Growing produce and friendships in the community garden

Many great friendships have been nurtured through a mutual love of gardening and the delight of meeting someone with that same fascination for plants, but possibly none as strong as the residents of Aveo Derwent Waters in Claremont, Tasmania.

In mid-2018, Aveo Derwent Waters resident, Pat Mavromatis, began planting cuttings to sell at the community’s annual Christmas market. The first stall was an overwhelming success, and planted the seed for another terrific idea – an all-year-round plant stall.

Pat’s enthusiasm and love for all things gardening proved to be quite infectious, with other resident gardening enthusiasts soon joining her to keep the plant stall alive. 

Like all good gardeners, the gardening enthusiasts reuse, replenish and recycle avidly, with all funds raised through plant sales used for gardening materials. Alongside seeds, bulbs and potting mix, the residents have also purchased compost tumblers and a new gardening shed. The tumblers work away 24/7 to produce rich, fertile compost, and eight residents have already received a free 8kg bag of compost to garden with.

However the gardening doesn’t stop at plants – the residents have also revived the communal vegetable garden, which is now overflowing with all kinds of vegetables and herbs. This produce is shared with the community kitchen and among the other residents.

But for the residents, it’s about more than just the fresh produce – the community garden is a place where they form deep friendships and a commitment to care for each other and the community.

Click below to discover the neighbourly and friendly community of Aveo Derwent Waters.