Susan Mangion founded Edible Harvest Out West two years ago after noticing an absence of community gardens around Caroline Springs. She tells Sumeyya Ilanbey her idea grew very popular very quickly.
Can you tell me a little bit about yourself?
I’m a stay-at-home mum and my background is actually not in horticulture – I’ve got a bachelor in psychology. Probably in the past 15 years I’ve been involved with gardening … one day I found myself drawn to the garden and started going out on a daily basis and it was a comforting place for me.
Where did the idea for EHOW sprout from?
I contacted the council a couple of years ago to find out whether or not they had a community garden … they didn’t. I met with members of the EHOW community in February 2014 and since then our focus has been on education, sustainability, community connectedness, people connecting to get to know each other. We’ve got a pilot garden in Taylors Hill and just last year we worked on some garden beds at a Neighbourhood House in Caroline Springs.
What about EHOW has caught you by surprise?
It was more popular than I expected it to be. People coming from so many different walks of life wanted to get involved. They wanted to get involved in terms of the social element. Others wanted to grow edible plants but didn’t know what to do. And others who have been gardening for so many years wanted to meet others with similar likes and share their knowledge.
What’s been the most rewarding part of being involved with EHOW?
Getting people who’ve been too scared to start growing and sharing their enthusiasm, which is really contagious. Then those people go and get their friends and family involved.
Why do you think community gardens are important?
There are so many benefits of a community garden – the sustainability, connectedness and not only physical health but also mental health. A woman, who lives in Todmorden [in the United Kingdom], started a community garden in her town. And one of the places was in front of a police station – police also started growing their corn. The police themselves gave feedback that crime reduction had been a positive thing to come out of the community gardens. People who were once doing vandalism [and] graffiti now found a better way to use their time.
Any advice to people wanting to start gardening?
Just start – starting is the hardest bit.
What’s your favourite place in Caroline Springs?
Me and the kids love hanging out at the library, eating sushi and feeding the ducks at the lake.
For more information about Edible Harvest Out West, email ehowgarden@hotmail.com
