We formed ‘Stop The Rot’ because a group of us were part of an environmental leadership group and we were all very passionate about solutions to fixing the disaster that’s become our global food network. The environmental, the health issues and the disconnection between what people eat and where it comes from. So we started to look at solutions with a local focus and we noticed driving around that a lot of trees had fruit dropping on the ground. We all know neighbours who give bags away but the tree still pumps it out so ‘Stop the Rot’ is about capturing that excess fruit and taking it to charities around Lismore. So please bring your excess fruit, vegies, herbs, down to the community garden (Cnr of Brewster and Magellan St). Anything you have excess of in your garden is so welcome and all very much appreciated by the Food Pantry. So far we have had around 25kgs a week donated..all citrus, pumpkins, snowpeas, kale, black sapote, herbs, leaves, and also lots of spinach from our community garden. The Food Pantry is through the food bank of NSW and provides food for people trying to make ends meet. Its situated at the Uniting Church behind the Red Dove Café. We are looking at Urban Agriculture within our community so have put an application in for some land to start an urban orchard. We believe that community gardens, urban orchards can reconnect people with food growing. The vision of our group is that our town doesn’t just have a community garden but our town is a community garden”