With the cost of living increasing, and prices of fruits and vegetables skyrocketing, community gardens are seeing more members join over the last few months.
Roxburgh Park Community Garden member Jessica Walton said they only have “a few spare beds available” for new members.
Jessica encourages others to utilise community gardens for a multitude of reasons.
“One of the reasons that I love being a member of the community garden is that I’m able to reduce my impact on the environment by growing my produce close to home,” Jessica said.
“And then I also know that it’s organic as well, and also helps you just eat what’s in season at the moment…rather than spending extra money buying produce that’s potentially been in fridges for months, so it’s always fresh.”
Locals wanting to join can arrange to visit the community garden and select an available garden bed.
“It’s free to join but you do have some responsibilities as a garden user, you do have to look after the general area,” Jessica said.
“You do also have to supply your own seeds, or punnets of vegetables from Bunnings and you can grow them in the bed.
“We also have communal pots, where we grow herbs and strawberries as well that everyone is allowed to take from and then we also have our orchard trees.
“So olives, pears, mandarins, oranges, apples, there’s generally something growing on the trees ready to eat at all times of the year.”
There are four community gardens in Hume for locals to join.
Details: www.hume.vic.gov.au/Residents/Community-Facilities/Community-Gardens.
