Wyndham’s Backyard Growers Take Top Gong

Lockdown has borne fruit for Werribee gardeners Jess and Dwayne, who took this quiet time to grow their own produce.

The couple won Council’s My Smart Garden – My Isolation photography competition aimed to demonstrate to the community how everyone can be a backyard gardener and become more self-sufficient.

Wyndham City’s Environment and Sustainability portfolio holder Cr Heather Marcus said the free My Smart Garden program (run across several Melbourne councils) aims to help residents begin growing food and transforming their outdoor space into a beautiful, functional garden.

“The free online program helps residents become more in touch with nature, eat fresh homegrown food, turn waste into valuable resources, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and create habitat for wildlife,” Cr Marcus said.

“We asked Wyndham residents to take photos of their progress and Jess and Dwayne won over the judges with photos of their transformed garden – and a stray chicken who temporarily found her new home in their back yard.”

Jess said the couple always wanted to grow their own produce and become more self-sufficient and the COVID-19 restrictions gave them time and motivation to get it done.

“It was hard work getting it all together, but we are so pleased with the result,” Jess said.

The couple bought the treated pine sleepers from Bunnings before the first stage of restrictions and spent a few weekends preparing their raised beds.

Jess said they were finding new ways to eradicate pests naturally and received many tips and advice on what to use, from tomato powder to stale beer.

“It was a way to keep busy during restrictions and also learn about growing vegetables this year, so next year we will have a healthy bumper crop,” Jess said.

Jess and Dwayne knew their garden was inviting when her two-year-old daughter, Pippa, pointed out that a chicken appeared in the back yard.

“We were delighted with our new garden assistant, but unfortunately Speckles had an owner and she had to return to her own home,” Jess said.

Cr Marcus said Jess and Dwayne have provided inspiration to the community on how you can create a kitchen garden while occupying minimal space in your garden.

Wyndham City’s upcoming workshops have been so popular they sold out quickly but you can  check on the My Smart Garden website and register for the newsletter here https://mysmartgarden.org.au/ and follow the @mysmartgarden page on Instagram for top tips by local experts on how to make your garden grow.