In
order to survive on this planet, human beings need 3 basic things; air,
food, and water. If someone were to start charging us for the air we
breathe, we would think that they were absolutely crazy, but paying for
food daily we don’t even think twice. Why is it that we have to pay for
what is produced naturally by our Mother Earth? Why is it that human
beings are the only species who have to pay to eat and pay for shelter?
Have you ever asked yourself those fundamental questions?
In his TedX Talk, Andrew Barker, Growtester and author for Collective Evolution, raises these questions and more, as he shares his message about what him and his group, Grow Free,
are aiming to achieve. Their goal? Simple. To give away for FREE any
extra food that they are growing in their own personal gardens. Giving
away food for free might sound crazy to some as our minds are so
conditioned to be in constant survival mode, someone had to work hard to
grow that food, if it’s given away for free, how will they ever be
repaid for their hard work? We might think that when there is an
abundance of food grown, it goes to waste. How crazy is it that there
are people who are starving and we have millions of tons of food being
thrown in the garbage every year?
Andrew started Grow Free about 4 years
ago when he began giving away seedlings in his backyard, and people
began coming not only for the seedlings, but to ask how they could help.
From there they planted a bunch of sunflower seedlings in newspaper
pots and walked down the streets and handed them out to people, for
free. Of course, most people are shocked and perhaps a little bit
skeptical to receive things for free, but this, of course, is no reason
not to do something.
How Does It Work?
This project involves setting up carts
around the city and offering any kind of food, but generally locally
grown produce, to anyone who might need it, or just want it. Not
everyone grows the same crops, so it’s a good opportunity for neighbours
to share the fruits of their labour with one another, and with those
who don’t have the means to have their own gardens.
As
Andrew says: “The carts are a medium where people of the community can
share with one another, they’re for excess homegrown produce, seeds and
seedlings, preserves, eggs, etc.
They’re a
great way for people to give back, to show that they care about others
and this community. Being that we don’t really get to see who picks up
what we put down on them, there’s also a spiritual element to them; a
way to serve the community without need for reciprocation or
acknowledgement.”
Grow
Free now consists of well over one hundred carts set up all around
Southern Australia, in just a matter of a few short years. We can all
help and support each other, this is a great message and example of the
importance and the power of community. Hopefully this movement goes
global and other growers from around the world are inspired to share
what they’ve grown as well. Just because things have always been done a
certain way doesn’t mean this is how they always have to be done.
Society is the way it is for a reason and we can choose to opt out of
the aspects that are no longer serving to us. We always have a choice.
“I believe that we don’t have to buy into what society is selling us, maybe you’re starting to think that too. I believe in our freedom and that perhaps if we grow and share together, we can all help each other to grow free.”
To learn more about Grow Free, what they are up to and how you can get involved, check out their website, here.
Much Love
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