General News
7 November, 2022
Day in the garden to mark 20th anniversary
The secret behind Talbot’s blossoming neighbourhood can be found potted away at the London House Community Garden. Sown within the garden is a legacy that spans 20 years — going back to October 2001 when the renowned Talbot London House cafe...
The secret behind Talbot’s blossoming neighbourhood can be found potted away at the London House Community Garden.
Sown within the garden is a legacy that spans 20 years — going back to October 2001 when the renowned Talbot London House cafe opened its doors.
Back then, the neglected plot next to the cafe was filled with rubble and rubbish until locals got together and began working on building what would later be known as Talbot’s community garden.
“We thought we’d better start gardening. Lots of people donated plants, and we planted all of them,” gardener Helen Hazelman said.
“The place eventually became weedy, then we thought we’d better start weeding. And 20 years later we’re still weeding and developing the garden.”
Helen, along with her husband and fellow gardener Lindsay Hazelman, has seen the plot mature from dust to lush greenery.
“After a couple of years, it started to get some semblance of a young garden. Obviously, it’s matured a lot since but once the paving was done, and the key plants were put in, it sort of took its own shape,” Lindsay said.
In 2002, Scandinavian Crescent transformed into a set for the film Love’s Brother but in the backdrop, the garden was filled with weeds. Locals were prompted to clean up the space and started a monthly working bee.
Now, the volunteer group and working bee has branched out to include other gardeners like Vic Sorati.
“If someone ever said 10 years ago I’d be a keen gardener I would have laughed at them. But now I just love it,” Vic said.
Most Talbot residents join the garden as volunteers because they’re looking for something to do — but they stay for different reasons.
“It’s a great social connector, having a community garden,” Lindsay said.
“We get 20 to 30 people coming along every working bee and we’ve got a core of about five to seven. But we do have a bit of fun and a fair bit of chatter.”
It’s a big asset to the community according to volunteer Barb Williams.
“The whole community really appreciates the garden even though they’re not here to volunteer, the
locals make use of it from time to time by holding weddings and events in the garden,” she said.
Community awareness for the garden is also driven by the bordering cafe.
“To most people, the cafe and garden, it’s all one. We get a lot of visitors to town who like to go to the cafe and then just come out to the garden,” Lindsay said.
When the volunteers are around, guests often get a round of show and tell.
“Visitors ask us about certain plants, how tall they grow and whether it will grow in their area. We love being able to mix with people and tell them what they need to know. Maybe they’ll go and start a community garden in their area,” Barb said.
There is a distinct homeliness to the gardens as well that continues to attract crowds.
“People love it because it reminds them of their grandma’s garden or their aunty’s garden,” Helen said.
But keeping a garden going is no easy job, especially as the team grows older.
“I think we’re conscious of the fact that the garden gives a lot of joy to a lot of people. And we would like to see more younger folk getting involved to continue that tradition, as we run out of energy a little,” Lindsay said.
In celebration of the garden’s 20th anniversary and to promote participation towards its upkeep, Millie Ross from ABC Gardening Australia is giving a talk on November 12 at the Talbot Town Hall.
“We love Millie and she’s so popular that people are bound to be attracted by her presence here and that will enhance our garden,” Barb said.
Tickets for the talk are available online via Eventbrite. Alternatively you can also purchase them at Carramar Nursery in Maryborough or the Talbot Post Office.
Lucy Mora, author of The Kitchen Garden will also be signing copies of her book at Talbot’s London House Cafe.
The London House Community Garden, located at 42 Scandinavian Crescent, will be open to viewing on Saturday from 12 to 4 pm alongside the other events.
For those interested in volunteering in the garden contact 0408 135 150.