JOIN THE ILLAWARRA EDIBLE GARDEN TRAIL!

We’ve got some exciting news! Food Fairness Illawarra will host the second Illawarra Edible Garden Trail on Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th November 2024 from 10am-3pm. This event is sponsored by Gilly’s Kitchen Garden.

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WHAT IS AN EDIBLE GARDEN TRAIL?

An edible garden trail is a weekend where gardeners of all levels and in all environments open their front gate to the general public to meander through. It’s all about connecting budding gardeners, well-rooted growers and sticky-beakers, to share all the growing tricks and tips for different environments. The Trail is an opportunity to ask all those weird and wacky questions, how to raise chooks, what does it take to build soil, how do you choose the right varieties for your garden, what about endemic native foods, how to build the right structure fit for purpose, what grows well in shady spots, how to plant dwarf fruit tree or just simply asking, what is this weed!? And maybe, is it edible? Don't miss this golden opportunity to connect with your neighbours and learn how to build food security across the Illawarra!

Open Your Garden

We’ll be showcasing ALL types of growing spaces. The trail is for anyone growing food in their backyard, on a balcony, verge, community space or even window sill. Have a read of our Host FAQ’s and then take 5 minutes to tell us about your growing space here.
Gardens will be open across Wollongong Local Government.

EVENT DETAILS

WhatIllawarra Edible Garden Trail 
WhenSaturday 9th and Sunday 10th November 2024 10am – 3pm
WhereHelensburgh to Windang
WhoCommunity members across the Illawarra interested in local food growing
Cost Adult (17+) – $25 Kids (16 and under) – $5 Concession (students, pensioners)- $15 Adult (17+) Single Garden Visit - $5

Please note for attendees visiting gardens over the Saturday and Sunday of the Trail we will have a roaming photographer and videographer. If for any reason you do not wish to be filmed or photographed would you please be able to make that known to the videographee and the photographer who will be apparent with large amounts of camera gear. Otherwise content taken on the day will be used in promotional material for consequent events and marketing needs.

2024 – GARDEN PROFILES

Northern Illawarra (Helensburgh - Thirroul)

Otford / Gilly’s Kitchen Garden

Market Garden / Sat & Sun

Sunny / shady / veggies / herbs / fruit / chickens / compost / worm farm

Outdoor classroom with student plots comprising traditional annual beds and food forests. Native garden, creek micro-climate, polytunnel, irrigation system, composting options and much more.

Otford / Gilly’s Kitchen Garden

Otford / Greg Cook

Backyard garden (mostly shaded) / Sat & Sun

Raised beds / Herbs / Nuts / Vegetables / Fruit / Chickens / Microgreens / Bio Intensive / Compost / Worm Farms

Bio Intensive organic vegetable garden. Closed system gardening focused on soil heath. Seed saving garden.

Otford / Greg Cook

Otford / Otford Public School

Shady school garden / Sat & Sun

Raised beds / Coastal air exposed / / Herbs / Vegetables / Fruit / Permaculture principles / No-dig beds / Spray-free / Compost /

The Otford Public School garden proudly grows a variety of herbs, veg and flowers, along with dwarf fruit trees that area establishing well in our shady environment. Otford Public School has a rich history of growing food and flowers.

Otford / Otford Public School

Stawell Park / Kieran Tapsell

Backyard garden (mostly shaded), Coastal air exposed, Native bush foods

Fruit / Bushcare regeneration / Compost

Nursery for native trees and bush care.

Stawell Park / Kieran Tapsell

Coledale / Coledale Public school

School Garden / Saturday ONLY

Herbs / Vegetables / Fruit / Chickens / Permaculture principles / No-dig beds / Compost / Worm farm

Coledale Public school Garden is an organic garden. We have chickens, a food forest and no dig garden beds where we grow seasonal vegetables and herbs.

