Edible Gardens

Kids gardening

Every time I do the grocery shopping I can’t help but be surprised at the cost of fruit and vegetables; after all we can grow these things ourselves.
Often though people don’t have sufficient space, which why I’m hoping to open up some of the City of Bayswater public land and allow residents to produce food.

At tonight’s council meeting I am giving the following notice of motion which will be voted on at the following meeting:

  1. That officers roll out a method/policy where residents are granted permission to have a portion of their local park designated as “edible garden”.
  2. That officers roll out a method/policy where residents are granted permission to grow appropriate food on their street verge.
  3. That the City advertises for expressions of interest from community members who would like to be involved in the establishment of a traditional community garden.

Below I provide rationale for each of these:

That officers roll out a method/policy where residents are granted permission to have a portion of their local park designated as “edible garden”
Whilst liaising with Greg Smith, Bayswater Urban Tree Network’s spokesperson, he showed me how his street had gradually been planting food producing plants in an innocuous corner of their local park. Specifically, the local community can, and do, pop by and pick up some capsicums, basil, guava, pomegranates, bay-leaf, oranges, lemons, figs and quince.

Greg SmithPicture from Eastern Reporter. Photographer: Marcus Whisson

Despite being of the opinion that it is probably illegal to do this, I did find it a fantastic idea. It cost the City nothing yet we have a great community project which is bringing people together, making good use of an otherwise empty space and saving residents money.

I am hoping that the City will initiate a simple, red-tape free, process where if, say, 5 households apply for a portion of their local park to be designated “edible garden” they will be able to plant food producing plants. In addition to the ones already mentioned they could include almonds, figs, macadamias, loganberry, mango, avocado, chestnuts, apricots and a variety of herbs and vegetables. I’m not supporting this to occur where there is lawn or in the middle of a park, more so on the perimeter if there is a (preferably reticulated) garden bed with sufficient surplus space.

That officers roll out a method/policy where residents are granted permission to grow appropriate food on their street verge.
Why shouldn’t people be able to grow a veggie patch, or similar, on the verge? There needs to be limitations on the height of any plants so that there is no visual impediment for neighbouring cars pulling out onto the road, so corn may not be appropriate. But other than that it makes sense to allow this verge land to be used in a productive way; this is especially the case with all the urban in-fill which is occurring as residents often have no land available to grow food.  As a student of economics, I believe in utilising scarce resources, such as land and water, to their full potential.

I am hoping that the City will initiate a simple, red-tape free, process where households either have blanket approval or apply for permission and accept any rules which the City officers believe are necessary. I’d like this concept embraced and promoted by the City.

That the City advertises for expressions of interest from community members who would like to be involved in the establishment of a traditional community garden.
A number of local governments are establishing traditional community gardens. These are basically where an area has been setup and provided with a decent shed for the storage of garden tools, preferably power and also a water tank. Residents then become members and can pay a small fee to be allocated a “plot” or an even lower fee to participate in a “shared plot.” Because of my interest in this topic I was invited to meet Colin Scott and the management team at the North Perth Community Garden. They have a very impressive set up.
North Perth Community GardenThe City of Vincent should be congratulated for their involvement and vision in making it happen. The community garden is adjacent to their Men’s Shed and this has created synergies. I believe Vincent invested about $25,000 into the community garden and it is working well. I have no doubt though that it must be community driven; I don’t think it will be a success is the City of Bayswater proceed down this path by itself. That is why I’d just like to see the concept be advertised and explore whether there are enough residents who say they are prepared to commit to the project and help it be a success. I am sure that the team at the North Perth Community Garden would be prepared to provide advice and guidance to interested Bayswater residents.

The world is unfortunately on the cusp of a food shortage and currently the world’s fifth-largest food supplier is running out of water. Australia is the ‘lucky country’ and I don’t envisage food shortages to hit us, but prices will have to go up in order to stop producers exporting all their produce overseas.  I am hoping the above ideas will at least provide some respite from price increases, allow residents to make the most of one of our resources (land) and build a tight-knit community.

Just think, if these motions are successful, the City of Bayswater really will be ‘The Garden City’.

Power to the People.

(Please be aware that these views are my own and have not been endorsed by the City of Bayswater)

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31/3/15
As a follow up, I have been inundated by people supporting the freeing up of verges for residents to use as edible gardens. Further research has ‘unearthed’ the following video clips which I now recommend to people interested in this concept (they are all worth watching):

Ron Finley – Guerilla Gardiner – https://youtu.be/EzZzZ_qpZ4w
“If kids grow Kale, they eat Kale. If they grow tomatoes, they eat tomatoes.”
“It’s on the street for a reason” (for you, my neighbours and community)

Jamie Oliver – https://youtu.be/go_QOzc79Uc

Roger Doiron – https://youtu.be/Ezuz_-eZTMI
Gardens grow good food, healthy kids and provide important economic savings.

Jesse DuBois – The Urban Farming Revolution – https://youtu.be/8jpmLiGz4gk
Verge becomes an extension of your liveable areas

Roman Gaus – Urban Farming – https://youtu.be/r-fHY43qLWs
Feed a City within our borders

Mike McGrath – Composting (with leaves) – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n9OhxKlrWwc

Geoff Lawton – Permaculture – https://youtu.be/-CxP0Thljr4

Since my further research, the importance of this concept has become more pronounced.

*** As a follow up, the below is how the vote ultimately went at Council: ***

Edible Garden vote