Be inspired to start your own vegie patch

VISITORS to the second annual Bass Coast Edible Gardens Weekend, on Saturday, February 4 and Sunday, February 5, are in for a treat.

Not only will they get the opportunity to visit 15 inspiring edible gardens, including private and community gardens, across the length and breadth of Bass Coast, but they’ll also be able to look in at what has been developing at The Cape Eco Village at Cape Paterson.

There they’ll meet community farm manager Adrian James, something of a legend on the community garden scene in these parts, Heather Allen, President of the Residents of The Cape Community Farm Group and others involved in this fantastic project.

Is this the face of residential developments in the future? If not, it should be!

Last Friday, Adrian and Heather took the Sentinel-Times on a tour to see what has been achieved so far at the Cape’s Community Garden, where 63 members have already established flourishing, raised vegie plots producing fine produce.

A proud president Heather, herself a traditional gardener, but no vegie grower, pulled out five plump corn cobs from her garden on the day, earning the praise of Adrian who looked on with interest.

“We’ve had a holiday house at Cape Paterson for years and I’ve watched on with interest as The Cape has grown from cleared farmland to an eco village until we sold, built and moved here 18 months ago,” said Heather.

“We’ve used all the efficiency technology in creating a comfortable home and I joined the community farm group and started a vegie patch. It’s been fantastic.

“There’s always plenty of people to help share their knowledge and Adrian to give encouragement. We have a monthly working bee and a chat with Adrian about some new aspect and there’s gardening sessions each week that you can join in.”

There’s a lot to talk about from the simple but highly effective technology that goes into the self-watering Biofilta raised garden beds, to the new greenhouse, the “engine room” of the community garden its compost hub, the visiting schools and community programs, and plans for a farmhouse community building, propagation shed, market garden, produce sales and exchange, an amphitheatre for events, and more.

Proceeds from running community events and sales are expected to make the full-service community garden financially sustainable into a new and exciting future at The Cape.

And there’s a lot more besides at the Bass Coast Edible Gardens Weekend.

Get online, find out more and book your tickets at https://www.basscoastediblegardens.com/

And we’ll see you somewhere in the Bass Coast on Saturday or Sunday, February 4 or 5.