Notes in the Field: Weekly Newsletter No.10 - Week Ending Sunday 12th April 2026 - Food Not Bombs Hobart

Small Projects. Growing momentum. Real people. Real steps.

This week felt like one of those “quietly massive” ones — several small projects moving at once, each with its own personality, pace, and surprises. By the end of it, I hit the wall a bit… but looking back, there’s a lot to take heart from.

Broke-Ass Brunch — A New Small Project Launches

We opened a new small project this week: Broke-Ass Brunch — and it came together fast.

Eamonn stepped forward to headline what is essentially a homeless dinner with style and intent. In just one week he:

Engaged three media bodies including Pulse and The Mercury
Booked musicians to play a live set
Found an artist to run a workshop
Located cooks to prepare the meal
Engaged a group leader to coordinate the event
Worked through changing commitments (some who planned to help later pulled out)
Drew on my resources — sourcing food and supplies
Utilised the new social media platform, which brought in several volunteers (for this event and future ones)

It was a real “build while moving” effort — imperfect, energetic, and community-driven.

And importantly, it gave Eamonn a space to lead something publicly.

That matters.

Pete’s Journey — Continuing Through Homelessness

Pete continued writing his story this week — generously allowing me to publish it across the growing socials. His reflections are becoming an important thread in what we’re doing: lived experience, told in real time.

Over the weekend, Pete began engaging with Night Space, the street shelter.

We now wait to see what comes of that — but even the step toward engaging is significant.

This remains a quiet but meaningful small project: story, dignity, and movement.

Woodcraft Adventures — Small but Encouraging Steps

Woodcraft Adventures had a few encouraging moments this week:

A nice wholesale order came through
Social media was used intentionally for market visibility
A sale was made to Danielle, a digital creator and publicly recovered addict
Etsy is now live — no fresh sales yet
We “clocked one up” by gifting Eamonn’s mum a $19 Huon Pine spatula via the Etsy site (using our own system)

It’s early days, but the pieces are starting to connect — product, story, and audience.

Singing for Community — Three Gatherings

The Singing for Community project continued quietly in the background:

We sang for older community members
Practiced funeral songs for one of our own who passed (service next week)
Three singing gatherings in total

There’s a subtle shift happening here.

The community is beginning to allow me to own space vocally — not by saying it outright, but through signals:

Leaders engaging with socials
Donations
Tolerance of my side projects
Invitations to step forward musically

A small shot of courage is helping me step into that.

Doug’s Project — Care After the Protest

Doug’s project wrapped up this week — interestingly, it ran in reverse.

The political protest itself happened weeks ago, backed by significant research and preparation.

What followed was four weeks of post-event care and recognition:

A care package
Material aid
Driving support
Community singing
A buddying system

The buddying system worked particularly well — Doug formed a new friendship.

They now visit, chat, and share tonics together.

A good reminder: sometimes the aftercare is the real project.

Evangelist Group — Brought Into the Fold

The evangelist group were drawn closer into the wider network this week:

Their church recognised them
A meeting was organised with an official
Ongoing support planned
A tract/flyer is being prepared (pending agreement… said slightly tongue-in-cheek)

Another small thread being gently woven in.

End of the Week

By the end of it all — I collapsed.

Not dramatically. Just that familiar drop when several small projects run at once, each needing attention, encouragement, and follow-through.

But looking back, this week held:

A new project launched
A leader stepping forward
A homeless story continuing
A shelter engagement beginning
A craft business inching forward
Singing deepening in community
A protest followed by care
A new group brought into relationship

Small projects.

But together — momentum.

