Rules and guidelines
This is a quick guide, to learn more, click on the links in the guide for complete instructions and how-to videos.
What we’re about
Magic Beans is about growing communities through the swapping of homegrown food and items that help with the production of homegrown food (eg pots and planters, compost, garden stakes, jars for preserving, egg cartons or horse/cow/sheep manure). It is also a social haven to connect with other home food growers to discuss gardening and help each other to learn and grow. Positive and kind behaviour is expected at all times. No tolerance will be given to people who are rude or bullying. No money is to be offered or requested on Magic Beans, at all, ever.
How to swap
Establish your swaps in a swap listing post and be as clear about what you are swapping as you can. (eg:10 passionfruit) and how items are to be swapped (eg: pickup Hastings central weekdays after 2pm). This way, both people swapping can decide whether it is a swap they want to make and there are no misunderstandings. Don't be offended if someone doesn't accept your swap. If you are declining a swap, please do so graciously.
No swapping of meat, seafood or invasive plants.
We do not allow swapping of animal products (other than eggs and animal manure for fertiliser), including seafood and dairy products. There are hefty fines in NZ for doing this and we don’t want anyone to fall foul of the law. Pest plants, such as Banana Passionfruit, are also not to be swapped on Magic Beans, to help preserve our biodiversity. You can read about these plants HERE.
No On-selling.
No Magic Beans swaps are to be on-sold, traded or listed on another site/page. It goes against the Magic Beans' philosophy of giving in good faith. No sharing of store-bought food (including but not limited to tinned, packets, produce, eggs, animal food).
Be good to each other!
Be kind to one another and honour your agreements with members. Frustrating things can happen, but try to deal with them in the most positive way you can please. Please do your best to ensure produce quality is kept high, so don’t pick leafy
greens (for example) at 7am before work and leave in a bag on your doorstep for collection at 4pm - all of us value quality food and win-win trades. Organise pickups/delivery with this in mind. If you have an issue that you can’t resolve between you and the member you are swapping with, please feel free to contact us for advice and help.
Off-topic posts
Whilst we do allow non-swapping posts, these must be on the topic of food gardening, please. Off-topic posts will be deleted.