BGV Community Garden

Words and Photography Tricia Welsh

What started out as sweeping manicured lawn under a beautiful fig tree at the Buderim Gardens Retirement Village (BGV), is gradually being transformed into a thriving community garden providing residents with not only fresh produce, but gentle exercise and improved well-being as well.

Pendulous purple eggplant, firm green capsicum, vibrant red radish, plump rockmelon, sweetcorn, carrots, spinach, beans and peas all flourish in above-ground garden beds. Nearby, a flurry of herbs scent the air, while planted along the rear is a line-up of fruit trees – limes, lemon, orange, mandarin, lemonadeand a bay leaf shrub.

Set on 70 acres of parkland and forest, the BGV was opened in 1971. “It’s the oldest self-funded retirement village in Australia,” points out instigator of the community garden, avid ‘green thumb’ resident Priscilla Macmillan. “But this is the first time it’s had such a community project.”

Following a residents’ meeting to gauge interest in the project, a committee was formed with some 30 enthusiastic volunteers – most of them keen gardeners themselves, who have helped dig holes, prepare the garden beds for planting and fertilised them with worm castings and cow manure -- all done with the help of the Buderim Gardens on-site gardener. Buderim Gardens also ran an underground irrigation system to water the plants.

While the committee was working towards setting up a watering roster, it seems some volunteers were so keen they were killing the plants with kindness by overwatering. It was decided to give the daily chore to Norm, who, at 89, is one of the oldest and keenest residents.

The project was officially launched by local Buderim MP, Brent Mickelberg on May 1, 2021. The committee recently applied for a $10,000 grant to help finance a worm farm, extra garden beds and a shed.

Once the worm farm is established, it is proposed to feed them with recycled kitchen vegetable waste from potentially 400 homes in the village community, while also helping eliminate landfill.

Priscilla recently bought a bright yellow 1979 Suzuki ute - number plate Bill 21 (to honour its original owner). Bill 21 will be used for garden chores: picking up mulch, bales of hay, and to collect veggie scraps on a regular, scheduled basis from the wide-spread village residences.

The long-term vision is to cover the entire grassed area leading up to the village’s community centre with garden beds growing seasonal vegetables, so residents can harvest and purchase vegetables for a gold coin donation.

Committee secretary, Celia Howat, says: “The project is bringing people together with the common theme of gardening. Our passion is gardening, growing and producing – everyone has the same goal.

“Eventually, I’d like to see people having picnics here, using the fresh garden produce,” she adds.