Young, green thumbs up for community garden

They’re a growing trend in Sydney, and Dulwich Hill has become the latest to join the queue – with Denison Road Playground slated to be the venue for Marrickville Council’s newest community garden project.

The Dulwich Hill community garden follows the model established in similar projects around the city – an area of shared land where members of the community come together to grow fresh food and other plants. Gardens can be either located on public open space – such as public parks – managed by Council, or on private lands, including schools, churches and community centres.

Community consultation for the Dulwich Hill garden will take place with area residents to establish the most satisfactory outcomes, while a community group will take up the lease on the area. The project has a budget of $30,000.

Marrickville Mayor Sam Iskandar said Council’s ‘Green Equity Policy’ encouraged local communities to establish community gardens. Amongst other benefits, the projects can help with solving the food shortages faced by low-income households.

“Community gardens reflect so many of Marrickville Council’s goals for their residents,” Cr Iskandar said. “They bring people together, and provide food for their tables, but also sustenance for their spirits. I was very moved by what members of the Working Party told us at the last Council meeting. They explained how their children would benefit from planting, nurturing and ultimately harvesting food. But they also told us how the adults were already feeling much more connected to their local community through this experience.”

The Dulwich Hill project is the fifth within the Marrickville area, joining Marrickville West Community Garden, Food Forest Addison Road Centre, Wilkins School Community Garden, and Lewisham School Community Garden.