Edible garden tour to grow local food security
Weddin Landcare led an edible garden tour through Grenfell to to connect green thumbs of every skill level with the Grenfell Community Produce Gardens, the Grenfell Food Hall and other local growers.
Self sustenance - LEP23-005-Weddin-02_LLC_013
The issue
Although Grenfell is surrounded by agriculture, it remains a challenge to ensure that every household has access to affordable fresh produce.
The Grenfell Community Produce Project saw the establishment of community gardens in 2024 at St Joseph's Primary School, the Grenfell Multipurpose Centre and Henry Lawson High School with the goal of providing fresh produce to the Grenfell Food Hall where it is then distributed to the local community.
Since the establishment of the gardens, there is still a greater opportunity to engage the broader community to establish a network of private gardens and growers to support the community and increase the productivity of the gardens.
The solution
The Edible Garden Tour was designed to invite participants into the Grenfell Community Produce Gardens to hear from the students and residents about how the gardens were established and the impact so far.
A stop at the Grenfell Food Hall was included, where participants were welcomed with pumpkin scones (made with a locally grown pumpkin) and soup cooked by the food hall volunteers. The story of the food hall and its challenges in obtaining fresh produce was shared along with how to donate fresh produce.
The tour also included the gardens of two community members to share their knowledge over their time spent gardening in Grenfell. The tour structure also meant that both these gardeners could participate in the tour themselves.
The impact
There was a positive shift in perception of the Grenfell Food Hall, which is open to the entire community to encourage participation and increase product availability. Many participants had not visited before, and fresh produce donations have since increased.
There was a renewed sense of purpose and motivation for the committee members of the Grenfell Community Produce Project. Following the tour, a meeting was held to discuss the future of the project. It was decided to keep it running as a Weddin Landcare project with all committee members committed to maintaining their gardens, sharing the word and supporting the project.
With the ever-increasing cost of living, the tour felt well timed to be sharing knowledge about locally grown food and fostering community support and resilience. It inspired one participant to create a planting plan to improve productivity in the St Joseph's garden.
Key facts
- The tour booked out with 32 participants enjoying a day roaming the edible garden of Grenfell.
- Multiple fresh produce donations have been made to the Grenfell Food Hall as a result of the tour.
- The Grenfell Community Produce Committee were left with a refreshed sense of purpose and motivation for the project.