Edible incredible

It’s edible and it’s incredible … it’s Gardening on the Edge!

Maleny Garden Club’s Gardening on the Edge event (June 8-9) will feature six open gardens in and around Maleny of such variety that there is definitely something for absolutely everyone.

For the first time, a garden with a big focus on edibles is being showcased, with Green Harvest at Witta being one of the six.

If you don’t know about Green Harvest, it is a family owned (by Frances and Jeff Michaels) local operation that began in 1992 as a mail order organic gardening and permaculture supplies business.

As they grew too large for their kitchen table, they set up a shop, storage and distribution centre at Gumland Drive in Witta, surrounded by organic gardens full of productive and edible plants.

Now they are one the most comprehensive sources of organic, ethical and top-quality gardening products, seeds, tools, books and organic gardening information that you’ll find anywhere.

Their product catalogue – the Australian Organic Gardening Resource Guide – is an amazing resource where you’ll find everything you need to grow nutritious, chemical-free vegetables and fruit. And … it’s free of charge! According to Jeff, they are really looking forward to the Gardening on the Edge weekend as it’s a good time to showcase edibles.

“At this time of year, we’re on the transition between edible subtropical perennials and the cool season produce, so they’ll be plenty to see,” Jeff said.

“We’ll have a great range of rare and unusual edibles on display and for sale, plus edible plants that also improve the soil ecosystem and provide habitat for beneficial insects and animals.”

The shop area will be expanded into the car park so visitors will have an even more extensive range of products to look over and take home.

Green Harvest will have a bevy of experienced and knowledgeable staff on hand to answer questions and explain plants and products in more detail. Jeff hopes it will be an exceptional educational experience for visitors over the weekend.

“We want people to go away with a better appreciation of the values organic edibles have in our subtropical climate,” Jeff explained.

“And maybe to take some home to try for themselves and see how easy it actually is to grow your own.”

All six Gardening on the Edge gardens are open on both Saturday, June 8 and Sunday, June 9 from 9am-4pm. Tickets for the open gardens can be purchased at the Maleny Showground pavilion (cash and card) where a garden expo and market extravaganza will be held on the same weekend, or at the open gardens (cash only).

Cost for the open gardens is $5 for one garden, $13 for three gardens and $25 for all six gardens. Entry to the garden expo and market is free. For all the details, head to the event webpage www.malenygardenclub.org/about-goe.