Werribee’s Craig Castree has worked in the horticulture industry for 40 years. He is a regular guest on Vasili’s Garden to
Kitchen TV show and is also a cheese maker and apiarist. He sits down with Charlene Macaulay.
What is your connection to the Wyndham area?
My brother Malcolm had lived in Wyndham for many years and my wife Kerry and I liked the area. In 2009 [we decided] to buy a block of land in Werribee and build a house that we would live in for about 12 months then shift to Bacchus Marsh on a half or one acre block –but that didn’t really go to plan. We love it here and shifting would have been a mistake. We are close to the river and a fantastic large park [Presidents Park].
Tell me about your family.
I am the eldest of three boys, and both my parents passed away recently. I am married to my soul mate Kerry and between us we have three children. We are grandparents six times over now. We love nothing more than getting them all together, which is not as often as we would like, but it is great when it happens.
You’ve made a living out of teaching others how to grow edible gardens. Why do you think it’s important for people to be able to grow and make their own produce?
I think we have lost touch with our food. We don’t know who grew it, where it was grown, what it was fed with or sprayed, when it was picked, how far it has travelled, or how long it has been on the shelf, and for me that poses a few problems.
As for making produce like bread, cheese, sausages, salamis and passata, you get to choose what goes in it! I have taken back control of what I put in my mouth and I am teaching others to do the same in workshops run from home and from time to time for many councils and community centres. I am also the president of the Werribee Park Heritage Orchard and run workshops on how to grow fruit trees every Friday at the orchard situated at the Mansion down near the farm.
What’s the secret to a perfect backyard edible garden?
The secret is to use your entire garden and use the backyard and front yard as a place to grow food. If I can’t eat it or it doesn’t provide a benefit like attracting in pollinator insects then it doesn’t get a spot in my garden.
My method is fill in the vegie patch and use your entire garden as a place to grow food. Plant one thing every day of your life in the garden … and you will feed your family 365 days of the year.
If you could change one thing about Wyndham, what would it be?
I would love to see more edibles and fruit trees in parks and public spaces, such as shopping centres.
What’s your favourite Wyndham restaurant or cafe, and why?
Shadowfax winery is the spot for me. The food is seasonal, fresh and delicious and the atmosphere is relaxed.
