Update: This segment, ‘Sharing the Street’, aired on 23 February.

Costa Georgiadis, host of ABC TV program ‘Gardening Australia’, and a film crew visited Glebe on 19 October. St Helen’s Community Garden and the kerb garden of Jock Keene in Toxteth Rd were the subjects.

Community garden members who were available in the middle of the day gathered in the garden and did their best to look like they were behaving normally. Jock, one of the garden coordinators, was the main interviewee and experienced the many ‘takes’ that are a normal part of filming even a short segment.

Jock Keane talks with Gardening Australia’s Costa Georgiadis and crew member (image: Jan Macindoe)

All community garden members were delighted that our garden was receiving this attention. There are currently 80 members of the garden, including about 10 children. Up to 20 members meet on Sunday mornings from 9-11am, as well as on Thursday evenings 5-6pm during daylight saving time.

As well as enjoying the healthy outdoor activity and fresh produce, members enjoy the social contact and the chance to learn gardening skills from each other. The garden also contributes to waste management in the local community by using up to 30kg of vegetable waste from local business and residents per week, through composting and worm-farming.

We understand that the segment will be screened in a Gardening Australia episode early next year.