Community garden

Eastland Multicultural Community Garden
Township/suburb:
Ringwood
Municipality:
Maroondah
Notes (in their own words):

This garden is membership-based.

The garden provides a safe and welcoming space for people from different cultural backgrounds living or working in Ringwood and surrounds to come together to plant and grow edible crops, participate in other gardening activities, socialise with others and enjoy a communal garden space. There are currently 34 garden plots, some of which are available for rent.

The garden is managed by a management committee comprising office bearers from multicultural backgrounds, as well as representatives from the Migrant Information Centre, Eastern Melbourne.

Membership is $5 for one person, or $10 for a family. Plot fees are currently $25 per plot. Families with over 3 members can apply for two plots, otherwise one plot. Plots eligibility is limited to Health Care Card holders, who are unable to garden at home, and who live within a radius of 5 kilometres of Ringwood.

Edible Hub, Hurstbridge
Township/suburb:
Hurstbridge
Municipality:
Nillumbik
Notes (in their own words):

This initiative is one of a number of related food-related initiatives at the site (others include a food is free table, a twice monthly food swap and a seed library).

This garden is a communal gardening space which is open to the public. It includes numerous wicking beds, a compost station with three large bins, a small perennial food garden, a sensory garden and a picnic/eating area. It is managed according to permaculture principles.

The garden is under the care of group of volunteers whose aim is to provide an inclusive space for locals to connect and learn through topics of food growing, community resilience, and sustainability. The produce from the beds is free for everyone to harvest, promoting the concepts of a sharing economy, and the use of communal land for the production of fresh, local food.

A range of free/low-cost workshops and events are held regularly and advertised through the Edible Hub Facebook page.

Volunteers generally meet on the fourth Thursday of the month at 9.30am to plan or carry out work in the garden. Anyone is welcome to attend and no ongoing commitment to the garden is required. The associated food swaps are held on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays of every month from 10-11am.

Eltham Neighbourhood House Community Veggie Garden
Township/suburb:
Eltham
Municipality:
Nillumbik
Notes (in their own words):

This garden is membership based but membership is free.

The garden comprises several, large, raised beds. It is maintained by a group of volunteers who meet weekly on Thursdays, from 9-11.30am. New members are most welcome, whether you are an experienced gardener or absolute beginner. As well as growing fresh food to share or swap, you can also use the Living & Learning kitchen to make a meal from the harvest. Regular attendance is not required; rather, you can drop in when you like. You can join at any time and they just need you to register once.

Eltham, Planter Boxes outside healthAbility
Township/suburb:
Eltham
Municipality:
Nillumbik
Notes (in their own words):

The produce from this planter box is freely available to any members of public who pass by.

There is a large planter box outside healthAbility at 917 Main Road, Eltham. It is under cover but irrigated. It was established in 2013.

Eucalypt Community Garden
Township/suburb:
Wollert
Municipality:
Whittlesea
Notes (in their own words):

This garden is membership-based ($20 pa for a single and $40 pa for family).

Friends of Eucalypt Estate’s group of volunteers have established a community garden in a public space behind the Bluestone Kitchen Cafe amongst the historic bluestone farmhouse and outbuildings. The garden is a space for the community to participate in growing sustainable organic produce-related activities in a friendly, inter-generational, accessible environment.

The aim of the garden is to provide a multi-functional space which facilitates and promotes community connectedness through the sharing of knowledge, skills and resources, such that people can come together to learn, share, relax and make friends. It is hoped that, over time, it will provide a range of physical, social, economic, cultural and environmental benefits to the diverse community.

They have been able to make progress because of an enormous community effort: they have the use of the land from one of their committee members; donation of a shed from Bunnings; donation of benches; donations of plants and seeds; and, most importantly, donation of time and labour.

There are monthly meetups at the garden, on the 3rd Sunday of every month, starting 10am.