It was at our local community garden at the North Wollongong PCYC, where we first started to learn about sustainable organic gardening. It’s where we first experienced how powerful food gardens are for healing and empowering people, building community, and bring life back to the land. It’s also a place where we have met wonderful people and made fantastic friends. We even met each other under the mulberry tree!

From bare grass and asphalt in 1999, ‘The Garden’ at the North Wollongong PCYC has flourished into a spectacular permaculture food forest. Packed into about 1,000 square metres is an abundance of fruit trees, veggie beds, ponds, arts, mosaics, and a funky chicken house. There’s even an outdoor kitchen with a wood fired pizza oven on the way!

An enthusiastic group looks after and creates this amazing place. Interested people are always welcome to get involved and come along to a working bee. Working bees are usually on the first Sunday of each month, but this can change from time to time. For more info see http://nswcommunities.org.au/thegarden.html or contact Aaron Sorenson on 0424 241 881. Amazing transformations are also happening at Port Kembla, with a group bringing a laneway to life with permaculture gardens.