Community Garden Network
URBAN ACTION
Growing our own food reduces food miles and therefore our carbon footprint and creates a healthy and increasingly important foodresilience within our communities.
COVID 19 has awakened many to the importance and joys of growing organic veggies and fruit in our
backyards. Equally, the benefits of social gardening and skill sharing within a group has been highlighted. Community gardens are often the repository of a diverse seed bank of food crops acclimatised to our zone as well as a diversity of skills and knowledge within their membership about growing pesticide-free food.
With community gardens providing many of Council’s stated community engagement services within the community, our network is looking forward to cooperating with and gaining support from Council in the provision of suitable community land with realistic lease agreements that will encourage future local groups to develop new communal gardens.
As part of Regen Action, the Southern Highlands Community Garden Network promotes regenerative land management practices to all participating community gardens.
Gundungurra Bush Tucker & Bush Medicine gardens.
Regen Action acknowledges that the land on which we live and work is the traditional lands of the Gundungurra people. The Gundungurra community does such important work in land restoration and Regen Action stands beside them, loving county and caring for country.
Regen Action is currently supporting the Gundungurra community to establish a series of bush tucker and bush medicine gardens and education facilities in the Wingecarribee. These gardens would be places of cultural collaboration, knowledge sharing and community building.
All bush tucker and medicine gardens are to be established on land that is managed regeneratively.
Meet the Co-ordinators
Jill Cockram
Community gardens are a fantastic way to enrich community health, food security, and forge positive relationships. They also empower, upskill, and foster inclusivity. Through the act of shared care, we develop social skills and pioneer gentle conflict resolution. But don’t think you have to work with your formal community. You can set up a garden on your street that serves the community passively. Even your street garden can peacefully offer free flowers, food, and entertainment.
Kirstine Lumb-McKay
Kirstine McKay is an international award winning journalist, television reporter, writer, presenter, actor, sustainability educator, garden designer and with her husband raises chickens, bees, veggies and three boys. Kirstine is passionate about our natural environment and seeks to inspire and share her experience of a sustainable lifestyle , living lightly on the planet in the beautiful NSW Southern Highlands.