By Alesha Capone
A program trialling the installation of planter boxes on Wyndham nature strips is about more than growing plants – just ask Adam Beames and Miwako Okumura.
Ms Okumura, who lives in Point Cook and is the founder of Eat My Garden – which is part of the SHARE Community Group – submitted a proposal on the planter box program to Wyndham council about two years ago.
The council is now running a trial of the initiative, involving about 40 households.
Mr Beames has also been instrumental in setting up the program and has one of the boxes located on his nature strip in Hoppers Crossing.
He said other residents would often ask him about the planter box. “It’s a good place to talk to your neighbours, meet people and potter around,” Mr Beames said.
“We can share the harvest and it’s a great way to connect people.” Ms Okumura, who studied ecology at a Japanese university, echoed Mr Beames’ sentiment.
“At the beginning of the trial program, we did workshops for the project on how to use herbs, vegies, some kinds of cooking and making a garden bed,” she said.
“It’s not just growing plants, it’s providing the opportunity to neighbourhoods to connect people, we want people to have real connections.”
Details: parksfeedback@wyndham.vic.gov.au
