The founders of a fresh produce-sharing community in Hawke's Bay are hoping to take their idea to other parts of New Zealand via a new app.
Magic Beans co-founder Anneliese Hough tells Jesse Mulligan how the magic works.
Anneliese Hough Photo: Magic Beans
Back in 2016, Magic Beans co-founder Anneliese Hough was a keen gardener and cook raising two boys in Hawkes Bay when she started the Facebook page, mostly for her friends.
Overnight, 200 people joined up and now there are over 3,000 'Beanies', Anneliese says.
"The idea is to not waste what you've got produce-wise and share within your neighbourhood. Maybe you have an overflowing grapefruit tree and someone else has more spinach than they know what to do with.
This kind of sharing has cool environmental and social aspects, she says.
Beautiful, sometimes intergenerational, friendships have formed between people who wouldn't normally meet, Anneliese says.
Some exchange gardening tips and even teach each other how to prune fruit trees, compost, or start a worm farm, for example.
"There's a sense of being a little bit more self-sufficient but not doing it all on your own. Being connected and part of a community makes people feel really good… it's a good feeling."
Currently, Magic Beans is crowdfunding to build the first iteration of an app that will be free to use, with some premium features and content. You can sign up for the Magic Beans newsletter for updates.
A 'Beanie' in action Photo: Magic Beans
