At the end of a cul-de-sac in Gerringong lies a street library which is unlike any others in the coastal town.
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The 'Garden Library' was built by Croft Place resident Penny Rushby-Smith who explained her idea as the melding of the crop and swap and street library concepts.
You can find more than just books being swapped on the tiny triangle of land which lies at the foot of a public walkway to the busier Belinda Street.
An assortment of produce grows on the patch where residents can choose to pick what they need, plant what they want or swap their excess produce in the buckets provided.
"So this operates as an informal opportunity in between those swap meets," she said.
"I just got together with some friends in the street who helped me clear all the weeds. Before we came along, it was out of control. You couldn't even see the green electrical box hidden under all the weeds.
"I had some scrap timber so I thought let's just build this and if people weren't happy with it, they could let me know.
"Sometimes it's easier to just do and ask later."
The community gardener supporter said the project had been a huge success partly because she had noticed more people out and about exercising since COVID lockdowns.
"I love the conversations it's enabling as people go by," she said.
"As we look to be entering another lockdown it's really wonderful to have a point of connection even when we are at a distance."
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It also helped that gardeners were keen to share their knowledge, said Penny.
"It might turn out that you meet someone who you can borrow tools from. Developing those sorts of relationships in the community is really positive and builds on what Gerringong already has.
Penny thanked the Croft Place crew and their friends who helped create the garden and Lorraine Peade and her friend who donated the handmade library.
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