What you don’t need Over

simple, organic initiative, bringing together local residents in a spirit of community without any need for budgets or accounts, members or committees.

Use the suggestions in this toolkit and Keep it Simple!

to you…

Every garden is different – reflecting the character, interests and experience of the gardener. In just the same way, every Fruit & Vege Swap is different. This is exactly as it should be!

YOU (the person who puts up their hand and says ‘I will!’) are the Swap’s most important asset. YOU will make it happen. So do it your way!

Before you start, think about what is sustainable for YOU in the long term. How often can you commit to swap, and over what period? (A month, a season, forever?) What time of day and week can you comfortably manage for the whole period during which you intend to swap? Are there costs involved, and how will you meet them? What will you need to put in, and what do you hope to get out?

Be resourceful. Local businesses or councils may help with the cost of photocopying. Participants at your Swap may have resources they can donate or access (such as a work photocopier). Find cheap or free ways of doing things, and if something is going to cost you, ask yourself: do we really NEED this?

Once your Swap is established, it may be possible to share the load. Our Swap now works on a roster system with a different person each week in the Summer volunteering to ‘host’ the Swap – transport the gear to the park, set up, welcome attendees and bring everything home again safely. It still works on the principle that one person is the Coordinator, the person who says ‘I will!’ and takes responsibility. The Coordinator knows what’s going on, looks after the mailing list, signs and gear, and after consultation with participants makes decisions which are both good for the Swap and feasible for her personally.

Julietta, initiator of the West Croydon Swap, says: “It doesn’t have to be hard – keep it simple. Yes, there was a commitment: an investment of time, effort and a small amount of money. But I’ve always got back far more than I put in.”