Frequently Asked Questions
The FareShare kitchen garden offers a unique opportunity for employees to interact with each other in a convenient, outdoor location. It can also be a great way to build relationships with clients. No special skills are required. This is a rewarding experience for anyone prepared to roll up their sleeves and participate.
Each group of around 10 corporate volunteers will finish their shift having engaged in a range of gardening tasks directly related to growing vegetables for people in need. Everything grown and harvested in the garden is taken to our kitchen to be cooked into nutritious meals.
Teams undertake a variety of gardening activities which may include weeding, mulching, planting, fertilizing, harvesting, propagation, and pest management.
Volunteering in the FareShare kitchen garden is an all-weather activity. However, we will take into consideration the weather forecast before a shift is confirmed.
Shifts run for three hours including a short tea break.
Our garden shifts operate from 9am-12pm on Friday mornings.
Ideally each crew will consist of 10. However, if you have a smaller group, please contact us and we will try to accommodate you.
Our Abbotsford kitchen garden is conveniently located on Lulie St between Victoria Park railway station and oval.
We recommend public transport wherever possible. The garden is directly adjacent to Victoria Park railway station.
There is four-hour car parking on Lulie Street although spaces can’t be guaranteed.
The financial contribution for a morning experience in the kitchen garden is $750 (plus GST).
FareShare does on occasion accept in kind payment for corporate shifts, usually in the form of food, other goods or services, or the provision of skilled volunteers and general expertise. If you feel your organisation has something to offer in this respect, please let us know.
If you have to cancel your shift within 3 weeks of your booking date, we apply a 50% cancellation fee. The reason for this is that it is hard to find another group to take your booking at short notice, and we will therefore drop production if you are unable to come in and support us on the date you booked.
Sun hat – for all year UV protection – and sunscreen.
Sturdy, flat covered footwear such as work boots, gumboots or tough runners.
A water bottle.
FareShare can supply gardening gloves which are recommended for protection.
All activities are led by our Kitchen Garden Manager.
Our garden shifts are usually booked out a couple of months in advance. It is best to book early to secure your preferred dates.