Nestled among one hundred and seventy trees, and one big dead Sydney blue gum, in Marrickville sits Addison Road Community Organisation (or Addi Road as it’s more affectionately known). Addi Road serves a range of functions for the community, from supporting art and culture through their permanent gallery and museum, and frequently hosting events such as festivals, film screenings, and sustainability workshops; through to elevating human rights by providing much needed food security out of their (fully solar powered) Food Pantry.
Launched in 2016 in response to growing inequality and environmental concerns, the Addi Road Food Pantry and associated services are, now more than ever, essential in their provision of access to low cost, safe, and nutritious food to all, as we endure a severe cost-of-living crisis. Everyone is welcome to shop at the food pantry irrespective of income, while food vouchers are available for those who aren’t in a position to pay. Beyond this, Addi Road provides food relief hampers to a range of diverse beneficiaries who are impacted by growing inequality, entrenched disadvantage, and growing workforce casualisation.
One of the most exciting aspects of the Food Pantry is that it’s stocked with rescued food – each week over 8 tonnes of food are diverted from landfill and into the hands of more than 8,000 people. It might sound absurd, but some of the most significant climate action we can take on an individual level is to prevent edible food finding its way into landfill. Let’s break it down:
7.6 millions tonnes of food are wasted annually in Australia, the equivalent to between $2,000 and $2,500 in groceries per household per year.
Food waste produces over 8% of global greenhouse gas emissions. If it was a country it would be the third largest emitter after the USA and China. In Australia, food waste accounts for around 3% of our annual emissions.
25% of water used in agriculture is used to grow food that ends up as waste. Australia’s share of this is equivalent to about five Sydney Harbours.
Food waste costs our economy approx. $36.6 billion a year.
See where we’re going?
According to Addi Road:
‘We all have a role to play in reducing our environmental impact. We believe what we can do at a local level is promote sustainable practices, support locals to engage with our gardens and provide facilities for community gardens and sustainable practices.’
Beyond fighting food waste and hunger, Addi Road also maintain two thriving gardens, a nursery and a compost facility. Their organic Community Garden, which is run by volunteers, provides urban food production and promotes sustainable initiatives. Whereas the Rain Garden is a bio retention system created in partnership with Inner West Council and is designed to improve the health of the Cooks River. Local stormwater is diverted through and filtered by the garden which houses 14 species of native grass, sedges, and flowering plants, before being returned to the main stormwater channel. The rain garden re-interprets the old creek line that once flowed through the area prior to colonisation, and is tended to by a mix of council staff and volunteers, who propagate local native plant species, which are used in Council parks and reserves throughout the Inner West.
Facing a biting cost-of-living crisis and an ever-worsening environmental crisis, we’re grateful for our community, and in particular organisations like Addi Road, who motivate and inspire us to learn and take action, and who provide us with the support we need to endure.
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Addison Road Community Organisation is located at 142 Addison Road, Marrickville. The Food Pantry is located in Hut 1, the Community Garden is behind the Greek Theatre, and the Rain Garden is next to Gumbramorra Hall.
There is also a Food Pantry at 31 Pyrmont Bridge Rd, Camperdown. Both Food Pantries are open from 12pm to 4pm Monday to Friday.
If you’re in a position to donate, please consider supporting those in our community who might be facing a difficult time. In addition to money, Addi Road also accepts donations of food.
You can sign up to volunteer, join a gathering at the Community Garden, or see what else is on. If you’re not local, there’s a very good chance there is a community garden near you.
Addi Road also has a ‘Return & Earn’ container deposit system. Every glass, bottle, or can, recycled makes you eligible for a small refund or donation to a listed charity. Open from 7am-9pm every day.
*Pure Community and Pure Finance have no direct affiliation with the organisations and causes listed above, we simply appreciate the work that they do, and choose to show our appreciation by supporting them.