Healthy eating

Ararat’s Community Garden is Sowing the Seeds of Support for Locals

The Grampians Public Health Unit and the Lions Club of Ararat have launched a significant food relief project at the Ararat Community Garden. They are growing vegetables and herbs that community members can pick up at Ararat Neighbourhood House.

For locals, the Ararat Community Garden serves as more than just a plot of land. By growing produce onsite, the project addresses immediate needs for sustainable food access in the community whilst encouraging healthy eating.

Understanding the complex issue of food insecurity, the project highlights the benefits of collaboration through combining resources and expertise to maximise benefits for community. The Lions Club of Ararat network of dedicated volunteers have been a key success to the initial launch of the project.

Alongside the Lions Club of Ararat, the project has also had support from the Ararat Rural City Council. Both have enabled the purchase of seeds and growing plots to kick-start the initiative.

Residents can also access potted seedlings to grow at home and teach their families about healthy eating. Beyond the distribution of food, the project aims to empower individuals and communities to take ownership of their health and livelihoods, grow their own food, and keep it local.

As the project progresses, the working group would like to involve Ararat residents in the next steps to expand the community garden. If you would like to take part in this project by growing seedlings at your home to be donated for food relief, please contact the Grampians Public Health Unit at phu@gh.org.au.

The project is currently growing coriander, garlic, mixed lettuce, Chinese broccoli, bok choy, beetroot, cabbage, pak choy, carrots, silverbeet, spring onions, lettuce and snow peas.

Photo: From Left to Right: Anita Paula San Ba from the Lions Club of Ararat, Talwinder Kaur from the Ararat Neighbourhood House and Lauren Kennedy from the Grampians Public Health Unit.