Community-led not-for-profit Ballarat-based Food Is Free Inc. focuses on disadvantaged community, with the purpose of assisting food security, education, and community inclusion.

Est. 2014, in a communal Laneway garden beside Founder Lou Ridsdale’s home we now operate over four sites (Council/State Government assets).

1. Food Is Free Green Space, (est. 2018) - 50-garden bed, averages 100 daily visitors: at-risk community members enjoy fresh food 24/7 plus access to gardening workshops.

2. Grow & Thrive Garden - multicultural food.

3. First Nations Women’s Yarning Garden - mob connect in a safe space.

4. Sebastopol Library - food for low socio-economic population.

Over the next 5 years, Food Is Free Inc. will embark on our biggest food security adventure yet - the development of a $2.2million urban food farm called Grow To Give, with food education being the focus via a Sustainability School, modelled on both CERES & Farm My School.

Contact the host of Open Bee Hive experience honey extraction demo - Food Is Free Inc. 15 Feb 2026