Much was lost when the Longwood bushfires ran through homes and farms in January, but recent work from visiting volunteers has helped one Upton local to reinstate his burnt-out garden.
While Bronwyn Dunwoodie was able to save her own house and garden from the fires, her neighbour, Peter Wilson had sadly been less fortunate. Although he was able to save his home, among Peter’s losses were his car, parked for a getaway packed with valuables and sentimental items, and his garden.
A former volunteer for Jesuit Social Services’ Ecological Justice Hub in Brunswick in Melbourne’s inner north, Bronwyn passed on the story to friends who still volunteered. Although the Hub volunteers usually help to address disadvantage in Melbourne, they resolved to put a day aside on working bee on Tuesday, February 24, to help recover the garden.
“We put our heads together about what value we could bring to a burnt out community and devised a plan of action. Traditional farm aid services fix fences, fallen logs and burnt out sheds, but home garden repair is usually not included. As the home garden is a safe and soothing space for country people we felt our gardening and planting skills could be put to good use,” said Michael McGarvie, one of the seven volunteers who made the trip up the Hume.
Starting from just the blackened ground of the ruined garden the crew got to work shaping, cleaning, turning, composting, rebuilding, and planting. About a hundred bought, propagated, and nurtured plants and cuttings went into new garden beds.
“We spent the day on the garden and drove away with the job completed and to the sound of gentle drops of rain. Timing is everything,” Michael said.
Jesuit Social Services’ Ecological Justice Hub is a permaculture garden dedicated to both social and environmental justice. On a typical Tuesday, the volunteers work alongside program participants to prepare the garden for fruit and vegetable production. The vegie food boxes feed people who are hungry and experiencing homelessness, social isolation or family violence.
“This is a beautiful example of how our ecological justice work is multi-dimensional: we advocate at a high level for climate action, systemic change and better policies. But our work is also grounded in doing place-based work that is led by the needs of local communities,” said Michael Fendel, Ecological Justice Coordinator at Jesuit Social Services.
“Fostering connection – between people and with the environment – is a powerful means for healing.”
“We know that connection to the natural world is crucial to positive mental health and overall wellbeing. Whether it’s helping to revitalise someone’s beloved garden after a bushfire, running the Ecological Justice Hub in Brunswick or offering outdoor experience programs for vulnerable young people – Jesuit Social Services has been putting this into practice for over 40 years.”
