There has been a surge in shoppers at local supermarkets, stocking their trolleys, clearing out shelves in the wake of the Corona Virus taking hold in Australia.
Media outlets has called for consumers to share their photos of the stockpiling ‘missions’ with regular interviews of people who have stocked up on medicinal, antibacterial items and cleaning products with the most recent rage ‘toilet paper’ and now, shelves of flour and basic cooking items being aired. Consumers that are not amongst the panic shop are becoming agitated as families weekly shopping necessities are being diminished by the 'panic' hauls.
In the last few months Australia has suffered environmental disaster from the destruction of forests and bush land, homes and businesses and has still managed to find community spirit to rally together in raising funds to support one and other, beginning the ‘empty esky’ campaign to stimulate business and economic growth.
The ‘fear’ and ‘reality’ of the Corona Virus is a tender topic, so we will maintain an objective view by following the facts and being ‘aware’ of its progress and position in our nation, but here at CommuniFood, we feel it is the BEST time for communities to turn their gaze from the media and onto themselves, their actions, their perceptions and how they choose to operate when these ‘events’ occur.
When you go to the grocery store, you’d be amazed at how many items are imported. Even with the new ‘Australian Made’ percentage label, clever marketing and strategic placement is always at its finest. Stock piling items in the ‘wake of destruction’ presents an opportunity for consumers, one we have been sharing since the day we began;
BUY FROM YOUR COMMUNITY, GROW IT IN YOUR BACKYARD, CONNECT WITH YOUR NEIGHBOURS, SHARE AND GROW TOGETHER.
Stockpiling canned food that is ‘packaged’ in Australia but is made from items imported from everywhere else isn’t helping your cause. If you truly believe that you are at risk of contamination from imported items, look to your neighbours, your community, your local farmers, producers and people that create from their own homes, homes you trust.
In the Hunter Region alone, there are over 40 hobby, small, to large scale farms that provide so many items that are grown from the ground beneath your feet, with majority now moving into more ecological ways of farming and pesticide maintenance.
Whether or not you have a small backyard or a patio garden, there are so many options for growing your own food. From planter boxes, both in ground and risen, to green house shelves (so cheap from Ikea), you have the ability to GROW your own food! Bunnings has fantastic veggie garden kits to just give you a head start and there is A WORLD WIDE WEB OF INFORMATION in growing too. If you are time poor, research your nearest growing community, once you start looking you will find there are so many out there and as they continue to grow they offer delivery services that will aid your lifestyles! Get together with your friends, pick an item each and grow it in abundance and share the harvests to get a collection of goods, so many options, you just have to start.
Fear of suffering, fear of not ‘having enough’ is an unsettling emotion. As we continue to turn to big supermarket chains and deplete them of stock, why not give your money to your community growers, the local farmers or start your own mini farm in your backyard?
When you grow your own food, you know where it has come from, what you used to cultivate it and how it was prepared. You don't need to grow 'everything' yourself, stat small, Zucchini's and Cucumbers are easy! We urge you to acknowledge times are potentially changing and ways of looking after our families, like our great grandparents and ancestors did are returning once again. Communities lean on each other in times of need and however this ‘virus’ choosing to develop, the options are there for you to choose.
Look after one another, read the facts, be aware and look to your community, use this opportunity to support the locals. You might be surprised at what you discover...
Until next time,
CommuniFood