Householders’ Options to Protect the Environment (HOPE) has been investigating opportunities for people to access underutilised suburban backyards, especially for those who are unable to garden in rental properties.

HOPE president Frank Ondrus said there are many people who own their own homes but who do not or cannot use the space they have for gardening.

“It is our hope that with your support we will be able to offer space to people who wish to produce food for their own tables,” he said.

There is a history of such use of spaces.

One example is the locally-developed Mulberry Project where refugees were given access to some farming land to grow their traditional food crops – mainly vegetables.

Louise Noble from Nobby, the instigator of this project, is now looking for residents with backyard citrus trees that need some nurturing and care – on the proviso that the harvested produce can be utilised by the refugees (see https://www.facebook.com/themulberryproject.qld or https://www.themulberryproject.org.au/ Mr Ondrus said HOPE’s first thought was to establish a series of ‘community gardens’ on vacant land owned by Toowoomba Regional Council.

“These new community gardens would need to be managed by community groups,” he said.

“However, environment colleagues that we consulted thought that it might be easier to work through churches and their congregations/parishioners.

“Asking parishioners to make available their backyard spaces raises issues of trust, and care for the space made available.

“Issues of insurance, access times, use of facilities like the toilet and kitchen for smokos and/or lunch, as well as water would certainly need to be considered.” Mr Ondrus said householders would not be expected to provide seed or seedlings.

The gardening would be totally the responsibility of the gardeners involved.

But if the space were made available to refugees and migrants, who may be strapped for cash to buy, then grants could be available to purchase equipment and seed or seedlings.

“HOPE’s proposal is very basic in concept, but we acknowledge it could be quite involved to implement on a house-by-house basis,” Mr Ondrus said.

“However, the simpler we can make it, the easier it will be to sustain.

“That’s why I would like to meet with church people to discuss the draft proposal and endeavour to “flesh out” the details.

“If you are interested in following through with this idea then please contact me so that we can discuss it further,” Mr Ondrus said.

He can be contacted by calling 4639 2135.

This article appeared in On Our Selection News, 6 April 2023.