Concerned by firsthand experience of the chemicals used when growing fruit and vegetables, Ross Thomas embarked on a crusade to grow his own food and also to teach the community how to grow food sustainably and organically.
Tomato champ!
Ross has always had an aversion to tomatoes available in major supermarkets as “they taste like cardboard and have zero nutritional value.”
He reflects back to when he was a child and his father and grandfather would grow beautiful tomatoes, unlike the ones available to buy nowadays. This is because many of the varieties they used to grow, no longer exist. But now Ross is starting to bring them back.
Beginning with just eight varieties several years ago, Ross now grows and stores seed for over one hundred different heirloom varieties. Many were obtained from international friends and new migrants to Tasmania. Some varieties he has created himself through cross pollination such as the Lady Elizabeth, named after his wife and which Ross declares is “so sweet it’s like putting a lolly in your mouth”.
The streets surrounding Ross’s suburban block in Lindisfarne used to be filled with backyard fruit trees and vegetable gardens. So many blocks are now being infilled with housing that this biodiversity is being lost. With the decrease in insect pollinators, Ross has also noticed a significant decline in the number of bird species who visit his yard.
Ross is spreading the joy of his home-grown tomato plants and has become quite famous locally with many requests for plants coming in from neighbours. Ross also generously donated 180 tomato plants to the Warrane Community Garden Springfest held last November. His plants sold out in an hour and were so popular he’s already preparing to grow twice the number for this year’s spring fest. Ross also donates his plants and garden produce to charities and homeless people in Tasmania.
Because of his commitment to seed saving, and inspirational dedication to sharing his plants and garden knowledge, Ross has been selected as this month’s Climate Champion by community group Clarence Climate Action.
Eastern Shore Sun, January 2023, page 10