A group of African refugees are putting down roots in Wyndham through a program at Werribee Community Gardens.
Participants in the project have learnt a wide range of skills, including how to construct and fill newly raised garden beds, build compost bins, propagate seeds, plant, weed, manage garden pests, and water and harvest crops.
Horn of Africa Community Network manager Terefe Abrete says the group of newly emerging settlers is reaping the rewards of visiting the gardens five days a week.
“The most important benefit is that participants are interacting and working with the mainstream community,” he said.
“Many people from the Horn of Africa are not really aware of the benefits of healthy eating, so this program educates them and makes vegetables easily accessible. They are shown how they can produce their own vegetables in even the smallest pot.”
The group recently planted 400 pots of okra, a popular African plant valued for its edible green seed pods.
Werribee Community Park committee secretary Tim Daniels said the partnership with the Horn of Africa Network benefited both the participants and members of the community garden.
“As a result of this partnership, the number of raised garden beds and the range of vegetables grown has increased,” he said.
