Could 'verge gardens' become a part of Wagga's urban landscape?

Known as ‘verge gardens’, these garden beds give people a chance to grow vegetables on their nature strip and have just been made legal in the ACT in a bid to encourage healthy eating and strengthen community ties.

With councils across Victoria now considering the initiative, the question is whether NSW will follow suit and, if it does, could the concept work in Wagga.

Demonstration Garden project supervisor Jim Rees seems to think so, saying there were many appealing aspects to the smaller, low maintenance garden beds.

"I think verge gardens would be a great idea for people in Wagga,” he said.

"The problem with vegetable gardens generally is that people don't do enough maintenance on them, so then they get out of hand and become a huge job.

“But verge gardens are small, manageable spaces that don’t use too much water, and that would be much more appealing to a lot more people."

Mr Rees said verge gardening would not only give people easier access to healthy, fresh produce, but would strengthen community ties and start conversations between neighbors.

"They would encourage people to stop by and chat to people in the area and that’s what really creates a stronger sense of community,” he said.

“And for people who have been unsuccessful in growing plants before, they can talk to verge garden owners and get tips and pointers, so it would be educational as well.”

Mount Austin High agricultural teacher Scott Callaghan agreed, saying the quirky idea could reignite neighborly relationships.

“It would really open up conversation in a street and has the potential to bring neighbors closer together,” he said.

“One family could grow a few vegetables and another could grow different ones and they could swap and share between them.”

”I think if the whole community really got behind the idea then it’s something that could really take hold in Wagga, because we already know there are people passionate about growing and gardening here.”