The Community Gardening virus takes hold.
After a chance meeting with Incredible Edible Geraldine founder, Sam Lees, I was so inspired to embrace something closer to home. A community garden seemed the most simple thing to do in the world. It offered free food for passers by, a caring gesture costing nothing to anyone, and a token community gift with sole responsibility of upkeep and care all mine.
So, back in Auckland and busting with enthusiasm, I immediately went out and bought a young Yen Ben lemon tree (as it produces fruit 4-5 times a year, a good harvester I thought). I gazed excitedly out my window waiting for the rain to stop so I could plant it. After all, there were a variety of trees up and down my street already: pohutukawa, gum, bottlebrush. Not only would mine be a pretty addition, it would have the added bonus of being edible. Free lemons for everyone on the block! Yessss.
While I waited for the rain to stop, I Googled.
It appeared that my bubble was about to be burst with a big Auckland Transport pin before I even delved into the garage to reunite myself with the spade.
It became apparent that whilst homeowners are responsible for mowing their own berm, that’s where their privilege stops. To seek permission to plant a tree on the inside berms there is a non refundable $1000 application fee which is unlikely to be granted. Privately planted fruit trees are neither allowed on the berm (even for public good) nor encouraged.
Wow.
So, after planting my lemon tree (‘Benny’) on the inside berm, I sat down with a cup of tea and looked at my handiwork.
That was too easy. How else could I rebel? I turned my thoughts to a community garden strip outside my house. Would that be allowed? No, of course it wouldn’t. It would be yet another infringement on the royal berm. I did admit it would be a shameful waste to nurture a small vegetable garden on the berm only to be dug up by Spark contractors, or run over by the friendly postie doing her rounds. I had to rethink.
Deterred but not defeated….I rapidly came up with a cunning plan: a self-contained community garden outside my property — and I won’t be breaking any council law: my vertical community garden.
October Update: Just as my little Yen Ben Lemon Tree takes hold bermside outside #31, I read Auckland Berm Gardens are Under Fire. Hang in there Benny. I’m here for you. You stand your ground.
