Have you ever wanted to take a sticky-beak at a neighbour’s thriving veggie patch? Local gardeners are set to open their front gates to the general public this November as part of the inaugural gardening event.

Words & Images Food Fairness Illawarra

The inaugural Illawarra Edible Garden Trail will see local gardens between Helensburgh to Woonona open to the general public. It’s all about connecting budding gardeners, well-rooted growers and sticky-beakers, to share all the growing tricks and tips for different environments. The trail will expand to Wollongong in 2024 and to Windang in 2025.

Industrial agriculture contributes 15% of all Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions and with the changing climate localised food production has a lot of benefits. Not only does growing food build community by connecting each other with their neighbours, but it also teaches everyone about the local environment – the seasons, the rainfall, the sunshine and lots more.

“The Edible Garden Trail is an opportunity to visit and talk with locals growing in all types of gardens, from big sunny backyards, to shaded verges, to seeing potted balcony gardens or school veggie patches,” says organiser, Anna Jane Linke.

The Illawarra has a flavourful spectrum of native foods such as the Illawarra Plum that would have contributed greatly to the Dharawal diet. In the past two centuries, the region was cleared for grazing of cattle and farming of vegetables and fruit. However, in more recent years with the encroachment of the city less and less food production is happening in the area. 

With 7 billion mouths to soon feed and the impact of climate change on farms across Australia, there has never been a greater need to start to grow seasonally and eat locally. Seasonal eating refers to eating fruit and vegetables that are ‘in season’ or at the peak of their freshness and flavour during this specific time of the year. In season food has higher nutrition, it is fresher and tastier and it’s cheaper because it requires less travel and less controlled environments to grow in like heating!

“The escarpment creates many different environments to grow food in and this weekend is all about teaching each other how to start growing something or to learn how to grow more with your neighbours.” says Healthy Cities CEO, Kelly Andrews.

The inaugural Illawarra Edible Garden Trail on Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 November from 10am-3pm, and is sponsored by Gilly’s Kitchen Garden and Treemates. 

For more information and tickets visit foodfairnessillawarra.org.au