1. North Street
Funky, frugal and a little feral, over 6 years of raging enthusiasm on a limited budget has formed a homemade pocket paradise for this family. This tiny but mighty 400 sqm block includes 20 fruiting trees, a feijoa hedge, 5 inground veg beds, wicking bed, five composters, worm farm, 6000L of water tanks and a verge garden. Plus a flock of bantam chickens ruling the roost, yard and sometimes the house.
2. Adair Drive
This 19 acre property has been landscaped to align with permaculture principles. Features include contour-aligned swales and fencing, rotational grazing and a dam. Over 100 fruit, nut and shade trees have been planted in the last two years and a substantial area set aside for bush regeneration. The owners also enjoy spending time with their alpacas, goats, chickens, ducks and guinea fowl.
3. Brunswick Street
This much loved block has four large veggie patches, fruit trees and a water feature designed to support frogs (plus swings for visiting kids).
4. Matthews Avenue
This garden has been a labour of love over the past 3-4 years and now houses many raised garden beds growing organically, a chook shed, greenhouse, bee hive, herbaceous borders, and various fruit trees. Innovative practices towards soil health include brewing soil bacteria, composting and worm farming.
5. Spring Street
The product of an active and lively primary school garden program, this garden includes fruit trees, vegetables, indigenous edible plants, poultry and a worm farm. Student Eco Warriors will be on site!
6. March Street
Herbs and other edibles are scattered through the shrubs, bulbs and annuals in this back courtyard garden, some on pots on the porch. There are a range of herbs along with lettuces, rocket, tomatoes, lemon trees and a huge resplendent rhubarb. The bees love the flowers, and lots of birds visit this haven.
7. Phoenix Mine Road, Lucknow
A varied garden with three veggie tanks as well as citrus, mulberry and rhubarb. Animals include alpacas and chooks. Note: Turn on to Phoenix Mine Rd, it's 200m on the right.
8. Woodward Street
A quarter acre block featuring both well established and young fruit trees, all underplanted with edibles and ornamental perennials. A mixture of in-ground and raised beds allow for vegetable growing. A hive of bees and chooks form part of the system. The front yard is dedicated to native plants to support local wildlife.
9. Amaroo Road, Borenore
A six year old garden on a 6.5 acre property. The owners work to rebuild the soil and biodiversity through regenerative and organic practices. Most of the household’s vegetables and fruit are grown onsite (and carefully preserved) along with ornamental beds, beehive and farm animals.
10. Cecil Road
An ever changing, experimental front garden, the owners trial an eclectic mix of plants and methods. This garden contains herbs, flowers, fruit trees, vegetables, vertical growing and ground covers, but is completely lawn free! Includes innovative use of recycled materials.
11. Discovery Drive, Meredith
Designed with permaculture principles in mind, this garden features many fruit trees and perennial food plants. Continuation of veggies is encouraged through self-seeding, and the garden includes a pond system for wildlife and water management.
12. Anson Street
A practical garden chasing the sun including veggie, fruit and herb patches around the house, front and back. Fully integrated worms and chooks.
13. Lucas Drive
A suburban property being retro-fitted using permaculture principles (retro-suburbia style). Solar power and heating along with water catchments capture resources, and plants for food and medicine are grown throughout all outdoor areas. Seed saving, propagation and permaculture workshops, a community exchange, along with chickens and wormfarms are all part of the system.
14. Community Garden
The shared effort, knowledge, resources, time and creativity of volunteer participants combine to make this large garden grow abundantly. Established fruit trees, a row of hazelnuts, and a large number of beds, produce a diverse array of foods, including honey from bee hives. Part of this space is currently used to grow food for FoodCare Orange.
15. Anson Street
An innovative garden on a small urban block close to the CBD with around 150 sqm devoted to production. The front garden is a food forest design including densely planted fruit and nut trees and herbs. The rear garden is a diverse mix of food forest and annual vegetable production, along with chooks and bees.