More than 650 visitors flocked to 37 locations across the region to take part in the inaugural Central Coast Edible Garden Trail on November 19-20.
From Gwandalan in the north to Killcare in the south and west to Jilliby, Wyong and Watanobbi, Central Coast gardeners opened their gates to share their knowledge and experiences, inspiring many to grow more food at home and try organic practices and permaculture techniques.
Ticket holders were able to choose the gardens that most appealed to their situation and growing conditions with hosts reporting that visitors arrived stacked with questions and curiosity and that wisdom and knowledge was shared in both directions.
Feedback from the event has been positive with organisers Sandi Eyles and Anna Trigg from Permaculture Central Coast confirming the event will become an annual one, with the next trail to take place over the weekend of October 21-22, 2023.
As the trail expands, the 2023 event will have a dedicated website, gardens featuring mainly Indigenous edible foods and suggested trail itineraries for those travelling on public transport.
Many people who took part left positive comments on the Central Coast Edible Garden Trail Facebook page.
“It was a fabulous, inspiring event; thank you everyone who was involved,” one post said.
“Learnt some very interesting things which I can now go home and try…thank you to all involved,” said another.
Donna Carey was one of the people who opened their gardens over the weekend.
“(It was) such a fabulous event,” she wrote on Faceboook.
“I gifted seeds to visitors (radish and land cress), explained winnowing of plantain (and) was surprised that most interest was in my garden’s flowers (red clover, salvias, flowering carrots and parsnips).”
Carey said she also learnt a few things.
“I learnt that the liquid of boiled plantain leaves is good for hay fever, and was gifted some perennial leek seeds,” she said.
“We had visitors from as far as Singleton.
“I had many lovely conversations with newbies and experienced gardeners alike.
“Thank you so much for letting us share our love of growing food; may the ripples continue to radiate outwards.”
Profits from the 2022 Central Coast Edible Garden Trail will be used to establish a grants system aimed at: helping community gardens grow and flourish; and providing permaculture educational opportunities to local community groups.
Permaculture is centred around the ethics of Earth Care, People Care and Fair Share and has been derived from Indigenous knowledge and practices.
Visitors were encouraged to learn how to: eliminate harmful practices ; improve the biodiversity of life above and below the ground; start growing and eating nutrient dense food that is seasonal; and source their food locally and seasonally via a printed Local Food Guide.
The guide, produced for the Central Coast Edible Garden Trail, is a comprehensive list of local farmers, coops, produce swaps and roadside stalls using organic and regenerative practices.
Keep up to date at https://www.facebook.com/CentralCoastEdibleGardenTrail.
Primary source: Media release, Nov 23, 2022, Central Coast Edible Garden Trail