It is hoped a drought-proof garden will help the rural New South Wales town of Walgett overcome significant food security issues.
The past seven years have been tumultuous for the people of Walgett in the state's north-west.
The local supermarket was destroyed by fire, twice.
They have struggled through drought, relied on a bore water supply and severe water restrictions when both the Barwon and Namoi rivers ran dry, and suffered from supply chain issues during COVID-19.
A water-efficient microfarm has now been launched at the Walgett Aboriginal Medical Service (WAMS) after a years-long investigation by the University of NSW and Dharriwaa Elders Group into the best method of creating a local "drought-proof garden".
"We've had students come out from the UNSW Global Water Institute to construct wicking beds," said WAMS chief executive Christine Corby.
"Wicking beds retain water to grow produce for drought-stricken communities like ours. With near-drought resistance, it's a wonderful idea.
"The next stage will be propagating seeds and giving them to residents if they want to grow vegetables in their own backyard."
The low-water-use garden has been partially funded by an Increasing Resilience to Climate Change grant from the NSW Government.
"Other strategies we hope will be effective are a cover over the produce, the way the water will be measured, not waterlogging the veggies and not offering a lot of water, so it's regulated," Ms Corby said.
"Layers of composting has also created the retention of water to continue the growth of the produce."
Fresh food for health
Before the drought hit and water security issues increased, the Walgett Aboriginal Medical Service Garden was a vital asset to provide healthy, fresh food to the community.
The garden was lost when severe water restrictions were introduced in 2018, but the benefits should soon flow again with the water-efficient garden.
"Our community has a high population of people on government benefits, so some people really struggle affording healthy produce and maintaining a healthy diet," Ms Corby said.
Annie Dean, who works in the area of chronic health with WAMS, said the new drought-proof garden would allow free vegetables to be given to the most vulnerable members of the community says
"We're able to help provide for our patients and their nutritional needs. We can box up vegetables and drop them off to their house, so they have a week's vegetables at their door. That's completely free for the most at-need people in the community.
"We're growing such a huge variety — butternut squash, leafy greens, strawberry, rockmelons, cucumbers, tomatoes," Ms Dean said.
"It all survived through a 48-degree Celsius day this month, so that's a good sign! Each wicking bed – which is only one-metre square - can yield up to 3kg of vegetables a month.
"We've currently got 48 wicking beds which works out about 144 kilograms a month of produce that we can supply to the community. And we're looking at doubling that soon.
"We'll have cooking classes too. The community can come along, pick the vegetables and learn how to cook them in a really yummy nutritious way."
Growing traditional bushfoods
Traditional bushfoods will soon be incorporated into Walgett's community garden.
"We'll be looking at using our bushfoods, hopefully, we can regenerate some of them, as well as some of our herbs as herbal medicines," said Ms Corby.
"It's important for everyone to understand Aboriginal people had a healthy lifestyle and we as Aboriginal people grew our food everywhere.
"It's just a matter of understanding climate change and making sure we adapt to grow our food and get the better quality that sometimes doesn't happen anymore because of the poor water quality."
.jpg?w=600)
