I love the concept of sustainable backyards. I’m sold on the idea that every house, regardless of the size of yard or deck, can grow vegetables to contribute towards a great chunk of their personal household consumption.
I’m abuzz with the vision of a neighbourhood growing together, sharing seedlings, harvesting and mucking in.
I have a backyard overflowing with fruit trees and vegetables. It’s not a massive backyard by any means but I love that I can eat what I grow, and preserve or give away what I can’t. I have given away #freefood at my gate before and am sure to do it again this season coming. But I want to embrace this more.
There is a community garden within 3km of my home. I think that’s wonderful and I’d happy to drop off extra seedlings and lend a hand. But I want to make a change starting with my street.
My enthusiasm started some 18 months ago and has stayed with me, even with a house move. It’s been building with intensity. I’ve talked to proactive groups such as Community Fruit Harvesting and Kai Auckland, and have been inspired by regions outside of Auckland with their creative approach to community gardens.
Incredible Edible Geraldine
I met up with Sam Lees, the founder of Incredible Edible Geraldine, who has helped orchestrate Geraldine’s multiple mini-gardens dotted around town to encourage residents to pick and pluck what they can eat for their household. Geraldine is humming. Progressive residents are pulling out all stops to tastefully plant fruit trees and vegetables on their front berms. Community groups are nurturing raised vege gardens – outside the local parish, doctor’s surgery and kindergarten. Retailers are planting edibles in baskets and planters on the footpath.
Organisations are offering horticultural scholarships to learn and pass on skills and knowledge back to the community.
Individuals who cannot tend their own gardens are donating trees, cuttings, seeds and irrigation equipment. Why? All for public good. What an awesome initiative!
Imagine picking an apple on the way to school, or finding a passionfruit vine threaded through the hedgerow beside the bus stop, or walking around the block and harvesting a salad along the way for dinner?
Meanwhile, closer to home in Auckland, berm gardening is under fire and I plant a lemon tree berm-side in defiance.