Coledale / Coledale Public school

Coledale / Kylie Madden

Sunny Backyard / Sunday ONLY

Permaculture principles / No dig beds / Food forest / Native bush foods /Climbing trellis / Syntropic / Biodynamic / Spray-free / Herbs / Nuts / Vegetables / Fruit / Chickens / Compost pile / Worm farm / Green bin

Gardening in the rainforest brings its own challenges and joys. We are learning to make a productive garden with raised beds in a 2ha rainforest site full of brush turkeys and swamp wallabies with 0.5 ha cultivated with veg and fruit trees. Check out Kylie’s garden featured on Gardening Australia: https://www.abc.net.au/gardening/how-to/illawarra-healing/13934746

Coledale / Kylie Madden

Austinmer / Belinda Baccarini

Coastal Verge garden / Saturday ONLY

Herbs / Vegetables / Native bush foods / Edible flowers / No Spray / Compost / Worm Farm

Verge garden beds under powerlines, in the full sun. Bird friendly verge beds with gum trees, banksias, herbs, some vegetables, edible flowers and beautiful flowers for butterflies, bees and birds.

Austinmer / Belinda Baccarini

Austinmer / Imogen Ross

Verge garden / Sunday ONLY

Herbs / Vegetables / Fruit / Spray-free / Hugelkulture / Compost / Worm farm / Chop n’ drop

Unusual public-access garden built on the verge of railway lands and council roads.
Began in 2016 as a way to prevent soil erosion and bring back pollinators. This creative corner has become a favourite stopping point for the community, bringing shared stories to light and encouraging seed swaps, cuttings and young people’s interest.

Austinmer / Imogen Ross

Thirroul / Noah Fineberg

Raised beds (sun & shade) / Saturday ONLY

Herbs / Vegetables / Fruit / Microgreens / Permaculture principles / No-dig beds / Spray-free / Worm farm

I have a mix of raised garden beds, pots, troughs, and garden beds that I made using a version of Hugelkultur method. I did it a lot myself with some help from dad too.

Thirroul / Noah Fineberg

Thirroul / Karen Charlton

Backyard garden (mostly shaded) / Saturday ONLY

Raised beds / Herbs / Vegetables / Chickens / Permaculture principles / No-dig beds / Spray-free / Compost

Raised beds in a backyard. Started growing in June 2024.

Thirroul / Karen Charlton

Thirroul / Thirroul Community Garden

Community Garden / Sunday ONLY

Herbs / Vegetables / Fruit /Permaculture principles / Spray-free / Compost / Worm farm / Bokashi bin / Weed tea / Cold compost

Established community garden, totally shared space. Very social. Food production, bush care, streamwatch, and workshops

Thirroul / Thirroul Community Garden

Central North (Bulli - Mt Ousley)

Bulli / Suzy Pickles

Backyard garden (mostly full sun) / Saturday ONLY

Herbs / Vegetables / Fruit / Permaculture principles / No-dig beds / Spray-free / Compost / Worm farm / Chickens

Suburban quarter acre block that has been cultivated in line with permaculture principles with a range of native plants (for biodiversity), edible garden zones (herbs, raised garden beds, on-ground veggie patch, an orchard, verge garden) as well as chickens and bees. We established the garden in 2020 and in 2023 collected data on our inputs, outputs etc, and discovered that we had grown 500 kg of food in a year!

Bulli / Suzy Pickles

Woonona / Jorid Nordaker

Raised beds / Saturday ONLY

Herbs, Fruit / No spray / Compost

Pot garden amongst tamarillo trees, snd a drive way fruit tree garden.

Woonona / Jorid Nordaker

Woonona / Woonona Community Garden

Community garden / Saturday ONLY

Herbs / Vegetables / Fruit / Bees / Compost / Worm farm

We are a 4 year old community garden using crop rotation, organic matter applications and hot compost to improve our soil fertility. We have 30 vegetable beds and about 50 fruit trees. Building community connections and education is an important part of our ethos.

Woonona / Woonona Community Garden

Corrimal / Joanne Mcluskey

Backyard garden (mostly full sun) / Saturday ONLY

Raised beds Herbs / Vegetables / Fruit / Spray-free / Compost / Chickens

Started with one raised veg bed a few years ago which has expanded into 3. Have also planted fruit trees, herbs and edible flowers. The chickens provide eggs and manure and the 2 compost bins keep the cycle flowing. The front garden and verge are planted with native plants to bring back the native pollinators and birds.