See past newsletters

Community | Small Project | Bread Not Bombs
What is Bread Not Bombs? The Weekend Bread Basket is a community initiative based in Hobart, Tasmania. Each week, surplus bread and baked goods are collected and distributed to people who need them — keeping good food out of the bin and putting it into people’s hands instead. It started simply and has kept going,… Read more: Community | Small Project | Bread Not Bombs
Community Food Partnerships Hobart | Newsletter | Notes in the field #34 – week ending 28th Sep 2026
When the room starts singing Good morning everyone, Yesterday at Food Not Bombs Hobart, I sang with Angela. It was completely random. We both just started singing — and not quietly. We sang at full voice. A community of 35 people were there. Ruth was there too. Ruth had come to meet with me about… Read more: Community Food Partnerships Hobart | Newsletter | Notes in the field #34 – week ending 28th Sep 2026
System Change | Notes In The Field #33 – Week Ending Monday 20th Sep 2026
In the past six months, Food Not Bombs Hobart has gained significant visibility, attracting new volunteers and partnerships while remaining committed to its core mission of supporting marginalized communities. Though the group has expanded, it continues to emphasize community, learning from diverse experiences, and fostering a sense of belonging.
Act of Kindness | Mutual Aid | Petes Treats
What began as a simple box of treats delivered into Hobart’s shelter system became something much more. Through over 20 Pete’s Treats boxes, a man transitioning from years of rough sleeping found a way to contribute, supporters found a practical way to care, and a community discovered that sometimes the journey toward wellbeing and housing begins with something as simple as showing up, sharing a conversation, and letting people know they matter.
Grassroots Sponsorship | Newsletter | Notes From The Field #32: Week ending Sun 13th Sep 2026 – Small threads come together
This week reminded me that support is often found in the small moments. A partnership with the New Sydney Hotel came to fruition, a surprise news story brought encouragement from across Tasmania, and a simple act of singing together on a street corner highlighted the power of connection. Most importantly, we were reminded that helping people sometimes means walking beside them for a while, sharing their journey rather than simply pointing the way.
Community Partnership | Newsletter | Notes from the Field: #31 – Week ending 6 September 2026 – Small acts of cooperation
This week marked a decade of food sharing and community engagement, fostering mutual aid and connection. Despite rain, a shared table welcomed diverse individuals, enriched by a new partnership with the New Sydney Hotel for regular meals. Emphasizing community needs, the initiative promotes local decision-making and creativity through woodworking projects, embodying a growing, collaborative spirit.
People Not Programs | Presence | Notes from the field #30 Week ending 30th Aug 2026
This week reminded me that community is often built through the simplest things. Around the Shared Table, more international diners joined us, proving again that food can bridge cultural barriers in ways few other things can. Priscilla continued her quiet, faithful work through the bread run and community hampers, while Jutland Village showed the determination of people finding practical ways to secure resources and support one another. My highlight came through Sing With Me, where singing alongside people with Down syndrome brought more joy than any stage performance. Meanwhile, Pete’s Treats continued reaching shelter residents with consistency and care. It wasn’t an easy week—food is becoming harder to source—but somehow the work continues, carried forward by ordinary people showing up for one another.
Ordinary Moments Shared | Presence | Notes from the Field #28 – Week ending Sun 16 Aug 2026
This week in Notes from the Field: saying goodbye to Betty after sharing songs for her funeral, surprising generosity while singing in Glenorchy, Food Not Bombs Hobart welcoming 30+ people for the sixth week in a row, an unexpected chef from Iran helping save the day, and new ideas emerging from the woodcraft workshop as we continue building pathways for side hustles and community connection.
Unexpected Conversations | Notes from the field #29 Week ending 23 Aug 2026
New projects, new partnerships, and steady growth. This week we launched a clothing distribution initiative with No-Bux, continued supporting people experiencing homelessness, expanded Woodcraft Adventures Tasmania with new products, and strengthened our Jutland Village food distribution. Along the way there was music, mutual aid, and the ongoing challenge of turning good intentions into practical support. Food Not Bombs Hobart continues to welcome 30–40 people each week as community connections deepen and small projects find their feet.
Seperate Threads Come Together | Notes from the field #27 Week ending Sun 9 Aug 2026
Another week of small things becoming something bigger. Food Not Bombs Hobart hosted its largest Shared Table in ten years, with new volunteers from Japan, Iran and around Hobart simply turning up and helping. Karen’s free shop continues to draw people together, the community pantry keeps growing, Jutland Village residents are organising food distribution through their own networks, and Woodcraft Adventures Tasmania recorded another online sale. Along the way there was singing, storytelling, food shared, and people discovering confidence they didn’t know they had. Sometimes community isn’t built through grand plans. It’s built through ordinary people showing up for one another. Read this week’s Notes From the Field for the full story.
Community Support | Notes from the Field #26: Week ending Sun 2nd Aug 2026
This week brought some significant milestones across our community projects. Eamonn returned after securing housing and settling into his new inner-city life, while Food Not Bombs Hobart recorded its highest volume of food distribution yet, including the challenge of finding homes for 60kg of fresh rainbow trout. We also secured multiple new sponsors, received generous donations from supporters, and made progress improving the digital presence of Woodcraft Adventures Tasmania through new photography and AI-generated product imagery. It was a week of growth, generosity, and practical community action, with plenty of reasons to be thankful and encouraged.
Donation | Notes from the Field #No.25 Week ending 26 July 2026
