If you’ve got more than you need just drop it at the Share Shed.
The Share Shed is a small cob folly on the Main Street in Strathbogie. It was built in January 2021 by Dana Coleman and some local children during the first Covid lockdown. It’s built with local mud and formed into cob walls, all materials were donated and salvaged.
Building the Share Shed was Dana’s idea of a Victory Garden. She felt it was important to have a space to enable the community to share during Covid which was keeping people isolated and preventing gatherings.
The idea is to use it as a drop off, pickup, sharing point in Bogie. So far is has been well used to share excess produce like vegies, fruit, preserves, plants, seeds and seedlings. Books, local seeds and handmade cards have been shared by so many across the tableland. It was also a drop off point for handmade hearts to show support for Afghan families and a central pickup point for clothes for Pacific Island workers in Shepparton. Children have also made jewellery to share.
There are baskets and boxes for storage and paper, cardboard and pens to label food or products.
There is also a small area that books can be left, behind the glass door. Some who leave books leave a note with why they loved it.
No money, just sharing – giving and taking in a community spirited way. It’s been lovely to see the generosity of the community through the seasons.
The Share Shed Garden means that you can harvest some seasonal treats during your visit. On occasion it is also a meeting place for others picking tomatoes, herbs and greens and weeding. Everyone is welcome to join in planting days at the share shed garden. In the Spring the beds will be planted with vegies, especially cut and come again greens, so save something you think will do well there and stay tuned for dates.
As you are planning for your Spring and then the Summer vegie gardens at home, please also think about what you grow well and plant a little extra for sharing at the Share Shed. We can all eat a huge variety of organic, locally grown produce by using the Share Shed to exchange produce.
Locals use the community Google Group Bogie Tree to let people know what they have dropped off.
The Share Shed was inspired by the Food Is Free movement, Grow Free Carts and Pay It Forward.
Food is Free: Growing Food & Community in the Front Yard! (foodisfreeproject.org)
“Never underestimate your power to inspire and affect your community around you. Even the smallest of acts can really ripple out.” – John VanDeusen Edwards, Founder of Food is Free Project