The Spirit of community
lost the guide to where to find it
op shops and just free food
YOU gotta love community spirit. And you gotta love when that spirit creates a real unity within a community. Local ladies, Michelle Clifford and Carmel Thannhauser have set up a not-for-profit committee and have gone and done just that, bundled their own sense of community to create the Daylesford Community Op Shop (4 Albert Street, Daylesford.) Before you scream “the world has gone Op Shop mad!”… wait, this one is different. Based on a Swedish model, the Daylesford Community Op Shop has been formed to help keep the region sustainable by encouraging the use of resources we already have, or those that are within easy reach, and especially to give back to community groups. Each month will see a different group sponsored - May is all about Hepburn Wildlife Shelter (hepburnwildlifeshelter.com). And the shop itself plans to provide all things one may need (without the hassle of having to leave town to get it, or add to the planet’s wastage by having to buy brand new). Nice. They’ll even sell second hand electrical items! The shop is set up like a wee village, with a lounge set up, reading corner and even a seed bank, a true community drop in one-stopshop. The expectation is that in a year it will inject $100,000 back in to the community. Local organisations that are interested can apply for the monthly profit to help fund their service. Want to know more or jump on board as a volunteer? Pop in and say g’day, they’re open Tuesday to Saturday 10am till 4pm. To stay up to date with happenings pop over to their facebook page or visit: daylesfordcommunityopshop.com Another couple of great community initiatives are the Daylesford Harvest Swapmeet (literally a meet to swap your excess harvest) and the Daylesford Community Food Garden Projects (two of them! 33 Albert Street and 42 Raglan Street), working bees and swap meets are held the second Saturday of each month from 10am till 12 noon at the Albert Street garden (next to the Daylesford Library)... you can’t miss those brilliant Autumn colours! You’ll find all of the details about how you can get involved on ‘facebook’ or visit the blog page at: justfreefood.blogspot.com.au. dp 36