You cannot imagine how unbelievably thrilled I was, when a woman who I'd spoken to earlier in the day, called at me from a distance while heading towards me trying to get my attention.
"Hey Sharon! It's Sharon, isn't it? Yeah, um, well, someone who was supposed to pick up their box of plants hasn't showed. Are you still interested?"
I blinked in disbelief. Someone didn't want a large box of free Australian native plants they'd registered for. And instead, they were being offered to me. My face showed how keenly interested I was. I was giddy as a school child who scored a golden ticket to Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory.
I need to backtrack.
That morning, I'd been on a walk and saw a tray truck with boxes of plants on it. It was parked next to a marquee with signage that said "Native Plant Giveaway".
Never one to be shy about either plants or freebies, I wandered up to see what it was about. As soon as I learned about the initiative, I had feelings of both elation and frustration. The elation was that - despite protests to the contrary - councils CAN and DO help fund programs like this. Because this is exactly where I want my local tax dollars being spent, in addition to paying people to collect my bins each week.
Frustration because, we hear all the time, there is just no money that can be allocated to critical environmentally-forward capital works, like building a real recycling industry and getting rid of plastic, like properly. But let's not get me ranting about that....
Before I'd spoken to her that very morning, I had no idea about this incredible free conservation initiative being run by my local council, where 250 boxes of around 60 or so Australian native plants are literally being given away FOR FREE - to residents. That's a LOT of plants. Trees, shrubs, ground cover and native grasses. The box is full of all of these. If I was to buy the plants at RRP, as a finger in the air price - I'm guessing a couple of hundred dollars would be spent.
The idea behind the program, is to help rebuild our native flora in our local seaside urbanised area by giving away a substantial number of plants to people who are interested in building up their garden, or rebuilding it.
To restore a little of what has been taken from it over many many years.
One date as passed, but there are still two June dates available.
Details are on their Facebook page below.
"Think global, Act local" they say and I agree.
This is what it looks like.