More frequent droughts and floods in rural and regional eastern Australia are increasingly disrupting the growth cycle and supply chain of staple fruit and vegetables.
In June this year, the price of tomatoes skyrocketed after heavy rain struck Queensland. Despite astronomical price increases, supermarkets were still out of stock.
Tomato production in Australia depends on a staggered and integrated growth cycle between Victoria/South Australia and Queensland. Queensland takes over during the winter season of the southern states. But this year, a perfect storm of events caused an unexpected shortage: a virus afflicted southern harvests, while widespread flooding in the north compounded the disruption.
Sydney depends on this food-chain balance between north and south, so for several months we had to live without this wildly popular vegetable (or fruit, depending on your taxonomy).
That moment crystallised a broader truth: urban food security is increasingly precarious. And while large-scale agricultural reform is vital, cities can also act locally, growing food where people live.
Communal vegetable gardens offer more than fresh produce. They are spaces of education, empowerment and ecological stewardship. Supported by the New South Wales Government and local councils, these gardens provide opportunities to connect and contribute to a sustainable future.
I discovered Whites Creek Food Forest in Lilyfield, Sydney, by chance: walking past a sign. I now volunteer weekly, learning from veteran gardeners who generously share their lore on propagation, composting and pest management. But I also see gaps: many residents don’t know these gardens exist and challenges persist in navigating council processes, grant applications and compliance.
But the benefits outweigh the hurdles. It’s a delight to discover the sophisticated disciplines of horticulture and permaculture, and identify whether plants are beneficial or invasive, edible or poisonous.
Advanced techniques such as grafting, green manure and pest protection reveal the breadth and depth of permaculture as a discipline.
Volunteers can apply their learnings at home, while during harvest time, local communities become less reliant on supermarkets. You can also build skills in liaising with government bodies and network with other community garden associations.
As awareness grows and people see that community gardens cater to all skill and commitment levels, participation should increase. This, in turn, will incentivise councils to raise funding and allocate more land to local permaculture initiatives, leading to both behaviour change and greater willingness across government to support urban greening.
Yes, it’s possible that 95% of scientists are wrong and climate change is a hoax. But for now, I’m giving that 95% the benefit of the doubt.
While community gardening hasn’t replaced my weekly supermarket visit, it’s far more satisfying to consume what you’ve grown yourself. You’re also playing a small part in relieving pressure on the supply chain (just in case the 95% are right, and we really do need to rethink how we treat this planet we live on).
Image: Supplied
Native grass at Whites Creek Food Forest in Lilyfield, Sydney, destined to become green compost to keep the soil nitrogen-rich.
The views expressed in this article may or may not reflect those of Pearls and Irritations.
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