The Urban Harvest Fruit and Vege Swap is the answer for you.

Hosted twice a month at the Wesley Mission, Urban Harvest is a new initiative designed to give green thumbs and vegetable lovers a chance to access food they might not be able to grow themselves.

The idea is that any home vegetable or fruit grower can bring in their excess food from their crops and swap it with another grower for items they don’t have or want.

Urban Harvest co-ordinator Jenny McNamara said the event is strictly swapping with no money involved.

“It’s like nothing else in town,” Mrs McNamara said. “It is aimed at the home gardener who isn’t in to pickling or bottling or making things out of all the excess food they have grown.

“It gives them a chance to swap something they have for something they don’t have.

“We’re also going to donate any excess people don’t want to the food bank at the Uniting Church ministry.”

Each week the ministry distributes “Helping Hand” food packs to families in need.

While the idea came from a similar event run in Victoria, Mrs McNamara said it is a concept that can work in any town just as long as there are willing growers who are looking to swap their items.

Urban Harvest first ran in December with plenty turning out through word of mouth and online advertising of the event through Wagga City Council.

“It’s because it is the start of the growing season and people stated to come along,” Mrs McNamara said.

“We held the last one just before Christmas and we had people from the community gardens interested in it and bringing up there stuff.

“We’ve picked up new people (each time it’s held).”

The event has quickly become a chance for keen gardeners and those new to the vegetable and fruit growing scene to network and swap growing tips.

“Everyone is always on for a chat, asking ‘how did you get that growing’,” she said.

With more families establishing vegetable patches at home than every before with rising food costs and out of a desire to be more eco-friendly, it is hoped they take advantage of the swap.