Here is some good news about farmers using their resources to help struggling city people.
From Christian Today Australia:
Riverina farmers survive drought, give back to city
Cooperation between the Uniting Church, the NSW Department of Primary Industries, the Carrathool Shire Council and local farmers has led to the launch of ‘Waste Not Want Not’ — a unique project that will deliver otherwise wasted produce from the district to the tables of hungry families throughout New South Wales and the ACT.
Carrathool Shire, located in the Riverina region of south-western New South Wales, is traditionally a grazing and cropping area but, with innovations in irrigation, the industry has expanded.
Unfortunately, perfectly sound food that does not meet the very narrow specifications for commercially acceptable product — it could be too small or have blemishes on its skin — is going to waste. One grower last year ploughed in 3,000 tons of pumpkins.
With the help of ‘Waste Not Want Not’, fresh fruit and vegetables will now be saved and distributed through Foodbank in Sydney to charities throughout New South Wales and the ACT.
Foodbank is the largest hunger relief organisation in Australia, endorsed by the Australian Food and Grocery Council as the food industry’s preferred means of disposal of surplus product.
‘Waste Not Want Not’ originally aimed to provide at least 16,000 kg of food each year — the equivalent of 35,320 daily servings of vegetables. Already local farmers have promised 200 tons of produce — or 441,500 servings.
CEO of Foodbank NSW, Gerry Andersen, attended the launch of the project and said he had never been so touched by a community.
Penny Davies, Community Development Officer with the shire council, said for the past ten years there had been calls for the city to support the bush. Now that farmers were in a position to look with some hope toward the future they could say, “Here’s something we can do for you.”
Lou Revelant, drought support worker with the Department of Primary Industries, said ‘Waste Not Want Not’ would also help build resilience in the Carrathool community.
The Uniting Church’s rural chaplain Julie Greig said farmers and irrigators had been made to feel like environmental vandals, when it was really in their interest to grow food sustainably.
“And now, here they are, giving away food for needy people. It just goes to show that growing food is a really good thing.”
New Life Narrabri 
Very interesting post. My son and I were discussing something like this a couple of weeks ago with the idea that the Department of Highways, churches, schools – anyone with some unused land allow people to plant either for their own use, or just to give to people who can't afford it.Not only would it help feed people, but it would make them aware of the great tasting and nutritious food that can be grown.We have a huge amount of agriculture in the immediate area, orange groves, strawberries and tomatoes, yet these products are just as expensive in our stores here as they are far away. I'm sure there would be a lot of safety issues to address, but it's a start!
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That's a great idea Lois. They do that in cities in England where there is little open space. People have little lots where they can grow vegetables.Community gardens are becoming popular in some cities here.I heard the other day that in Manhattan people are now allowed to keep bees on the roof of their apartment building which is a great idea.
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