Corrimal / Joanne Mcluskey

Tarrawanna / Tarrawanna Public School

School garden/ Saturday ONLY

Herbs / Nuts / Vegetables / Fruit / Bees / Native bush and trees (edible or not) / Permaculture principles / No-dig beds / Syntropic / Biodynamic / Spray-free / Compost

Our Living Classroom permaculture garden is an integral part of our educational experience. Year 3 students, as garden ambassadors, engage in practical activities like soil building, water saving, and composting, cultivating a variety of seasonal vegetables and herbs year-round. Our garden also features over 30 fruit trees, including bananas, citrus, macadamias, and more, creating a vibrant, hands-on learning environment for all.

Tarrawanna / Tarrawanna Public School

Towradgi / Penny Claiborne

Verge & Backyard garden (sun and shade) / Sunday ONLY

Herbs, Vegetables, Fruit / Permaculture principles / Spray-free / Compost / Worm farm / Green bin / Raised beds / Food forest / Native bush foods

Verge garden with natives & back garden full sun with 5 raised beds for fruit and multiple recently planted citrus trees. Shaded back garden with native food forest started in early 2023, planting ongoing!

Towradgi / Penny Claiborne

Balgownie / Bally Patch

Community garden / Sunday ONLY

Herbs / Vegetables / Fruit / Bees / Edible flowers / Permaculture principles / No-dig beds / Compost

Perennials, flowers, natives, bees and herbs support biodiversity alongside four shared communal no dig beds and private allotments. Nestled in with cosy seating is the well visited community library. It’s the 11th year of building community and capacity.

Balgownie / Bally Patch

Fairy Meadow / Fairy Meadow Demonstration School

School garden / Saturday ONLY

Herbs / Vegetables / Fruit / Bees / Native trees and plants / Permaculture principles / No-dig beds / Syntropic / Biodynamic / Spray-free / Compost

Our large school garden is based on Permaculture Design systems that balance food production, biodiversity and sustainable natural resource management. The garden integrates natural resources and practices including seasonal planting, soil building, efficient water use, planting, plant propagation, composting, pruning, weeding, mulching, harvesting and storage of produce, seed saving and constructing garden structures.

Fairy Meadow / Fairy Meadow Demonstration School

Mt Pleasant / Aline Jaeckel

Backyard garden (mostly shaded), Raised beds, Native bush foods / Sunday ONLY

Herbs / Vegetables / Fruit / Bees / Native plants / Permaculture principles / No-dig beds / Spray-free / Compost / Worm farm

Permaculture-inspired front, side, and back garden with plenty of edible landscaping and raised veggie beds. We started the garden in 2021 and tried to integrate kids’ play spaces with edible landscaping and some dedicated veg and herb patches. Minimal lawn to maximise growing space.

Mt Pleasant / Aline Jaeckel

Central South (Wollongong - Unanderra)

Wollongong / Mount St Thomas Public School

School garden / Saturday ONLY

Herbs / Vegetables / Fruit / Permaculture principles / Compost /Worm farm

School and community garden, consisting of raised garden beds with seasonal fruits, vegetables and herbs.

Wollongong / Mount St Thomas Public School

Wollongong / Sheryl Wiffen

Verge & Backyard garden (mostly full sun) / Sat & Sun

Herbs / Nuts / Vegetables / Fruit / Chickens / Bees / Permaculture principles / No-dig beds / Spray-free / Compost / Worm farm

Been a passionate gardener all my life – got into Permaculture with Aaron Sorensen at the community garden at PCYC, and use permie principles in my garden & life. Completed my PDC with John Champagne at The Crossing in 2009 & am a founding member of Permablitz the Gong.

