RipeNearMe is a part of the Dreamstarter initiative. Funded by ING DIRECT Australia, Dreamstarter provides support to selected StartSomeGood campaigns to help them reach their fundraising goals. Learn more about the social entrepreneurs and campaigns they support at ingdirect.com.au/dreamstarter.
A web app;we map food that people grow in their yards, and wild edibles growing in parks and public spaces for some seriously addictive online foraging. But far more than just a map, we engage the community around you to make ultra-local food a natural part of life - like it was for your grandparents and their parents. Learn more by visiting www.ripenear.me
For years we have witnessed something very odd; magnificent fruit trees (orange, mulberry, pomegranate, lemon - you name it) overflowing with fruit that is left to the birds or to rot on the ground. Yet just around the corner a supermarket is selling the same fruit for $5.98/kg or more - some of it imported from half way around the world!
So we asked ourselves "What if people could easily find fruit and veggies growing nearby?", and "What if urban spaces were better utilized to grow food?".
That spark of enthusiasm led to tireless drafting, modeling, designing, adjusting, and creating. Where our skillset ended we hired contractors to develop and build. Users from around the world have taken to the site, and the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. We see this as our chance to change the world - and how the world sees food.
Our ultimate aim is to firmly establish homegrown, local and urban food as a viable part of the modern food system.
The future for RipeNearMe is bright - it will become a financially sustainable social enterprise. Plans are in place to cover our ongoing expenses and ensure that RipeNearMe is a long term cornerstone for the ultra-local food movement, and (as we're often asked) any monetisation will not impact our community, users and friends. We just need a little bit of a push to take us to the next step. Care to give us a nudge? - support us now!
Globally, our food supply is under pressure. Cities and towns around the world were settled on the most productive farmland. Population growth and urban sprawl are forcing farmers into less productive territory. Changing climates bring floods, fire, drought, heatwaves and cold snaps that wreak havoc on food security. Genetic modification, pesticides and herbicides have become big business, and food production is under threat of being controlled by just a handful of multinational corporations… So what is the solution?
We make our cities edible. There is an astonishing amount of open spaces in our cities. Imagine if the trees that line streets produce food, and city parks become food forests? What will happen if half of the population grow food? But... it’s not just about growing more urban produce.
In Australia, half the population do grow food at home, but when was the last time you saw home-grown food offered in a supermarket or corner store (in Australia or anywhere else)? Why isn't this food more prominent, or a viable contender to industrial agriculture?
Industrial agriculture and the supply chains that support it have become supremely efficient. Moving food from farm to supermarkets – even from half way around the world – happens without us being aware of it. In contrast, there is no such supply chain for the lemon tree in your backyard. In fact, there isn't even an established marketplace.
RipeNearMe aims to fill that gap. Our mission is to put food back in the hands of the people. If you grow your own, you already know your brand is the best. You can grow organic, heirloom and rare varieties that are far superior in nutrition and taste. You can grow crops, fruits and nuts that are suited to your climate, and reuse grey water and green waste to reduce the overall ecological footprint of your food. Now we want you to share your bounty, and connect with others nearby who do the same. You can gift it, exchange or make a profit (money growing on trees?) – it’s up to you.
Our point is, the world needs you.... and your food.
