flavour has generated a dramatic rise in people wanting to grow their own fruit and vegetables,” says gardening ‘guru’ Phil Dudman who is one of a small team launching the service.
“But as the movement grows, backyards in Australia are getting smaller leaving thousands of would-be revolutionaries yearning for a piece of dirt on which to grow. That’s where Landshare Australia comes in,” says Phil.
The key to its success will be the website and Landshare Australia is looking for supporters to help spread the word and sponsors to help it all happen.
“We plan to make Landshare Australia one of the leading websites for any Australian gardener not only providing the matchmaking service, but allowing them to chat with other growers, get the very best growing advice from our veg doctors and download ‘how to’ guides,” says Phil.
“With community support it will succeed and we’re hoping that with corporate support we can make it happen across Australia even faster!”
Landshare Australia is based upon the hugely successful Landshare UK website launched last year by celebrity chef and ethical food warrior Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall (River Cottage). The UK site is booming with over 57,000 growers, landowners and helpers registered to date and still growing. The UK team are also advising on the development of the Australian site.
Landshare Australia will launch its website in February 2011 where people can register and post their particular need for a space to grow or offer land to share with interested gardeners. A website search will provide a selection of matches, contact is then made, terms are agreed and then growing gets going.
“The usual arrangement is that the gardener provides the landowner with a share of their produce so everyone wins. It’s that easy.”
“Obviously though, we will need participants on ‘both sides of the fence’ – we need people who have large backyard, hobby farms or rural properties to register as well as those who want to get a vegie garden going. We also need helpers, people who are not seeking land, but can offer help in some way, from answering gardeners questions online to helping out on the plot itself, ” adds Phil.
Phil Dudman’s own ‘patch’, the Northern Rivers, is the first area in Australia to launch Landshare Australia with participants already sharing in its first trial.
“It is working well and we look forward to getting the word out to the rest of Australia from February 2011 onwards when the website is fully operational.
In the meantime people can register at the website www.landshareaustralia.com.au ”
Phil explains the concept more and outlines opportunities on Youtube. For more information, discuss opportunities to be involved or for interviews:
Phil Dudman:
Email: phil@landshareaustralia.com.au
Phil Dudman is a gardening talkback radio host on the ABC Local Radio network, TV presenter, gardening author for ABC books and a regular contributor to popular gardening magazines. He is also a passionate advocate for organic gardening and the ‘grow your own’ movement. www.phildudman.com