A resident-led gardening initiative at the BaptistCare Strathalan retirement living community in the north-east Melbourne suburb of Macleod has been so successful it is expanding into the co-located BaptistCare Strathalan aged care home.
Starting as a casual conversation among residents, the village has since transformed an underused area into a vibrant and accessible garden space with low-maintenance features like an electric pergola and innovative wicking garden beds that reduce watering requirements and minimise bending.
Families of residents and local community members have also been able to get involved with the garden, creating a shared, intergenerational space for people to contribute, learn and spend time together.
Strathalan BaptistCare Residents Committee president Greg Selkrig said The Welcome Garden has grown “well beyond what we ever imagined.”
“Once we saw how many people were getting involved, and the joy it brought people, including the interest from residents in the nearby aged care home, we started thinking about how we could include them as well,” Mr Selkrig said.
“Gardening isn’t just about planting and weeding. It’s about choosing what to grow, enjoying the flowers and herbs, and creating something together. It’s become a wonderful way for people to connect.”
“This spring, we are holding a Garden Care Day where aged care residents, family members and the wider community can get involved. Visitors can either bring a plant or donate their time on the day.”
The Welcome Garden at BaptistCare Strathalan (supplied)
The Welcome Garden at BaptistCare Strathalan (supplied)
The Welcome Garden at BaptistCare Strathalan (supplied)
For BaptistCare Strathalan village resident and gardening group coordinator Trudi Walters, the garden has been transformational in ways she never expected.
“The garden has given people a real sense of pride in where they live. Balconies and courtyards are full of colour, people are sharing ideas about what to plant next, and there’s always someone stopping for a chat,” Ms Walters said.
“Seeing the gardening projects evolve here is really lovely – it brings a lot of people together.”
The initiative was supported by BaptistCare and received a $75,000 North East Community Fund grant in 2024, part of the Victorian Government’s Big Build infrastructure program.
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