By Parker McKenzie
A Facebook group is giving community members in the Dandenong Ranges and the hills the opportunity to share their crafts, produce and skills with each other.
Giselle Vanessa said she started the Dandenongs Collective with a neighbour after seeing the amount of produce and craft people in the hills were making.
“People grow lemons, people grow flowers, people grow vegetables,” she said.
“People’s zucchini gardens are currently overflowing, and we just thought it’d be a good idea to offer an opportunity for people to share what they already grow or make or even can source themselves,
“It basically came out of a desire to build community but also to share resources and what we have within community.”
The group currently has 55 members on their Facebook page and they are planning to meet regularly on weekends to share what they have.
She said she believes people have become more inclined towards self-sustainability in recent years.
“But also more inclined towards meeting local community and reaching out to people in their local area, relying on the people around them rather than further away.” She said.
The group’s description describes it as a “for locals who grow, make or source their own local produce and products and who want to buy, swap, sell or barter with other members of the group.”
Ms Vanessa said people can join even if they don’t have something to contribute and share straight away.
“People don’t have to have a particular thing that they plan to share with the community. They’re welcome to discover that as they go because it’s not just about growing fruit and vegetables,” She said.
“It might also mean that people have skills that they can offer or the ability to source things that people aren’t going in the backyard or out making themselves.”
The Dandenongs Collective was started in early February and can be found at www.facebook.com/groups/270799611828099
