Yard Sharing

[Liz McLellan hyperlocavore.com]

“hyperlocavore.com,” which blends bottom-up collaboration with food production. It’s an example of peer-to-peer agriculture, and it’s a pretty neat concept. The founder of hyperlocavore wrote to me, saying that she thought this was a pretty “worldchanging” idea. I agree. Check ‘em out.”

- Jamais Cascio
openthefuture.com and worldchanging.com


What is a ‘hyperlocavore’?

A hyperlocavore is a person who tries to eat as much food as locally as possible. Growing your own is as local as it gets!

What is ‘yardsharing’?

Yardsharing is an arrangement between people to share skills and gardening resources; space, time, strength, tools or skills, in order to grow food as locally as possible, to make neighborhoods resilient, kids healthy and food much cheaper!

Why would I want to set up a yardsharing group?

Yardsharing is a way to connect people who love to garden, people who love healthy fresh food and people who have yards! Often people who have yards have little time time for a vegetable garden. And sometimes gardeners have trouble finding soil to garden in because they rent an aparment! Sometimes older people lack stamina and are socially isolated, finding younger people to partner in growing food together works wonderfully for all. There are all kinds of reasons it makes sense.

Yardsharing works for:

* apartment dwellers
* busy parents
* older people
* frugalistas
* foodies
* treehuggers
* cheap bastards
* farmers lacking land
* land holders lacking farmers
* people sick of leaf blowers
* curious kids
* folks with a disability
* people who want to get outside more
* people that want to eat better
* people that want to eat cheaper
* people who want to make their community resilient
* people who like their food super fresh
* people worried about peak oil
* and maybe you! (if you’re not on the list - send me a note!)

Yardsharing cuts down on greenhouse gases by limiting the travel time of fruit and vegetables to your table.
Yardsharing is a great way to connect with your family, friends and neighbors!
Yardsharing helps you eat more veggies!
Yardsharing can be a workable solution for people with physical limitations who want to eat better and more cheaply.
Yardsharing is an excellent way to teach children about food and biology!
Yardsharing is a great way to get cheaper produce to older people on a fixed income!
Yardsharing helps you get enough vitamin D from sunshine!
Yardsharing is a way to avoid pesticides and other chemicals on your food!
Yardsharing is a fun activity to share!
Yardsharing helps to create independent local food systems that are less sensitive to the price of oil.

And nothing tastes as good as food you grew yourself!

Who can yardshare?

Anyone! If you don’t see a group for your area just create one! Then send invites to people in your neighborhood, your friends and
their friends and maybe you will find someone willing to start with you!

hyperlocavore.com is a free social network here to help you form a yardsharing group with people in your neighborhood, a group of friends, a community restaurant and it’s neighbors, members of your family, faith communities or new friends made on hyperlocavore.

[KatnAnna]

Great ideas here!
I would like to start a yard share, I have lots of space and these are all the reasons why!!

Any one interested in joining me??!

[Brandy Rucker]

Someone in Merced started a program that includes some of things you mentioned above. Merced Shares is a community garden swap. There are designated dates that you bring items that you have an abundance of and later that day and box is delivered with items from others in the community. Less Food Waste and Local Produce to Share! MercedShares

[Tim Bryan]

Love the concept & great post - cheers!