Landshare

Landshare Australia is 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’ and founding member, Phil Dudman.

But as the shift towards grow-your-own gains momentum, 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.

“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.

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.

People can register at the website.