By Callum Ludwig
Local residents are encouraged to visit the Edible Garden in Warburton on Sunday 26 November for a celebration of community gardens as part of the inaugural National Community Gardens Day.
Held by Community Gardens Australia, the event is an opportunity for local gardens to open their doors to all for a day.
Co-coordinators of the Edible Warburton Garden Tarnya Harper and Jennie De Vine said they are part of a network of community gardens in the Yarra Ranges, which is tey they became aware of the event.
“We took it as a good opportunity to showcase Edible because we’re just getting back into gear after a few years of not much activity, so we’re really trying to boost up our numbers of volunteers and involvement,” Ms Harper said.
“Over the last few months, we’ve just been finding new ways to engage with the community through school workshops and weekly working bees and thought this was a great addition to engage the broader community.”
As part of the day’s festivities, attendees can take part in a free mini-wicking bed-making workshop, face painting, a visit from a fairy, games, raffles, a garden stall with local handmade produce and access to check out and pick from the Edible garden.
Ms Harper said they just hope that people will become aware of what’s available at Edible.
“The gardens open any time and it’s available for anybody to come and sit, garden, relax, meet up with other people and pick and harvest the produce, we’ve also got a share shelf where people can share their extra produce even from home,” she said.
“We just hope it becomes a little space that people can meet and engage with more and create that community feeling of nurturing and caring for one another, it’s right in the heart of town and it really is that beautiful central space.”
Volunteers at the garden meet every Thursday between 9.30am and 11.30 for ‘Garden Buddies’, a little working bee to help maintain the garden, though anyone is welcome to help out at any time.
Ms Harper said a community garden teaches people to be self-sufficient and helps them engage with one another.
“It takes more than just ourselves to live sustainably and I think when you come together as a community, you benefit a whole lot more as a team,” she said.
“We will be having a lot of things pop up through the coming year, holiday programs and workshops and other things, which people can keep up to date with on our socials.”
To register your interest in attending the event, go to: www.facebook.com/events/1031190418332481?active_tab=about.
