With roots in South Australia, the Grow Free cart movement has spread around the country and overseas.

The Sustainable Activity Centre volunteer Sharon Potocnik said under the concept people put their excess homegrown produce on a cart for others to swap or simply use.

“The movement started in Adelaide but it’s grown exponentially in Australia and overseas,” she said.

Mrs Potocnik said the concept was different to other food sharing already happening on the Border.

She said Albury Wodonga Regional FoodShare supplied largely emergency food relief while community food swaps ran monthly in particular communities.

“The difference with the Grow Free cart is that it’s perpetual and always there in the daylight hours,” she said.

“Anyone can put food on the cart and take it off; you might have too much spinach or even a big crop of lemons.

“If people are in food stress, they can just take from the cart.”

Mrs Potocnik said individuals, neighbours and friends, schools and organisations could start a food swapping cart.

She said they were hosting information sessions to inform people about the movement.

“We want to let people know that it’s simple to do,” Mrs Potocnik said.

“We want to give people knowledge and empower them to go out and do it.”

Mrs Potocnik said the Grow Free carts in high-traffic areas had the best response rates.

“People can scrounge around for a baby change table and get the kids to paint it up,” she said.

“Old barbecue trolleys work well too; others build structures that are quite amazing.”

Information sessions about the Grow Free cart movement will be held on May 31 from 10.30am to 11.30am at The Sustainable Activity Centre, Lincoln Causeway, Wodonga, and June 2 from 2pm to 3pm at Thurgoona Neighbourhood Centre. 

Join the Grow Free Albury-Wodonga Facebook page to follow where carts will be in future.

There is already a cart at the Birallee Park Neighbourhood House in Wodonga and another at the Global Village Community Co-operative, Mate Street, Lavington.