Cultivating Community, North Melbourne

Cultivating Community provides opportunities for low income and migrant families living in Homes Victoria housing to grow healthy, affordable food. The organisation manages over 850 plots on 21 sites across inner Melbourne and is funded by the Victorian State Government via Homes Victoria and the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing.

The community gardens were the first sites to be furnished with movable Piatto Chairs. The vibrant colours that were chosen for the chairs, together with Linea Seats and Linea Tables, helps to make the space cheerful and welcoming. Because all the furniture is movable, gardeners can work next to their plot in a comfortable seated position, or move into the shade to take a break. The Piatto Chair with armrests is DDA compliant, making it ideal for the elderly.

Cultivating Community gardens are designed to bring people of different cultures, abilities and ages together through their love of growing food. By choosing what to grow in their plot, they can continue to practise cultural and family traditions. There is often cross-cultural sharing and swapping of recipes and seeds.

New members of the community garden are supported by staff, who are there to help them establish and nurture their plots. With 30 languages spoken, interpreting and translating services are key to making these gardens places of cultural sharing and harmony.

As a charity, Cultivating Community relies on volunteers and donors to ensure the gardens continue to thrive. To learn more about the organisation, take a look at their website here.