Open garden event broadens appeal

Baw Baw Sustainability Network will expand its annual open food garden program with “Creative Harvest” on Saturday and Sunday.

This event will incorporate both sustainable and creative food gardens with the arts, thus bringing two sections of the community together to offer an innovative and inspiring experience.

As well as broadening its appeal, the event will increase the gardens on offer to 13. This is an increase on the seven to eight gardens in past years.

Baw Baw Sustainability Network is now in its eighth year of offering food gardens to the public.

Gardens will be open at Neerim South, Jindivick, Buln Buln, Drouin, Warragul, Nilma, Yarragon, Trafalgar, Trafalgar South and Willow Grove.

Artists will be placed within each of the gardens. Some 20 local artists are taking part with works ranging from painting, sculpture, felting, mosaics to textiles and jewellery.

For instance, Colleen and Alan’s garden at 1699 Main Neerim Rd in Neerim South already displays Colleen’s sculpture and mosaic works of various sizes within a garden of vegetable beds and fruit trees.

Marg’s garden at 17 Francis Avenue in Drouin includes espalier citrus trees and a herb garden under the clothesline to add freshness to drying washing. Local botanical artist Lucy Chapman and mosaic artist Janet Wylie will exhibit there.

“We’ve got different sized gardens, from small gardens on normal suburban blocks out to acreages,” said event coordinator Wendy Savage. “Whether setting up a garden bed or learning what time of year to plant, that sort of thing people can find applicable to any garden.”

The gardeners grow their own food because of the health benefits of fresh, chemical-free food, to save money and food miles, and most of all, because they love to do it.

Gardens will open from 10am to 4pm on Saturday and Sunday.

Tickets are available at any of the 13 gardens. Entry is $5 per garden or $20 for five gardens. Entry to the two community gardens is via donation.

For garden details, visit bbsn.org.au, visit the BBSN’s Facebook page or call Wendy Savage on 0428 422 461.