Wollongong / Sheryl Wiffen

Figtree / Kathryn Morgan

Verge, Balcony & Backyard garden (mostly shaded) / Saturday ONLY

Herbs / Vegetables / Fruit / Permaculture principles / No-dig beds / Compost / Worm farm

Very mixed suburban “no mow” garden featuring some food, lots of habitat and pollinator friendly flowers, all under a mature eucalyptus canopy.

Figtree / Kathryn Morgan

Mount Kembla / Retro Roast Coffee Van

Raised beds / Sat & Sun

Herbs / Vegetables / No-dig beds / Spray-free / Compost

Our sunny Grow & Share Garden grows herbs, vegetables & flowers for our customers to pick while enjoying a coffee with a fantastic view & lots of Fairy Wren birds fluttering around when visiting historical Mount Kembla.

Mount Kembla / Retro Roast Coffee Van

Unanderra / Ben Davies

Verge garden / Saturday ONLY

Herbs, Vegetables, Fruit / Spray-free / Compost

Native Australian and European food forrest. Front yard/verge. North, north/west facing full sun.

Unanderra / Ben Davies

Southern Illawarra (Berkeley - Windang/Dapto)

Port Kembla / Berbel Franse

Verge & Backyard garden (mostly full sun) / Sunday ONLY

Herbs / Vegetables / Fruit / Permaculture principles / No-dig beds / Spray-free / Compost / Worm farm

Food forest in the making!

Port Kembla / Berbel Franse

Port Kembla / Milo Kelly

Backyard garden (mostly full sun) / Sunday ONLY

Herbs / Vegetables / Fruit / Permaculture principles / No-dig beds / Compost

1 yr old garden on sunny sloping lot. Aiming for productive no-dig style vegetable beds with lots of insect habitat

Port Kembla / Milo Kelly

Warrawong / Green Connect Farm

Market garden / Sunday ONLY

Herbs / Vegetables / Fruit / Chickens / Bees / Pigs / lambs Permaculture principles, Organic Worm farm, Chickens, Livestock, Green bin, Chipping/mulching

11 acre urban farm in Warrawong NSW featuring over 20 organic vegetable beds, along with herbs, bees, chickens, pigs and sheep. Green Connect is a non-profit organisation providing food to the local community to help fund the support of young people and former refugees with training and employment opportunities. Not suitable for prams, wheelchairs or those with moderate mobility issues.

Warrawong / Green Connect Farm

Berkeley / Lisa Redwood

Backyard sunny garden / Sat & Sun

Raised beds / Food forest / Native bush foods / Front yard garden / Herbs / Vegetables / Fruit / Permaculture principles / No-dig beds / Compost / Worm farm

Sunny front yard garden with raised garden beds growing veggies, berries and herbs and a food forest, started growing in 2022.

Berkeley / Lisa Redwood

Cringila / Zoe King

Coastal backyard garden w/ raised beds (mostly full sun) / Sunday ONLY

Food forest / Native bush foods / Herbs / Vegetables / Fruit / Chickens / Permaculture principles / Spray-free / Compost

We have a Wicking bed garden using recycled materials which grow a range of annuals and perennials. We have some native food plants as well as citrus and fruit trees. Our 9 chickens free range through the garden. We aim to apply permaculture principles throughout our property. Established 2021.

Cringila / Zoe King

Dapto / Dana Mertens

Backyard garden (mostly full sun) / Sat & Sun

Herbs / Nuts / Vegetables / Fruit / Chickens / Microgreens / Permaculture principles / No-dig beds / Spray-free / Compost / Worm farm / Bokashi bin

An edible garden using permaculture, organic and regenerative principles. A working urban farm, that feeds the household and others.

Dapto / Dana Mertens

Buy Tickets

Tickets can only be purchased for both days, not individual days. If you would like to visit only one garden you can purchase an individual garden ticket for $5. Whole weekend tickets will give you access to all gardens. People under 16 are free, but please still register them so we can keep record of attendees. Funds raised from tickets sales cover the costs of delivering the event. Garden addresses and a map will be emailed to ticket holders one week prior to the event. Please purchase your tickets via Humanitix. Tickets will require collection prior to attendance, more details to come. Please click through to event link for ticket prices.

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