I live in Australia, and the suburbs too, and created a vegetable and fruit trade group for my suburb. Only my suburb (deliberately, to make it easy and convenient to trade, make genuine connections etc). Its word of mouth and started through a small messenger group. (Very little effort involved, it was easy to start).
People in that group also invite other interested people they know from this suburb.
We all got together and sat down and chatted the first couple of times. I think in terms of local community building as a big strength and the way of the future. There are also very little fuel costs involved, or short distances to walk if things got any rougher in the world..
So when you take your stuff to their place, they often show you around and vice versa. They spark new ideas within you for sustainability and vice versa. Its great. And with rising inflation, its reassuring.
I dont particularly live in a self sustainable type community, but just have provided a space for likeminded folks to meet and trade.
The group is small but small is good.
Good luck. I like the way youre thinking!
("Build community in your own backyard". I heard this whispered to me, so I did it, and am glad I did! Keep going folks! Together we can bring in a better world! It involved a bit of thinking at first, but was honestly so easy to do!)
