Frequently Asked Questions
The FareShare kitchen garden at Abbotsford (Victoria Park) offers a unique opportunity for colleagues 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.
Under the guidance of our garden supervisor, each group of around 10 corporate volunteers will be engaged in a range of gardening tasks directly related to growing vegetables and herbs to cook into meals for people in need. Tasks may include weeding, mulching, planting, fertilizing, harvesting, propagation, and pest management. Everything grown and harvested in the garden is taken to our kitchen to be cooked into nutritious meals.
Volunteering in the FareShare kitchen garden is an all-weather activity. We check the weather forecast leading up to the day of your shifts and take that into consideration.
Our garden shifts operate from 9am-12pm on Friday mornings (and 8am – 11am in summer to avoid the midday heat).
Note there are no shifts during winter.
Ideally each crew will consist of 10 volunteers. However, if you have a smaller group, please contact us and we will try to accommodate you.
As a charity, FareShare asks for a financial contribution of $1,300 (+GST) for a crew of up to 10 volunteers.
Volunteers are provided with gardening gloves to wear on the day and to keep.
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 may apply a 50% cancellation fee.
We suggest you bring a water bottle, a sun hat – for all-year UV protection – and sunscreen.
Sturdy, flat covered footwear such as work boots, gumboots or tough runners are recommended.
FareShare will supply gardening gloves, which we recommend wearing for protection, and all tools and equipment.