Warracknabeal has celebrated the 10th anniversary of its community garden with a sustainability workshop, carrot
cake, and a visit from television host and environmental educator Costa Georgiadis. 

Community garden secretary Marie Aitken said more than 100 people attended the celebration.

“It’s quite an achievement,” she said.

Paul and La Vergne Lehmann, along with Mr Georgiadis, hosted a sustainability, waste-reduction and money-saving workshop.

“Eight years ago Costa visited the garden when it was in its early days, and today we were very lucky he was in the region and able to join us for our 10th anniversary celebration,” Mrs Aitken said.

“The garden has given our town a lovely, welcoming green space in the main street of town. 

“People use it to just pop in and enjoy what we’re growing, and some of us sit down and have a coffee. It’s a welcoming place for everyone – adults and children.”

Corinne Heintze said the garden gave people the opportunity to share gardening tips.

“A lot of gardening skills are shared, particularly with composting and fruit and vegetable growing,” she said.

When the garden’s future was threatened by its land being put up for sale, Mrs Heintze said council came together to preserve its future.

“Earlier on in the year, the person who owned the block was looking to sell it and the community garden,” she said.

“The committee didn’t really know what they were going to do because to buy a block of land they may need $40,000 or $50,000.

“I could see how valuable the garden was to the town, you see people coming in and out of here all the time.”

Yarriambiack council donated some money towards buying the land, and other money was raised by the community.

“Everybody got in because they really wanted this to happen, and I think that’s just so important,” Mrs Heintze said.

“This should be here now for perpetuity, for everybody to enjoy and learn gardening skills.”

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