
Richard Unsworth and Yvonne – Photo by Nicholas Watt
Richard Unsworth is a founding member of the James Street Reserve Community Garden, based behind his Garden Life store in Redfern and is especially passionate about the power of gardening to help us connect with one another. His new book, Garden Life, is a garden book with soul, showcasing to-die-for gardens as well as tips and advice for creating your own garden and growing your own plants.
Richard shared some of his experiences with the James Street Reserve Community Garden.
The oasis that is the James Street Community Garden, behind the Garden Life store in Redfern, is situated in what used to be a really sad piece of council land, masquerading as a public park. In the past, residents would often walk a longer way to the shops to avoid the dodgy space.
About five years ago, a group of dedicated and talented locals hatched a plan to turn it into a community garden and Garden Life was approached to offer support and sponsorship to help it get off the ground. I jumped at the chance to be involved.
It’s so heart-warming to see how the continued dedication and hard work of the members has paid off and transformed this barren area into a thriving bio-diverse little haven for plants and people.
As well as an abundance of veggies, herbs and flowers growing in the beautiful, rich, worm-filled soil, the garden is now alive with bees and insects all busy doing their thing.
Working bees are held monthly and provide perfect opportunities for education, carrying out seasonal tasks and give everyone an update on what’s happening in each of the circular beds. Members bring their kids along to sow seeds and muck in where they can.
As much as it is about growing food, on a social level it’s a chance for locals and members to come together and connect with each other, to enjoy community and feel ‘part of’ something other than their day-to-day.
The garden is absolutely helping to change social behaviour and I vividly remember seeing a passing grandmother pointing out the different veggies to her young grandkids who may only have seen these before on a supermarket shelf.
The community garden is now vibrant, abundant and alive – adding great energy all around this once sterile and scary corner. See if there are any community gardens in your area and if not start one of your own!
James Street Community Garden, Redfern – Photos by Nicholas Watt