Every so often we will introduce you to some of our amazing volunteers who we owe so much to. This is their story...

Jane 

 1). How long have you been volunteering with Food Is Free Inc?
Just over a year
 
2). What is your favourite thing about Ballarat?
 It’s a nice change from living in Melbourne. Its slow and quiet .But I really love Food is Free. I am so lucky to of met a handful of wonderful people that are involved with FIF that I can now call my friends. It can be very lonely moving to a new town. You have welcomed me and made me feel so at home. Thank you.
 
3). Who or what inspires you?
 My kids inspire me. Nature inspires me. Daggy I know.

4). What is your favourite food?
 A BBQ with a really nice salad. Pad Thai a close second.

5). If you were a vegetable, what would you be?
Shrek said it best. “Onions have layers”. That’s me. On the outside I’m quite shy. Once you get to know me I will peel back the layers. I have no filter so am quite blunt which can offend many people. But deep inside I’m very loyal and kind. I have a big heart. My best and worst quality.

6). Do you have family, and/or pets? Describe your household.
Hectic!!!!!!!! Hubby and three kids. All on the spectrum. Kids not the hubby. So it can get quite crazy here most of the time. No one really has it together at the same time which makes things interesting. We have a Jack Russell called Molly Dog,  a cat called Maggie,  a budgie called Rigby, 3 silkies called Rhonda, Patsy and Bindi, and two green tree frogs called Rango and Tango. Its busy but I love them all and would have it no other way.
 
7). What do you do to relax?
At night I watch TV. Usually shows that I can just zone out while watching.
 
8). Do you have any hobbies?
Ceramics is my main hobby but since moving to Ballarat I’m still waiting for my studio to be built. Its been way too long so I do a bit of sewing to keep my hands busy.
 
9). What does community mean to you?
I don’t really know. I guess  the sense of belonging. A place that supports the people who live there.
 
10). If you could change one thing in the world to help the planet/humanity, what would it be? 
​Save the great barrier reef. After living on the reef many years ago and seeing how beautiful how colouful it was to how much it has changed now. Its really sad to see. Its heartbreaking. All those beautiful sea creatures losing their home.
​

Every so often we will introduce you to some of our amazing volunteers who we owe so much to. This is their story...

​Kelly.....

1). How long have you been volunteering with Food Is Free Inc?
I’ve been volunteering with FIF since May 2016.

2). What is your favourite thing about Ballarat?
Ballarat has a way of surprising you. It’s full of creative people and there are
always interesting and progressive initiatives popping up.

3). Who or what inspires you?
My parents, my partner and friends are constantly inspiring me. And the FIF
Laneway keeps me inspired in a range of ways, including my own
gardening/growing, sharing, cooking, and improving my waste management.

4). What is your favourite food?
I love all the food! But my favourite cuisine is Japanese.

5). If you were a vegetable, what would you be?
I’d be a pumpkin for sure!

6). Do you have family, and/or pets? Describe your household.
I live in Soldiers Hill with my rabbit, Olaf (who is my personal composter). My
partner Bren is a carer for his mum and is here when he can.

7). What do you do to relax?
I garden and tend to my ever-growing indoor plant collection while listening to
podcasts. I have a serious podcast and indoor plant addiction!

8). Do you have any hobbies?
I have a range of hobbies. Gardening, gardening/indoor plant blogging
(www.botanikel.wordpress.com), photography, and I have a small business
making planter pots called Brutanik.

9). What does community mean to you?
It’s people coming together from a range of backgrounds, pooling resources to
establish something sustainable.

10). If you could change one thing in the world to help the planet/humanity,
what would it be?
If we could all be more mindful of what we take (time, footprint, money,
products, fast fashion/food) and what we give. (reusing/recycling, growing,
sharing, kindness, money, time). Balancing, evaluating and taking control of the
way we live, and the impact we have on others could make epic changes.

​Here are just a few ideas to inspire you on World Environment Day. Got some suggestions? Please add your own in the comments section, we'd love to hear from you.

• Where possible use all of the veggie eg stems of broccoli are great in a soup

 

• BYO reusable cups to cafes

 

• Invest in a water tank

 

• Choose food that’s travelled less food miles. Eat seasonally

 

• Refuse plastic bags at shops/supermarket : take your own cloth bags

 

• Raise seedlings in toilet roll holders instead of plastic pots

 

• Use jars to store food instead of plastic

 

• Grow flowers that bring beneficial insects and bees into your garden

 

• Refuse straws at your local pub/café/restaurant etc

 

• Buy bamboo toothbrushes instead of plastic

 

• Collect your water when boiling veggies and use on your garden

 

• Pick up litter if you see it and bin it

 

• Purchase some reusable beeswax wraps instead of using cling wrap

 

• Put another jumper on instead of turning the heater on

 

• If you hold an event (eg birthday party etc) make it a Waste Free event

 

• Consider your choices when purchasing fashion : go for more sustainable choices.

 

• Start at compost or worm farm : if you can’t, take your veg scraps etc to a local waste depot (search on www.sharewaste.com or take to your local community garden)

 

• Don’t fill your kettle to the very top : only enough water as you need

 

• Shred your paper and compost it. Or use it for note-taking instead of buying notepads (recycled envelopes with a staple or bulldog clip make terrific note pads!)

 

• Contact the Government with your environmental views. Write letters to the editor in your local newspaper. Write emails to the producers (food, fashion, other goods) and tell them you don’t like their heavy packaging and use of plastic).

 

• Shop at op shops

 

• Visit a repair shop instead of throwing out


• Buy ugly fruit at the supermarkets

 

• Purchase goods in bulk with your own containers at Wholefood Collectives etc

 

• Ditch the car and use PT, walk or a bike

 

• Start your own community group with an environmental bent

 

• Volunteer with an environmental action group……

 

• OR start your own Food Is Free site!