If you’ve been in the Illawarra gardening or food scene for a little while, she needs no introduction — Sarah Anderson heads up one of Wollongong’s only market gardens, Popes Produce, alongside being part of the crew that hosts the Bulli Crop Swap and FoodTalks Illawarra. Whether she’s eloquently educating locals on living in harmony with the phases of nature, or baking a delicious cake with fruits and flowers from the garden, Sarah is entrenched in growing the fair food movement in the Illawarra.
What inspired you to create the market garden oasis that is Popes Produce?
What was the main gap in the food system you wanted to address?
Accessible locally grown produce was non-existent in Woonona at the time, so just simply being able to offer leafy veg was the starting point. In all honesty, it still surprises me that we don’t have more food growing in our region.
One of the things we love about you is the community you nourish. There’s always tea and cake for visitors popping in, volunteers and community lending a helping hand, and seedling sales or workshops where people can learn from you. How do you see the role of growing food in the backyard in fostering community and connecting people?
Eating is one of the great joys in life. Sharing stories through food is an absolute treat. It’s another love language. When you spend time learning how to grow food, how to nurture where it’s grown, it’s such a joy and privilege to share that knowledge to nourish others.
We’re looking forward to spring! How are you preparing the garden, and what do you have coming up this season?
Okay dokay! Firstly, the market garden beds are permanent, so it’s weeding time, giving them a little forking to open up our slightly clay (= heavier) soils, and feeding with compost. Once this is done, cover with mulch to keep the soil protected from heavy rains and good practice to also protect from sun. I’m starting the season with lots of leafy greens whilst the temperature is still a little cool and I’m waiting for the sun to fully return to the garden.
Growing food in small, local, or regenerative ways is a form of resistance to today’s dominant food and economic systems. How do you challenge/offer an alternative to those systems?
Engage, educate and encourage! Have a conversation, get people curious. Whether someone starts their growing journey with sprouts in a jar, a pot of herbs in the sun, there’s many ways to get involved. Don’t forget community gardens are a fabulous third place, and crops swaps. Growing isn’t for everyone, there are many ways to support initiatives. A bigger conversation to be had there.
How can people best support you?
Book into one of our upcoming events via our website. We can’t feed everyone, but we can help them on their journey. Send a message saying hi! Share your growing stories with us. I think it was Elliot Coleman that said, “Knowledge is like compost – best when spread”.
What does the phrase ‘fair food system’ mean to you?
Honest access to appropriate foods for all.
