Farmers markets provide a human face to food and farming, and allow the consumer to walk away with produce from a farm they know something about. There is no food fresher than that plucked with your own hands – unfortunately the urban tragedy is that much of what we grow ourselves is generally wasted.

With that in mind Adrian Buzolic, under the banner of the West End Community Association, set up Kurilpa Local Produce Exchange to encourage the community to cooperate, conserve produce and reduce waste. At this market stall your money is not wanted, what is desired is for you to take what’s on offer in exchange for a smile, a great conversation, a good tip or even a return of produce from your own garden on your next visit. The market stall stems from the idea that money depersonalises human interactions and that parting with cash ends the interaction and nobody owes anyone anything. The produce exchange introduces the idea that if you take something from the stall that you will be inspired to do someone else a favour.

Head down to the Real Farmers Market this weekend with an armful of greens from the garden, eggs from your chooks or honey from your beehives. In exchange you could choose from other backyard-grown fruits and vegetables, herbs, preserves including marmalades and chutney as well as things to nurture the garden like compost, wood ash, worm juice fertiliser and coffee grounds. Many locals seek to exchange, but if there is nothing at the stall that they need then they are happy for their offering to be a contribution to a happier, friendlier and more human community.