Bulli residents are spearheading an ever-growing crop-swapping movement in the Illawarra by exchanging goodies from their gardens and pantries.

At 2pm on the first Saturday of every month, people gather for a crop swap at Millers' Local Bakehouse. 

The founder and head grower of Popes Produce, Sarah Anderson coordinates the Bulli Crop Swap with Emma Huber, the owner of Millers' Local Bakehouse, and Suzy Pickles from Saltbush Projects, and FoodTalks Illawarra.

Thanks to a background in produce, as well as working as a small-scale market gardener and a local school garden coordinator, Sarah always has produce on her mind and at her fingertips.

“We decided with our shared passion of super fresh produce and social gatherings that we should start a crop swap to invite more people along," Sarah said.

Locals spend an hour each month swapping a variety of items, such as their own fresh produce, seedlings, propagated plants, seeds, preserves, ferments, hand scrubs and flowers.

“Watching what a seed can become and the possibilities of growing food for ourselves, what the flavour difference can be is so rewarding," Sarah said.

“Folks are remarkably generous with what they bring to the table."

The crop swap aims to encourage people to garden and make new things; help the environment; stop food waste; teach self-sustainability; be less reliant on shopping; and decrease or stop pesticide and chemical use in home gardens.

Sarah said the crop swap also has a social side, as it brings together people with a common interest.

“We all have surplus produce and goods from our gardens every now and again and a crop swap is a beautiful free initiative to generate conversations and share knowledge within our communities," she said.

“We started predominantly with the notion to provide a space for people to come together with a shared passion, and start each swap with an introduction of ourselves and what we’ve brought with us.

“When it’s something more unusual, the explanation from the provider can include uses and growing tips."

The crop swap helps foster community spirit and improve mental health.

“There are always multiple benefits, the first being how thankful we feel that this kind of no fuss event exists and is open to all," Sarah said.

“We also get to always walk away with such abundance – marmalades, jams, seeds for the season, preserved olives… just to name a few."

Sarah would love to see more local crop swaps, connecting people with forgotten skills.

“Crop swaps are crafted by a couple a few keen beans utilising social media to have a monthly crop swap, it’s very grassroots level with no major organisation involved," she said.

Bulli Crop Swap participants recently celebrated the event's first birthday with a party at Millers' Local Bakehouse.