Community gardens are a place to grow food, flowers and friendships – but Michelle Williamson has supercharged the idea. Through Farm It Forward Tasmania, Michelle harnesses the volunteer power of Tasmania’s north-west coast to add craft and cooking workshops that everyone can come to.
Michelle runs the workshops six, sometimes seven days a week, at community locations in Somerset and Wynyard. They are open to anyone who needs a safe place to sit, chat and have a free tea or coffee and a biscuit.
She set up the program in 2021 and it’s worked wonders in reducing social isolation and helping people acquire new skills.
Michelle also coordinates the community gardens where food is grown and given to local food hubs to be distributed or made into meals.
She is the glue that binds the community, helping people work with what they have to make a better life for themselves and others.