A local initiative has sprouted up around Sunshine, aiming to spread joy and happiness throughout the community.
Local Sunshine resident, Melanie Etheridge is giving away free sunflowers seeds for people to share, plant and grow to help fill the streets with colourful blooms.
Melanie said the idea for the Sunshine Sunflower Project was inspired from the Sunflower Project in Geelong during covid-19 lockdowns.
“At the time, there were five kilometre restrictions so I was unable to collect any free seeds for myself but instead decided to purchase seeds and give them away locally,” she said.
“The seeds were snapped up quickly and the feedback for the initiative was overwhelmingly positive. The original group has since stopped the seed giveaway thus inspiring me to create a project just for the Brimbank community.”
Melanie said she hopes each person who collects the seeds is able to successfully grow and sow the sunflower seeds, and appreciate the ‘wonder of nature’.
“Their big bright yellow flowers symbolise positivity, happiness and optimism. They are heliotropic which means they turn their heads to face the sun and their large flower heads also attract the attention of bees, butterflies and native birds – as well as the gaze of the observant human,” she said.
When planting the seeds, Melanie said the key to success is being patient.
“It’s best to wait until the danger of frost has passed and the soil has warmed up in Spring. Choose a spot in the garden that receives full sun to sow your seeds and water consistently,” she said.
“Personally, I’ve had great success starting the seeds in pots and leaving them in a north facing window until they have a few leaves then transplanting [them] into the garden.”
Melanie said there are more than 100 packs of sunflower seed packs to give away, each containing a variety of the giant and mammoth seeds.
The seed packs are available for collection at The Leafy Home Co, located at 89 McIntyre Road, Sunshine North.
Hannah Hammoud
