The traffic island that became a community garden

Nina Hamilton is a mother, gardener and wedding photographer living in the suburbs of Hobart, the capital and most populous city of the Australian island state of Tasmania.

When COVID-19 hit Australia, her work stopped, and she had to home-school her six-year-old son. “I was worried about work and money coming in, and also worried that if we went into lockdown and quarantine, where I was going to get my fresh food from.”

Fortunately, her gardening skills came to the rescue as she started working on a small garden in the middle of her cul-de-sac street. The council had given residents permission to use the traffic island for growing vegetables six years ago, but it had become overgrown and unsightly. So, Nina gave it a makeover.

Nina first had to pull out lots of grass and then gradually build in beds around the circular space. All the materials, from bricks to soil, were donated by neighbours, the council, or found nearby. The garden is now flourishing with broad beans, leafy greens, and even organic purple garlic donated by a passer-by.

The garden is a delight for all the senses, “I love the smell of the earth, it’s one of my favourite smells, especially after rain. And I love the textures and the flavours of the food; I particularly love the greens that have a bit of bite in them.”

Meanwhile, Nina’s neighbours were thrilled to have something beautiful to look at, something to do and a way to connect to community. They even have a vegetable swap going with those with their own backyard patch.

Even as Tasmania eases back to normal, this kind of garden continues to play an important role in Nina’s life.

“It has been so beneficial for my own mental health, it’s almost like garden therapy, and I really encourage anybody who is struggling at the moment to get out there and get their hands dirty, and plant even just a few small things that they can eat.”

View the original video here.

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