The Urban Tucker Woman

By Olivia Haynes There is nothing quite like homegrown produce so imagine a community in Perth whose members share their freshly picked, backyard fruit and veges with one another. It’s the idea of the Urban Tucker Woman, who prefers not to use her real name but who has made it her mission to create a community where there is more food sharing and less wastage. “I grew up on a farm and in the country it is very much about sharing what you had,” she said. The basic idea of the Urban Tucker Woman’s approach is those who have grown too much produce in their garden can use her website to share and swap with someone else in the same position. “People are shy and don’t even know their neighbours so we try to encourage people to just knock and ask, and maybe offer something in return, then people start to feel good about each other,” she said. This community is not limited to only those who can provide. The Urban Tucker Woman envisions those in need also benefitting by ensuring surplus food finds its way to less fortunate families. “Food has become highly commodified and needs to become more local for its benefits in terms of health and carbon footprint,” said Professor Peter Newman from Curtin University’s Sustainability Policy Institute. He says this food sharing scheme goes beyond a community that shares food and it is part of a widespread global movement. “The sharing economy and the idea of local self-sufficiency come together around food,” he said. The Urban Tucker Woman believes sharing is key in making way for a future in food sustainability. “I just connected in my own community and built relationships. People get isolated in the city, particularly elderly people, and so this creates a community where people care for each other and of course it stops wasting,” said the Urban Tucker Woman. [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3he76nTz0qM?rel=0&w=560&h=315]