More growing room for Spring!

Every year, in the lead up to Spring, gardeners start plotting and planning how they can gain more room to grow. We’ve put together some ideas to help you maximise your space and ensure that you’re growing (and therefore eating) responsibly.  Spring is only 5 sleeps away!
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Grow your own pineapples from tops 🍍

Did you know that pineapples contain a compound called bromelain and eating a fresh pineapple full of bromelain induces a feeling of well being? We all know that homegrown tastes even better so why not try your hand at propagating your own from tops?
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Pocket City Farms Swap – 8 April, 2017

This month’s swap was all about citrus.  The amount of fruit brought along meant that bags and bags were donated to The Food Pantry who kindly distributed it to those in need.
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Permaculture Sydney North Swap – 6 March, 2017

Crop Swap Sydney was proud to collaborate with Permculture Sydney North for a special evening swap.  At the mothly meetings Laurie, Crop Swap’s founder, discussed the Crop Swap idea, its evolution, some of the weird and wonderful items that have been exchanged and its involvement with permaculture.

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107 Rooftop Swap & Free Workshops – March 3, 2017

Last Sunday we swapped on the 107 Rooftop, an inspiring rooftop permaculture garden in the middle of Redfern.  Some people walked with their bounty from just up the road, while others travelled from Bexley, Arncliffe, Blacktown, Maroubra, Denstone and Naremburn.

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Lane Cove Family Swap – Feb 25, 2017

For our first Lane Cove swap we partnered with Lane Cove Council for a very special family event. The Living and Learning Centre was a great venue on a rainy Saturday morning and produce was aplenty.  We’re always excited to hear where and how people are growing and on this occasion spoke to swappers from[…]

Manly Vale Crop Swap & Native Honey Tasting – Jan 15, 2017

This event signified our first on Sydney’s Northern Beaches and visitors came from far and wide.  One family even travelled from near Hurstville to swap with us! On arrival, their arms brimmed with huge pesticide free zucchinis, flavoursome onions and freshly harvested beetroot.
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Carlingford Permaculture Crop Swap – Dec 3, 2016

On December 3rd we managed to squeeze one last afternoon swap in before the silly season set in.  Set under a marquee in the beautifully planned garden of a Permaculture Sydney North member, attendees sipped refreshing homemade cordial (made using garden ingredients), tips and recipes were exchanged, and the owner conducted a tour.  The garden buzzed with blue banded bees, new figs were spotted, hot rasperries were eaten straight from the bush and all marveled at the beautiful pomegranates on their way.
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Our Vegepod Winner!

Last month, to get Spring started, we teamed up with Vegepod to give Crop Swap Sydney members the chance to win a Vegepod starter kit.  The competition required entrants to share a garden pest control tip with the community, and they did!  There were companion planting anecdotes, recipes and homemade deterrents galore. With almost 100 entries it was difficult to choose just one winner.
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Berowra Crop Swap – Nov 6, 2016

Join us at Club Berowra as we swap on the newly renovated Sky deck.  Meet locals, exchange recipes and chat about growing tips over tea and coffee. This venue is very family friendly with plenty of space and children’s play areas to keep everyone entertained.  A kids menu is also available should you wish to[…]

Pocket City Farms Swap – Nov 5, 2016

We’re excited to announce that our first Inner West crop swap will be held at Pocket City Farms at Camperdown Commons. Come along and swap in the grounds of the former bowling greens which have now been transformed into a 1200m2 market garden. These are accompanied by 180m2 of community food forest, a chicken coop,[…]

Cook Your Crop: Leah’s Mulberry Cobbler

Beautiful, bountiful mulberry trees are a Sydney institution and a favourite amongst kids and adults alike.  The only problem is that when the berries are in season they can be picked in bucket loads.  Here, one Crop Swap Sydney member shares her recipe for Mulberry Cobbler with us, using her homegrown berries. She says that it is perfect for school lunches and can also be eaten cold or frozen. Enjoy.
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Moss House Sustainable Swap – Sept 11, 2016

Last weekend Moss House opened to the public for Sustainable House Day, and served as the venue for our first swap of the  season.  This property is a great example of a working permaculture garden on a suburban scale, and was an inspiration for many members who were able to see elements of sustainable permaculture food garden design in action.
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The Sprouting of Crop Swap Sydney

Amongst other things, I am, and have always been an AVID veggie gardener. It’s a consistency in life that is a simple pleasure, a skill, a knowledge base and a way of life that feeds (literally) into the way we operate on a daily basis.

Growing is not a job for me, (that is something a little more pedestrian unfortunately) but it has always been in the background.  In the past I have been involved in community gardens, have created a crazy edible garden in a carpeted Kings Cross apartment (more on that another time) and am a follower of permaculture principles. […]