an afterword

The way we built this community garden is not the usual way to do it. It would normally be driven by a team approach, with consultation and collaboration…

But sometimes we have the opportunity to bring something together for the common good. As I step away, I am forever changed by the experience of being among Kangaroo Island’s strong, connected, resilient community.

The residents were amazing. From the moment I stepped onto the site on March 9, I was greeted by smiling helpers ready to work. And work we did – long, tiring days in dust and heat. Often, there were 20 or 30 people at a time on shovels and barrows, digging trenches, connecting irrigation, helping out. Some had lost homes and gardens, some were locals, and some lived at the other end of the island but came each day to support those affected by the fire. There were laughs and smiles, and a tear or two.

Reflecting on why I was so pig-headed about getting the project going, and going quickly, I come back to this: always trust a gardener’s gut feel! At 5.30pm on March 14, 2020 BC (Before Coronavirus), we drove onto the ferry to head home. By March 16, public events were being cancelled. Just one week later, and we wouldn’t have been able to do any of it. We wouldn’t have even been able to source seeds or seedlings!

While the new garden won’t totally feed the community, it’s a start, and it has given residents a chance to get their hands back in the soil. When the world returns to normal, I encourage you to visit Kangaroo Island and call in to the gardens. The reGrowth community garden is on Anzac St, Parndana, (opposite Wheaton St) and the Kingscote Garden is at 16 Telegraph Rd, Kingscote. In the meantime, visit facebook.com and search for ‘Parndana Community Garden’ to follow its progress.