Calling all ‘green thumbs’

The Latrobe Health Assembly is seeking community feedback and expressions of interest on a potential new program to harvest excess home grown fruit and distribute it throughout our community.

The concept could see volunteers working with residents to pick fruit that would otherwise end up rotting in the garden, or that had to be raked up and thrown out. Volunteers or existing organisations could then preserve the fruit and/or distribute it fresh throughout the community via FoodBanks, local “community pantries” and other food distribution points.

This project aims to make use of home grown produce that is currently wasted to help address food security issues within the Latrobe Valley, promote social inclusion through the interaction between homeowners and the volunteer pickers and develop community pride by sharing healthy fruit and vegies throughout the community.

The Latrobe Health Assembly would like to hear what the community thinks about the concept at the individual or household level.

Health Assembly Executive Officer Ian Needham said: “We are keen to hear from people who have excess fruit and other produce that could be picked and shared. As well we are interested in working with people who have a bit of a “green thumb” who might be able to help others with occasional tree maintenance or those who want to help with preserving and other distribution.

“There is an opportunity to share the food, for example by having part of the produce stay with the property resident, some to the volunteers and some distributed to others. That could be a win-win for all involved.”

To provide your feedback, register your interest to participate or simply show your support for the project, please visit www.speakup.healthassembly.org.au and click on the ‘Community Fruit Trees’ button. You can also comment on our Facebook page www.facebook.com/latrobehealthassembly or email directly to info@healthassembly.org.au.

The Community Fruit Trees project is another example of how the Latrobe Health Assembly is using grass roots community action to connect and support our community.