A regular smiling face at Lyttleton and Farm it Forward, we chat to Rosie Shepherd about how volunteering has helped her to create strong connections and a sense of resilience within the community.

Name:

Rosie Shepherd

How long have you been volunteering/involved with the Lyttleton community?

2.5 years

What areas are you involved with volunteering?

I started volunteering at the Farm it Forward working bees. Farm it Forward is an initiative started by Lyttleton, which connects homeowners with excess land to locals who are passionate about growing food. I have a Farm it Forward plot at my place, so I started helping out on our plot and eventually volunteered to work on other plots around the mountains as well. I'd bring my daughter, Nel, who was only a baby when I started volunteering, to each session.

When Nel was a bit older, I started to volunteer at Lyttleton, helping to set up the store. During one of these sessions, I started speaking to Jacinta, one of the geniuses behind Lyttleton, about their resource constraints and how they were in dire need of a monthly newsletter and website updates. I offered to help out with both of these things and have been coordinating both (as a volunteer) for almost a year now.

This year, we formed a marketing committee, made up of Lyttleton staff members and volunteers to help develop and drive their marketing strategy. We have a super talented photographer and copywriter on the team. Both volunteers! It's incredible to see how much people care about this organisation.

I also help out at workshops and events....and that's about it. Can you tell I really love volunteering?

What do you enjoy most about volunteering?

The people I meet! The Farm it Forward coordinators, Lyttleton team and other volunteers. I've learnt so much from them, from soil health to botanically dying fabrics.

The satisfaction of finally being able to give back to the community. I've gained so much through my connections at Farm it Forward and Lyttleton. It feels nice to be able to help in some way.

How has volunteering at Lyttleton helped you feel resilient within the community?

When I first moved to the mountains from Sydney I invested very little time into connecting with the local community. I was still travelling back and forth to Sydney for work and friends would stay most weekends. I didn't really feel the need to invest time into making friends...yet. I also didn't really know how. It's been a while since I've had to actively integrate into a new community. Not since I went to uni really.

Fast forward a year later, I have a newborn and a very limited support network in the mountains. I felt quite isolated and one of the only reprieves I had was seeing the lovely team at Lyttleton. They have always made me feel at home.

When my daughter was 8 months old, I started to run a Farm it Forward parents and kids session at my place, a playgroup of sorts. It was an opportunity to connect with like minded parents looking to meet other families, learn some gardening skills and let the kids run wild in the garden. Through this group, I've met some of my closest friends! And so has Nel.

I don't know what I would have done without Farm it Forward and Lyttleton. I think a lot of people struggle with social isolation, especially when you're a new parent in a new community.

What are some of your fondest memories since becoming a volunteer at Lyttleton?

The children in our Farm it Forward group all celebrate their birthdays at our playgroup. Whenever there’s a birthday, it’s really special.

I love the feeling of collaborating with the Lyttleton team and getting projects done like the Christmas Hampers we released last Christmas. I helped to put the boxes together, photograph and market them. You have an idea, present it to the team and are able to just run with it. There is so much trust and support.

The proudest thing you’ve grown from your garden?

Firstly, I can’t take too much credit for our veggie garden because the Farm it Forward coordinators and volunteers do the bulk of the work. We grew eggplant a few seasons ago and I loved it. I’d never seen it grown before. The little purple orbs looked like little christmas decorations surrounded by these beautiful purple flowers. It’s also one of my favourite veggies to cook with.

Favourite place to go bushwalking in the mountains?

I live in Lawson and there are a few local walks that I love: Fairy Falls, Dantes Glen and South Lawson Waterfall Circuit. The first two in particular are pretty kid friendly. Nel, who’s now two, will lead the way, she’s so familiar with the tracks. It’s beautiful here. I still pinch myself that these walks are so close.

Advice to anyone who is considering becoming a volunteer?

Just do it!! You'll meet some of the nicest people and learn so much. How a circular economy works, how to ferment vegetables… I could go on.

There are so many areas you can volunteer in: in store, workshops, the kitchen, Farm it Forward, events...graphics...illustrations. Are you a furniture maker? The Lyttleton team would be open to all of your ideas!

Volunteers like Rosie help to make us at Lyttelton more resilient. If you would like to volunteer at Lyttleton, you can find out more or get in touch here. If you are interested in volunteering for the Farm it Forward working bees every Thursday, please get in touch on their Facebook page.

LIVES OF LYTTLETON PROFILE #2: Rosie Shepherd