Now in its third year, the Illawarra Edible Garden Trail is reaching south from Helensburgh to Shell Cove showcasing backyard veggie patches, crop swap groups, schools, community gardens, and hobby farms across Wollongong and Shellharbour.
This years trail will take place over the weekend of Saturday 22nd and Sunday 23rd November from 10am-3pm across Wollongong and Shellharbour!
Tickets available soon!
We’ll be showcasing ALL types of growing spaces, not just ‘show gardens’. We’re all learning – the trail is for anyone growing food in their backyard, you don’t need to be an expert. Have a read of our Host FAQ’s and then take 5 minutes to tell us about your growing space here.
Gardens will be open between Helensburgh to Windang.
Register to be a host by 30 June — here.
Lastly, the Edible Garden Trail will highlight the importance of seasonality and educate participants on seasonal produce in the Illawarra. Seasonal eating refers to eating fruit and vegetables that are ‘in season’ or at the peak of their freshness and flavour during a specific time of the year. In-season food is better for you, tastier and cheaper; it requires less travel and less controlled, artificial environments to grow in!
Localised food production is becoming increasingly important. Forecasts by the CSIRO predict Sydney’s food production from within the basin could drop from 20% to 6% by 2031. If Sydney was cut-off we would have a two days supply of fresh food. The Trail offers the opportunity into an alternative, more resilient food system based on backyard growing.
It’s a chance to deepen our understanding of our local environment, including native habitats & native foods that have been lost to urbanisation; the Illawarra has a flavourful spectrum of native foods such as the Illawarra Plum that would have contributed greatly to the D’harawal diet. The Trail is an opportunity to strengthen community connections and bring food production, of both native and non-native foods, back to the area.