On Wednesday 27 November 2019, a group of community members and students from Brookside College joined Melton City Council at Stevenson House in Caroline Springs to put together a community edible garden.
The group, guided by local expert home gardener and author of ‘Edible Gardens: A Practical Guide’, Craig Castree, put together six ‘Wicking Beds’ which are self-contained garden beds made from recycled wood. The group filled the beds with rock and dirt and learnt how to put the piping in to ensure the correct placement to create a reservoir that supplies water to the plants from the bottom up.
The beds were then filled with mulch and a number of edible plants which include: tomatoes, eggplant, chilli’s, spring onions, lettuce, basil and a number of colourful flowering plants to attract pollination. The first harvest is expected to be ready early in the new year.
This amazing project that was built for the community by the community, was funded by the Australian Multicultural Community Services ‘Move it Aus Better Aging Grant.’
If you’d like to learn more about how to get involved with projects and programs at Stevenson House, contact Catrice on 0455 326 903 or catricel@melton.vic.gov.au