Money doesn't grow on trees but food does. How much is already sitting in your garden that you can eat for free that you don’t know about?

Just yesterday my friend pointed out the little white flowers in our backyard was actually wild garlic. I then started to wonder how much money I could be saving at the supermarket by just having more knowledge about what is right underneath my nose.

Our neighbour has started up a sharing basket out the front of his property to give away his delicious excess apples and pears. It reminded me of the family I met in Melbourne who decided to make their entire suburban front yard a vegetable a patch. They give all the excess fruit and vegies to anyone that was lucky enough to pass by. It was such a simple and generous thing to do. It still inspires me and when I have a garden of my own I would like to do the same. I don't even know if this family are still living there but the food education the father was able to give his kids and the benevolence he grew in his community was a beautiful thing.

Friend neighbours over a veggie or two

It has been a little over a year since Paul and his family shared the first pumpkin and trombone zucchini with their neighbours, in Albion Sunshine.

Paul, describing himself as “not an overly extroverted person”, said the best thing about transforming his front yard into a bountiful vegetable garden was being able to connect with his community.

 “We have a Burmese neighbour, who was shy at first, it started with a wave while I was in the garden, now he stops for a chat, which is great!

 “We don’t normally see the people that pick up the veggies, but we may bump into them down the street and they thank us.

“One elderly gentleman was so appreciative he gave my wife a home-made bottle of wine!”

Paul said there was also one lady who they found lying next to their front yard. “She said she loved just inhaling the sent of the garden,” Paul said laughing.

 Growing your own food and eating local is not just a great way to get to know your neighbours, it is key to living more sustainably. Eating locally grown, and seasonal vegetables significantly reduces resources it takes to transport food across the state, interstate, nationally and even internationally.

 More than 300 cities around the world have started ‘Food is Free’ projects. Their mantra is; “‘It’s time we take back our food and meet our neighbors. Invite your friends to join the mission. Transform your own neighborhood by planting a community garden in your front yard.”

Paul revealed his secret is making the whole front yard like a no-dig garden bed, which means less maintenance than a standing garden. He said he turned the grass over with a garden fork, layered with newspaper, then straw.

“I don’t have to mow, and the garden takes about one hour a week to maintain”

Paul who is studying education said research has shown that humans need nature to be creative, connect and learn.

He is also the recipient of a Brimbank Community Grant, which he is planning to use to host a community wicking bed workshop later this year. The idea behind this is to empower community members with a non-fuss, easy to maintain garden bed that only has to be watered every couple of weeks. 

 Paul doesn’t know if there are any more sharing tables in Brimbank but he certainly hopes there are. “I’m not about preaching. You can start small or big..it’s about appreciating the idea.

“I started with just a couple of edible plants in our front yard. It has allowed us to connect with nature, connect with our neighbours, connect with ourselves.”