This week, a donation of potatoes dug from a family back paddock sat alongside 150kg of food distributed through a resident-led housing project, reminding us that community work often operates at both the small and large scales at the same time. Karen’s free clothes shop quietly reached six consecutive weeks, Pete completed his 18th shelter food pack delivery, and Jutland Village residents reported another successful week of distributing food throughout their 60-unit community. Meanwhile, an old friend returned to the scene, new sponsorship possibilities began to emerge, and a newspaper story sparked plenty of encouragement from our online community. Not every story ended as hoped. A potential wholesale order for our Bushland Animal sets wandered off into the forest of sustainability requirements. The trees, however, offered no comment. As always, the work continues.
Notes from the Field #No.24: Week ending 19 Jul 2026
Food Not Bombs Hobart continues to evolve in unexpected ways. Alongside the familiar lunchtime rush, a second wave of visitors is beginning to emerge around Karen’s Giveaway and developing Really Free Market. People are staying longer, building relationships, and finding warmth, companionship and community. What begins as a meal increasingly becomes a place to belong.
Measured Growth | Notes from the Field #23: Week ending Sun 12th July 2026
This week was about measured growth. Conversations with OzHarvest continued, while our family food delivery network quietly expanded to support six households. Festival of Voices brought opportunities to sing in St John’s Cathedral, and meetings with Pete, Eamonn, and Doug helped shape the next steps for Food Not Bombs Hobart and Small Projects. Meanwhile, Woodcraft Adventures Tasmania saw encouraging news from Richmond, where increased sales and growing interest in our wooden animals reflect the continuing value of local handmade craft.
Projects Lead Change | Notes in the Field #22: Week Ending 28th June, 2026
Food Not Bombs Hobart thrives on community spirit, with Karen’s leadership transforming the Shared Table into a welcoming space. By combining clothing and food support, the organization aims to empower individuals and foster a sense of dignity.
Showing Up Not Grand Solutions | Notes from the field #21 – Week ending 28th Jun 2026
This month has been a reminder that community is built through ordinary moments. From singing with older people and sharing stories of grief and hope, to serving meals, supporting volunteers, and exploring new partnerships, I’ve been reflecting on what it means to create places where people belong. In this edition, I share some of the lessons, conversations, and small victories that continue to shape the journey.
Structure Using Platforms | Notes in the field #20 – Week ending 21 Jun 2026
This week saw the 15th Pete Pack, Pete’s first Domain BBQ, another successful Shared Table, a hand-carved wombat begin its journey to NSW, and preparations for Festival of Voices gather pace. Along the way, I found myself singing praise songs beneath an inverted red cross at Dark Mofo. Community continues to grow through meals, music, conversation, and the simple act of showing up.
Seasonal Adjusted | Notes in the Field #19: Week Ending Sunday 14 June 2026
Food Not Bombs Hobart Winter has firmly arrived in Hobart, and with it comes a renewed reminder of why our work matters. Throughout the week, volunteers, donors, and community members continued to support Food Not Bombs Hobart’s mission of practical kindness. Meals were shared, supplies distributed, conversations held, and connections strengthened. While food remains at… Read more: Seasonal Adjusted | Notes in the Field #19: Week Ending Sunday 14 June 2026
Street Feed | Notes from the Field #18: Week Ending Sunday 7th June 26’
A week of experimentation, collaboration, and reconnection. From our first trial Street Feed on the Domain to renewed partnerships, website improvements, and unexpected reunions, Food Not Bombs Hobart continues to learn, adapt, and grow alongside the community we serve.
Notes from the Field #17: Week Ending Sunday 31st – From Pete’s Packs to New Volunteers.
Food Not Bombs Hobart experienced another week of growth, welcoming new volunteers, expanding clothing redistribution efforts, and building on the momentum generated by the Broke Ass Brunch. While changes to food rescue arrangements present new challenges, the community continues to step forward with support, generosity, and fresh energy.
Cost of Living | Notes in the Field: Newsletter #16 – Week Ending Sunday, 24th May, 2026
This week carried a strange mix of encouragement and heaviness. There were genuine moments of growth and connection, but also a growing awareness that pressure is building for a lot of people — not just those already doing it tough, but increasingly families and everyday working people as well. One of the highlights of the… Read more: Cost of Living | Notes in the Field: Newsletter #16 – Week Ending Sunday, 24th May, 2026
Acts of Kindness Are Patterns | Notes In The Field: Newsletter No. 15 – Week ending 17th Thursday May 2026
This week felt like one of those weeks where the internet stopped being “content” and became community again. A strange thing has been happening through Small Projects and the wider networks of FNB Hobart. We keep finding random people online who need help — and somehow, through conversation, timing, trust, and a willingness to act,… Read more: Acts of Kindness Are Patterns | Notes In The Field: Newsletter No. 15 – Week ending 17th Thursday May 2026
Projects Quietly Connect | Notes From the Field: Newsletter No.14 – Week Ending Sunday 10th May 2026
This week felt like one of those weeks where many small projects quietly connected together. Across Hobart, online spaces, workshops, music, woodcraft, and community support — there were constant reminders that meaningful work is often built through relationships, repetition, and showing up again. Woodcraft Adventures This week we continued creating pieces that carry story and… Read more: Projects Quietly Connect | Notes From the Field: Newsletter No.14 – Week Ending Sunday 10th May 2026
Movement As Projects Coming Together | Notes in the Field: Newsletter No.13, Week Ending 3rd May 2026
Small moments of momentum shaped this week across ChristiaanMcCann.com, Woodcraft Adventures, FNB Hobart, and Sing With Me. From growing community interest and collaboration opportunities, to wood dust floating through late-night carving videos, to shared tables feeding people across Hobart — the work continues to grow through relationship and participation. The week’s most powerful moment came during Sing With Me, when after weeks of quiet presence, a new participant finally found her voice in song — a reminder that genuine community spaces can unlock confidence, connection, and moments of real human magic.
Kindness Is Located | Community Housing Blocks | Places
Real-world snapshots of life in community housing—what works, what doesn’t, and the small, practical projects that help bridge the gap between being housed and actually living well.